Ivy sat by the fire with a bowl of soup in her hands and a blanket over her shoulders. Winter was close now and though she was sleepy, she couldn't bring herself to close her eyes. She also didn't have any appetite to eat even though she was feeling severe hunger pangs. She wasn't feeling very good and her mind wouldn't stop picturing Calvin's face."What is this?" She grumbled as she stared into the fire. "Why am I thinking about him so much?"She was certain that this had something to do with the connection she had with Calvin. The Pentagon certainly knew something and Diana definitely did too, but Ivy just couldn't bring herself to ask her. The witch had instructed her not to go home. She didn't give any reasons and as usual, Ivy didn't ask any questions. All she could do was make wild guesses. Perhaps it had something to do with the coming war?"Can't sleep?" Diana asked from behind her."Mmm" she mumbled affirmatively. "What about you?" she asked. Diana didn't look like she had
It all finally became clear to Ivy. With the facts Diana presented and how she explained it, she now understood everything and her role in all of this. It became clear as to why her disappearance from the Rex building would start a war. Ivy did not grow up in the werewolf community and she was not raised by her kind, but she did know what it meant for a werewolf to find their mate. She understood how mates bonded over their predestined love for one another and even how much that love meant when it was returned. It's just that she never believed she would ever experience it. Of course, her's had to be so complicated. There was Calvin and then there was Roman, who was the original alpha wolf. Like Diana had pointed out, she may not be in touch with her emotions, but Ivy understood what love does to a person. She saw it as a feeling that caused weakness, foolishness and vulnerability to the object of love. It was a feeling she couldn't have nor show. She liked to see herself as a st
Full moon, cold night air and angry werewolves lurking in the darkness. At this hour, the humans have gone to sleep and it was the perfect time to catch the zealots unawares. The time for retaliation had finally come and the werewolves spent the entire day preparing for this. By leading them, the new grand alpha had proven himself and the people trusted him.Richard's funeral was held off until further notice. The werewolves of the eastern pack had agreed to not lay him to rest until Adolphus had been captured. Mark had no problems with that. He didn't think anyone was as vengeful as he was. He remembered Calvin and Phiri's words about bringing no harm to Charlene, but he just scoffed inwardly. If killing Charlene would make Phiri live longer and also avenge his brother's death, then he was going to do just that.They were all gathered in the woods, not very far from the Hayford's mansion. None of them had ever seen inside of those walls, so they had no idea of what could be waitin
The bloodlust was still thick in the air even though all the men were dead. Rufus and Phiri stayed back, not wanting to approach Calvin just yet. They needed him to calm down first."Search the entire place", the grand alpha commanded and the two immediately obeyed. After a while of looking around, they came back to report that the mansion had been vacated by the Hayfords. "So Adolphus outsmarted me again?"Calvin was furious. How could he not have thought of the possibility that the Hayfords already got wind of an impending attack? They did have the next seer with them and she had probably warned her family. "Where could they have gone?" Calvin asked himself. He could not guess where they could have run to. In all the time he spent with Charlene, he didn't think she ever mentioned another family house.John Hayford did have properties all over the city, but where would they start searching from? And the fact that no one knew that they had moved clearly meant that they were hiding.
"Your mother, Sonya, was the daughter of this state's past governor", Diana began the story. "Being the only daughter to such an influential politician, your mother got everything she ever wished for.""She had brothers, but being the only girl in the family earned her more privileges. Oh, she was spoiled rotten", Diana emphasized with a chuckle. "By her father, brothers and everyone around her."Ivy had nothing to say just yet. She had no idea that her grandfather used to be be governor. This information only heightened her curiosity.Until she started making money from Diana, Ivy never remembered living a life of comfort. Her childhood years with her father was full of hardships. She remembered how much her father toiled just to put food on the table. If she really came from the lineage of an ex governor, why were things so difficult all those years ago?"Growing up, Sonya realized that money couldn't buy everything", Diana continued. "Not health, nor happiness and certainly not a m
Ivy lowered her gaze, understanding that Diana had just given her a warning to never ask such personal questions. However, not getting an answer only heightened her curiosity concerning the witch's past and motives. The silence that followed was awkward. While Ivy just sat there, looking for something to feast her eyes on, Diana was looking at nothing in particular as she stared absent minded.The sky was soon getting bright and Diana put out the fire. She then took one last look at the surrounding woods before walking into the hut. With her fingers clasped together, Ivy sighed as she stared silently into the sky. Diana may not have spelt it out, but the message was clear. Ivy was not to let the mating bond control her heart or decisions. But what would she do as it was all beyond her control? Was she supposed to just sit around and obey orders all her life? Now that Ivy thought about it, she realized that doing the coven's dirty work was all her life had been about. She didn't h
Puffy set of eyes, a dull complexion, discolored hair and pale lips that refused to smile. These were all Charlene could see as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. She could no longer see that young woman whose beauty once captivated everyone with its glow and power. It now seemed like she had become an unapproachable shadow of herself just overnight. What was happening to her? Charlene ran a shaky hand through her blonde locks, feeling them tangle uncomfortably around her fingers, making her scalp burn. Her reflection did not look any better than her. "What's really happening to you?" She heard Adrian's voice behind her, but she didn't turn around to look. Instead, she looked at her brother's reflection through the mirror and she could only sigh when she saw the worried look on his face."Charlene?" Adrian called, this time getting closer. "What's happening?" He asked."I don't know", she answered honestly in small voice. "I couldn't sleep during the night. I was haunted b
The Pentagon met that afternoon in Calvin's home. It was imperative to change the meeting location because it seemed that the humans working in the Rex building were already getting suspicious. Pentagon members had overheard conversations among the humans and their curiosity about what went on at the topmost floor seemed to have heightened.Also, the werewolf people were dissatisfied with how the previous night went. They were disappointed that all the planning had been in vain as Adolphus didn't only outsmart them, but he and his followers were all in hiding. No one knew where to start looking for them and it was just frustrating.While Mark also was angry by the turnout of events, the others just wanted a way forward and as for Calvin, more than anyone else, he was confused. It was becoming very hard to keep up with how quickly his life was changing and his responsibilities as grand alpha seemed to increase everyday. Lately, all he thought most of time was Ivy. Yes, she was his
The struggling sounds ceased when Ivy got to the entrance of the building. She touched her back to feel her injury, but it was not completely healed. She knew she had to be careful as the wound made her vulnerable. She could go into shock if she bled anymore so she threaded carefully.Inside the building, Ivy gasped when she saw Adolphus's head detached from his body. She didn't know how to feel about what she was seeing. Adolphus, leader of the zealots and the origin of everyone's problems was finally dead. She quickly turned her head when she heard heavy breathing coming from the opposite direction. When she saw that it was Roman, she quickly ran to him and held him in her arms.She looked him over and saw that he was seriously wounded. Ivy figured that it was Roman that had killed Adolphus. Way to go, she thought proudly. He didn't use to be grand alpha for nothing."Shh. Shh. Shh", she whispered when he tried to say something. She wanted to encourage him by telling him that he wo
As the coven of witches storms the premises, the atmosphere crackles with tension. The werewolves, sensing danger, prepare to defend themselves. Knowing that werewolves draw their strength from the moon, the witches draw clouds over it, hiding it's light.Diana had given the witches an explicit order before this night. They were to invade the premises and put an end to the werewolf race if anything were to happen to her. The women of the coven sensed that their leader was already dead and so, they planned on carrying out her order.The moon, hidden behind dark clouds, casts an eerie shadow over the grounds, adding to the already intense atmosphere."They're here", Phiri mutters as she rises to her feet. Even Adolphus and Roman were now looking in the direction of the gates, while Calvin was more concerned about Ivy. She was still unconscious so he couldn't care less about the presence of witches.The witches, adorned in their mystical cloaks and wielding powerful spells immediately la
Calvin still didn't understand all the screaming and running that was going on around him. He also didn't realize that Diana had just saved his life and was even killed in the process.He had just taken his hand off Ivy's back because it felt wet and when he looked at it, he saw blood. He looked at Ivy and saw that she was unconscious. He shook her gently but he got no response.Calvin called out her name in a whisper, but she still move. He wished her eyelids would just move or even a low moan would have sufficed, but he got nothing.Ivy's unresponsiveness made Calvin panic. He knew that she was still alive but it wouldn't remain that way if she continued losing so much blood. And the fact that he didn't know what to do in order to save her made him feel useless."Help", he wanted to scream, but the words got stuck in his throat. He only breathe a sigh of relief when Lucille and Phiri came to him, both kneeling by his side."Please save her", he pleaded. He was literally begging but
Ivy wasn't sure who the target of Calvin wrath was. There was Roman, who was standing in front of him, acting like a live shield for the second possible target, Diana. The witch was definitely in Calvin's bad books. Irrespective of anything, Ivy didn't want either of the targets to get hurt. While she considered Diana to be the closest thing she had to a mother, there was also Roman who she had shared her first friendhip with. Though he obviously wasn't himself, she still didn't want anything to happen to him.Therefore, she tried to reach out to Calvin's mind again. She really wished that it would work this time, but it didn't. It felt like he had shut the doors to his mind and reasoning that even she couldn't get through."I think we have to evacuate", Ivy heard Lucille whisper. "Because we really don't know how dangerous one attack from him would be."Ivy looked around at all the people. Many of them had shifted into wolves as they could perceive the danger lurking with the formi
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the quiet city. From where he was, suspended up in the air, Calvin looked down to the werewolves. He saw them as ferocious beasts which the world no longer needed. But then, there was another side of him that was like a soothing voice whispering in his head. It made him feel like he was one of them. One of the werewolves.For hours, Calvin had battled to maintain his sanity, but he could feel himself slowly losing it. His wolf was trying to accommodate his retrieved powers, but it was too much. Since it proved impossible, the alpha wolf was fighting the sorcery and it just felt like an internal battle.Being a wizard, Calvin was a master of arcane arts and he had dedicated the early years of his life to mastering the powers of magic which he possessed. However, even as powerful as he was, he could not bring himself to connect his powers with his wolf side.Why he was up in the sky, Calvin didn't know. He was unaware of w
Charlene's heart skipped a beat when she saw the Pentagon members. She was even more terrified when she locked eyes with Richard's brother, Mark. He obviously still bore a grudge against her for killing his brother and she instinctively drew back."Ivy" Lucille called, ignoring the presence of the Hayfords. "What happened? We've been waiting for you and Calvin.""He got his powers back. The tree died and he just lost control", Ivy explained. "He doesn't seem to recognize him and he was just roaming the forest all day."While Charlene was trying to make sense of what Ivy had just said, her brother snuck back into the premises to report the Pentagon's arrival to his father. "So that's what happened?" Rufus asked rhetorically as he looked up. "What could he be planning up there?""The question should be how do we get him down here?" Mark said as he looked away from Charlene and up into the sky. Phiri was quiet as she looked from Ivy to Charlene. The latter was supposed to be the succee
"There you are".Ivy slowly came out of hiding when Charlene called out to her. If she were to have it her way, she would have preferred to stay out of Charlene's way. With everything she had been through that day, she didn't have time for this drama.Ivy had been keeping an eye on Calvin ever since he regained his powers. Apparently, things had not turned out the way anybody would have expected. It all spiraled out of control and she was here make sure Calvin didn't hurt anybody.Just hours ago, when Calvin regained his powers, she had tried to talk to him but he had stared at her in a very strange way. She had searched his eyes, but there was no recognition of any sort. It appeared that he had been possessed by something. Everything about him felt different. His eyes, his gaze, his aura... It was all different but Ivy just couldn't describe it. All she knew was that something wasn't right with him.Calvin wasn't himself anymore but even at that, she had tried to get through to him
"I saw a vision this afternoon".Adrian turned to his sister with a curious gaze. They were still outside the Rex building and he wondered if she was sleep talking as she stared at her feet as she spoke. "Stop looking at me like that", she said and then sat up. "Well, I was checking to see if you were sleep talking", her brother responded. "I only did that when I was child", Charlene said with scoff. "I've outgrown that.""Okay. So how could you have had a vision when you havn't gotten any sleep?""I don't know", she answered with a shrug. "It just came to me. It wasn't a reality, so I just concluded that it was a vision.""Was it a good a one?" Adrian asked her. "The vision. What was it about?""In the vision, I saw..."Adrian turned to his sister when she remained silent for too long. She was staring up into dark sky, so he raised his head too, towards the big white moon. "I saw that", Charlene muttered. "What?" Adrian asked, turning to face her and then followed her line of si
The Pentagon members exchanged glances before turning their attention back to the phone screen. They had been following everything that was happening in front of the Rex building."Roman is making us look bad", Mark said. "He's lying to the people.""He's obviously not himself", Phiri said. "I think the witch has somehow manipulated him.""This is not good", Lucille added. "If they succeed in brainwashing everyone, then it's over.""Where is Calvin for heaven's sake?" Rufus growled. "It's been almost twenty four hours. We cannot do much on our own.""Patience", Phiri said with a sigh. "He'll come.""He'd better hurry up" Rufus said under his breath. *******Right outside the Rex building, Adolphus's children and his men stood on guard, mounting every corner of the place, fully prepared for every surprise.As expected, military vehicles soon arrived at the scene, demanding to know what was going on at such late hours. The zealots had their orders. They were to prevent any kind of int