Xenia's body lay still against the altar. Mason kept listening to her heartbeat to make sure she was alive. She was screaming about the pain one moment, and everything went silent the next. The only sounds were that of the winds and Delilah's sobbing. Mason paced in front of the altar. Of course, he was worried. She had been quiet for a while now. The first time they did this, it only lasted a few minutes before Lillian returned. Though for Lillian, it felt like hours. So this was new, and nobody knew what to expect. Mason took some calming, deep breaths. His irritation was slowly turning to anger, which would only bring Rodin out quicker with the Blue Moon present. "She should be back by now," Mason barked. "What is taking so long?" Everyone seemed to cower away from his voice before Lillian stepped forward. "Each journey is different, Alpha," Lillian said. "Maybe Nova hasn't found her yet." Mason opened his mouth to say something when Xenia's body shook. Instead, he ran to
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
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