In the dark cave, Adrian lay still on the cold floor, unconscious. Inside his mind, memories and dreams swirled. But in the darkness, Lily's image appeared. His consciousness had left him for about a month but suddenly seeing Lily call out to him after so long being trapped in nothingness, gave him all the power he needed to fight through.He needed to fight through the darkness. He needed to break through the nothingness. She had been so loyal to him. She had sacrificed so much for him. He needed to be by her side.As he lay there, his inner hybrid power started to awaken. Half of his body slowly transformed, showing the vigour within him coming back to life. The upper part of his body was fully hybrid while his abdomen to his toe remained as they were.His chest bore a pattern of iridescent scales that shimmered, reminiscent of a dragon's hide. These scales extended from his broad shoulders, down his powerful arms, and across his well-defined pectoral muscles. His arms appeared mor
Adrian's hybrid form receded, and he stood there, breathing heavily, struggling to regain control over his emotions. "You don't deserve a quick death," he said with a cold and emotionless voice. "Live with the knowledge that you failed, and that I spared your life."He immediately snapped his neck. Leo's eyes went white and foam mixed with blood started coming out of his mouth. Leo was unable to defend himself against Adrian and Ethan watched in horror.Yet, even in his anger, Adrian still had some humanity left. He looked up at Ethan who was already begging for his life with his eyes, "I didn't kill him….not yet. Neither will I personally kill you, Ethan. Your actions will catch up to you sooner or later." Despite his desire for revenge, he refused to become the monster they wanted him to be.After those words, he walked away from Leo, who was left convulsing on the ground. Ethan, who had been watching, decided to run away, afraid of the sight of Leo and what Adrian would do to him.
My father was the first person Adrian wanted to see. I didn't know why but I took him to my dad without questions. My father's reaction was as expected. Shock, disbelief and a hint of fear."Adrian … you're not dead?" The way he said it as if he was asking a question almost made me giggle but I knew better and kept a straight face. Seeing my dad walk to Adrian and put a hand over his shoulder made me recall the visions I had about both of them. I had already planned to ask Adrian about them when he was fully settled in.Next, we went to my mom's room. Adrian felt worse than I did when he saw my mom's condition. I sat beside her, holding her hands, while Adrian stood beside me.She saw him and simply smiled. Then with a frail voice she said, "I knew you were also alive. " She paused then talked again, "I know how both of you feel for eachother. I can't speak for your father but I know anyone who can take care of my daughter and make her smile so brightly as she is now is the right one
The nervousness I felt seemed to ease up as Adrian entered into the room and approached Theo, Sarah, and Aunt Belinda. I stayed behind him. He had been away for what felt like an eternity, and now, seeing the people who he saw as his friends and family again brought a sense of comfort and relief. He couldn't help but smile as he walked towards them."Adrian!" Theo exclaimed upon seeing him first, his face breaking into a grin. "You're here! You're back! You're alive…."Adrian nodded, his eyes glistening with emotions, "Yeah, I am."Sarah's eyes shook as she looked back at Adrian. "Adrian," she said softly and rushed to hug him. "I can't believe you're alright and you're back. We missed you so much.""I missed you guys too," Adrian's joy was palpable, "I'm sorry for everything that happened. I never meant to cause any trouble to anyone in the pack. I didn't mean for you guys to worry."Aunt Belinda who was sitting at a corner called him, "So, you're the Adrian Lily always talks about?
I couldn't believe my eyes. Jaxon looked so battered and tired, so hurt and conflicted. I bent to his side, carrying him and helping him sit on a fallen log to rest."Jaxon, what happened?" I asked. I was obviously concerned and confused as I assessed his wounds.He winced, the pain evident in his eyes. "I... I couldn't go through with it, Lily," he whispered."Go through with what?""He wanted me to…I couldn't kill…I couldn't…" He coughed out violently and I didn't know what to do.It had been so long since I saw Jaxon and to see him in that state, after so long, this was very disheartening. I wondered if what he wanted to tell me was how he got there or who put him in that condition. What happened to him? Where had he been all this while?I knew I couldn't bombard him with so many questions at that moment but I needed to know. I needed to know a lot, Jaxon. I wanted to tell him to explain everything to me. "Lily…water…wa..I need water…" He gasped and I looked around. Shit. My bag p
"You actually think you can defeat me, bitch?" Audrey sneered. "You may have some fancy powers, but you're no match for me."I didn't respond. I was solely focused on unleashing the potential building up in me. I knew I had to be careful because Audrey was a skilled and cunning fighter. We stood in front of each other. The sunlight filtered through the trees, creating dancing figures of light beneath us. My determined gaze glowed with my Guardian powers finally surfacing, while Audrey's dark eyes reflected her dark magic.The clash of our powers sent shockwaves through the air. With a hand gesture, I created a shining Guardian shield to protect myself from Audrey's dark magic. Audrey, with a wicked grin, launched black energy towards me, testing my defenses."So you've got some fancy powers now? Let's see how you fair with them." She snorted.Our fight grew stronger, and the ground trembled from the power of the clashes. I moved with grace, using my energy to fight back. Audrey was f
~LILY'S POV~The sun dipped below the horizon. Its reflected prisms shone like a warm, golden glow over the somber gathering. It was the day of my mom's burial, and the forest clearing where we held the ceremony felt heavy with grief. My family, friends, and pack members stood together, paying their last respects to my mother, who had been a pillar of strength and love for all of us.It hadn't really processed within me yet. I was grief-stricken and completely empty. This feeling was worse than the worst pain I had ever felt my entire life and I just wanted it all to be over.As the ceremony continued, my mind drifted back to the conversation Tyler and I had earlier. He had told me about his father, Rex, who had passed away some weeks before I came back. I couldn't believe I had been so consumed by my own life that I hadn't even known about his father's death.Guilt gnawed at me, and I felt regretful for not being there for Tyler in his hard times. I had been so preoccupied with my ow
"No..I mean, not..I… ""Sarah, who attacked both of you that day?"Sarah was confused. "It was Ethan." I finally said. "Her description of the vampire fitted Ethan.""Ethan? But who's that?" Sarah looked at me."The vampire that was captured and tortured by dad that time.""Oh, but how do you know his name?""I, just know it.""But why would he want to hurt Theo and I?""That's what we have to find out."I looked at Adrian and saw he was deep in thought. I held his arm and he looked at me, "Anything?""I can't believe he would do something like this," he admitted.Just then, Theo's convulsions worsened, and we rushed to his side, trying to calm him down. Sarah's eyes were filled with tears as she held his hand, whispering soothing words. "Hang on, Theo. We'll get you through this," she said softly.As the minutes drew longer, we continued to keep watch over Theo, praying for his recovery. "Can't you do something to stop this?" Sarah said pointing at Theo who was still convulsing.He
Hey Pack, Wow, you made it to the end! Huge virtual fist pumps to you. 🌟 Thanks a million for all the howls of support and the crazy enthusiasm you've shown for this story. Seeing your reactions has been better than getting a call that a lecture has been cancelled on a Monday morning, lol. Now, drumroll, please... anticipate Book 2! It's coming and it's coming hard. We're talking more drama, more twists, more romance, more tension, and a few surprises that might just make your jaw hit the floor. You won't want to miss this. Seriously, your excitement is like fuel to my writing engine. Thanks for giving this story a chance. There are more adventures, more drama, and more 'what the heck just happened?' moments coming your way. This is just the beginning of the howl-fest. Stay awesome, keep those pages turning, and get ready to dive into Book 2 real soon. Until then, my pack, take care, and may your days be as thrilling as the full moon nights. Bye-bye till Book 2 drops! Howling l
~ LILY'S POV~ I sat upright on the bed. I could hear my heart beating wildly, and felt beads of sweat clinging to my forehead. The dream, the same recurring dream, had invaded my sleep again. I felt a chill creeping through me as those words in the Lythian language echoed in my mind. Adrian, still half asleep beside me, sensed my restlessness and gently kissed my forehead. His voice was soft and soothing as he asked, "What's troubling you, luv?" I turned to him with widened eyes. I recounted the details of the dream. It's the second time I had that dream. I saw Cathro in the dream warning me about a certain "Darram" but she was speaking in Lythian language. Saying, "Beware, Darram comes soon and we fear you will be the last Guardian this realm will ever know." Adrian's concern was evident, but he didn't want to add to my distress. He pulled me close into his strong arms, and reassured me with the warmth of his presence. "You shouldn't think too much about it, at least not now. You
Jaxon found himself behind a runty herb stall in the hidden market. The canopy above offered shade from the scorching sun. The cloaked man stood in front of him, carefully arranging an assortment of herbs in clay pots and glass bottles. Jaxon had come to appreciate the familiarity they both shared with nature's offerings.Jaxon took a deep breath and finally spoke, "The salves you've been giving me have been a great help to Tiana. Her scars are slowly healing, and I can't thank you enough for your help."The cloaked man nodded, his deep and wise voice always leaving Jaxon in wonder. "It's an honor to assist."Jaxon's eyes never left the cloaked man. He spoke with a sense of urgency in his voice. "Tiana's scars are fading, but her new wounds... they keep reopening. I know it's as a result of the remaining dark magic that's around her. I need something to ease her pain until I take her to the healers at the Cave"The cloaked man nodded, "I have just the thing, but be cautious. These her
×××××××××In the quiet of the night, Audrey was preparing herself for bed, or really, for Leo. She sat, fixing her hair while looking into the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, and behind her, she sensed Leo watching. He lay on the bed, his eyes never leaving her.The night's silence was broken only by the gentle rustle of her clothing. As Audrey gazed at her own reflection, she couldn't help but remember the image of Leo's lifeless body. It was a haunting image that often crept into her thoughts, and tonight was no different.A shiver ran down her spine as she realized how frequently she feared his death. Audrey couldn't quite understand why his demise, or the mere thought of it, was such a constant source of dread for her. What would she do if he were to die again?Leo sensed the worry in her posture and voice, prompting him to ask, "What's the matter?"Rather than revealing her deep-seated fears, she shifted the conversation toward their recent meeting with Viktor. Audrey
×××××××××As Leo and Audrey stepped out into the courtyard, the air was filled with residual tension from the meeting. Leo nodded to his henchmen, silently instructing them to move forward and prepare the car for their departure. As they scurried off, leaving the two of them alone, Leo's demeanor changed.He swiftly pulled Audrey into his embrace. Her lithe form fitted perfectly against his own. It was a gesture that had become all too familiar between them. There was always a genuine attraction and the thrill of their dangerous partnership. Their flirtatious banter began as he gazed into her eyes, wanting to start something."It's about time I commend you for your loyalty. What you did back there -""Was nothing. I was tired of being in the midst of three grown-up men bickering like kids."Leo laughed and pulled her closer, "Oh, Audrey, you've been holding out on me. You've got a sense of humor buried in there."Audrey kept a straight face but he tightened his grip around her waist.
×××××××××The room was covered with such a thick tension as Viktor and Leo threw eachother assertive glares as they sat opposite eachother at the roundtable. The flickering chandeliers gave enough light to the polished wooden surface below it, and their henchmen stood behind them, ready to leap into action at any given moment.Leo's calculated move broke the silence. He nonchalantly tossed the Bodessa medallion onto the table, its precious metal clinking against the wood. His piercing eyes bore into Viktor's as he opened his mouth, "I brought this," Leo always sounded ambitious and too cocky, despite who he was addressing, "in exchange for men. I need more troops to raid the werewolf pack. It'll benefit the clan, and I know you've been planning a raid on one of their lower towns too. I could help with that."Viktor, the more composed and legitimate senior of the two, regarded the medallion for a moment. He gestured for one of his men to give it to him to which the latter did. His fin
THE WORLD OF "FORBIDDEN MATE"Someone once asked me about the world setting of the story since they saw elements of modern and mediaeval worlds in the story.This is your answer, dear:In Story 1, the setting and world are a blend of supernatural elements and modern-day life. The narrative features caves and packs, which are key components of the werewolf culture. These caves serve as communal spaces and dens for rebel groups, where they hold meetings, make important decisions, and discuss their strategies. The packs, as you already know, represent a strong sense of community and hierarchy.Amidst the supernatural background features, modern elements are also included into the story. This includes the presence of everyday technology like phones and digicams, used for communication and recording events. Weapons such as daggers are also part of this world which reflects the need for self-defense and conflicts that arise.The characters frequently visit bars, where they socialize, and so
Out of nowhere, Audrey appeared. She was surrounded by a dark and eerie aura. Her eyes glowed with evil as she summoned the powers of her devil goddess, Ashtarah. The air around us crackled with strange energy.When she saw my present form, she seemed to rethink facing me but she proceeded still, "So you're a Guardian? An unworthy bitch like you?"I studied her."Why did you always have the good things, hunh?You should have never been born, Lily! You're my bane and I want you cut you off once and for all!""Your hatred will only lead you to your grave, Audrey!" I was trying to get to her."No! I will send you to your grave, right here!" But alas.With a furious battle cry, Audrey lunged at me, her claws extending like sharp blades. I quickly used my wings spreading wide to shield me from her attack. We clashed in mid-air, feathers and fur flying as we struggled for dominance.Ashtarah's power flowed into Audrey, making her incredibly strong and quick. She easily dodged my attacks wit
The air felt heavy with anticipation as the BlueMoon pack and Shadow Clan armies stood facing each other. Their eyes locked in a fierce confrontation. The clearing, once a peaceful neutral space, had now transformed into a battleground.Tyler stepped forward, his eyes fixed on Leo, "This ends here, Leo. We won't let you harm our pack any longer," Tyler declared with a resolute tone.Leo smirked, his fangs glinting in the moonlight. "Oh, dear Alpha boy king, you're so naive to think you can stop us. This is just the beginning of our dominance," he replied with a sinister chuckle."Chargeeee!" Tyler's voice echoed through the crowd."Make me some blood!" Leo shouted out and burst into incredulous laughter.As the armies clashed, the forest became a battleground. The air filled with fierce sounds of bodies colliding, claws slashing, and fangs biting. Both sides were driven and determined, expressing it through battle cries and roars.Tyler led his pack with courage, giving his all in the