Xenia ran through the forest, trying to put as much distance as she could between the crazy white werewolf. Her heart pounded in her chest. Blood rushed through her veins. Every muscle in her body ached from exertion. The only thing on her mind was survival. She had to survive. The moment she felt and heard her mom's voice, she knew she couldn't give up. The moon was high in the sky, illuminating a path forward. Still trying to figure out what to do or where to go, Xenia followed the path. Finally, it opened to a cliff, and at the top stood a white werewolf. Nova? Xenia froze, thinking it was the same one after her, but this one was different. Aside from the fur, a black diamond was in the middle of its forehead, and standing next to it was...Mason? No, he looked different. His hair was longer, and he was wearing a white shirt. Was Mason wearing a white shirt? Xenia's thoughts were interrupted by a growl from behind her. She didn't wait to find out if it was her attacker. Ins
Xenia opened her eyes and quickly sat up. The fast movement made her dizzy as she tried to look around. The last thing she remembered was the pain of having a werewolf spirit inside her. It felt like Nova was trying to claw herself out of Xenia's body. Xenia got to her feet after a few moments to get her bearings. She couldn't tell where she was with nothing but darkness surrounding her and a small light source coming from an unknown place. Then she heard very faint whispering before the voice became more apparent. Someone was praying, and their voice sounded so familiar. Someone she knew. "Mother? Mother!" Xenia yelled into the unknown, looking in the direction of her mother’s voice. She looked around the emptiness, hoping to see a glance of Delilah. "Mother! I'm here! I can hear you." Silence surrounded her again until she heard soft sobbing. Her mother was crying, and there was nothing she could do. That thought made her chest tighten with emotion. The sobbing only got loude
The brothers stared at each other in complete silence. Micah was the first to break eye contact to look at Xenia in Mason's arms. Instinctively, he sniffed the air with Roman mimicking his action. He closed his eyes as her scent surrounded them and finally solidified who she was to them. "Mate," Micah breathed out, opening his eyes to focus on her as Roman grunted his response. "What has happened to her," Micah growled, taking a few steps towards him. "What have you done now, Mason?" "I have done nothing," Mason snapped, drawing her closer as he glared at Micah. "It is Nova. She's trying to kill her." "No thanks to you, I see," Micah said, taking a few more steps toward Mason. He was only a few feet away from them now. "I have this under control, brother," Mason said just as Xenia screamed. Micah was at her side instantly, much to Mason's displeasure, but Mason's main focus was Xenia. She fought to escape his arms, so he laid her on the grass. She stilled again as Roman
Micah sat up quickly, breaths coming out in rapid succession. He still felt like he was in a dreamlike state. The world around him became more vivid as he looked around the campfire. He felt an arm on his shoulder and saw Beta Erik kneeling beside him, speaking, but his voice was distorted. "Let me...get my bearings," Micah breathed out, closing his eyes and taking steady breaths. All he could think of was his mate in his brother's arms. The very thought brought a growl from his lips. He wasn't sure what Mason or Melania had in mind, but he knew he had to hurry and find them. "Alpha?" He opened his eyes to see Erik staring worriedly at him before looking in another direction. He followed Erik's gaze and saw Lottie and Spencer hovering over Laurie. A panic rose in him as he tried to stand. He got to his feet and swayed before Erik held onto him to keep him steady. "Laurie?" Lottie and Spencer moved to give him a better view. Laurie was lying on the ground with the bunny cuddl
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,
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