Cherry"Morning!" Maisy greeted me the next morning as I stepped into the shop, her face glowing happiness."You had a good time last night?" I asked mischievously."Hey, stop making fun of me! Let's get down to the final check with everything. We'll fly to Paris tonight." Maisy feigned anger, ducking her head shyly.After we packed up the last dress to be exhibited at the show in Paris in the afternoon, Bill and Dylan arrived at the shop to drive us to the airport."See you in Paris next Saturday." I bid goodbye to the gentlemen as Bill's arm left Maisy's waist reluctantly.********After landing in Paris, we buried our heads in the exhibition stuff immediately. Flinging ourselves in the Fashion Week preparation for quite a few days non-stop, we finally got a big ready.Tomorrow was gonna all about final checks and rehearsals. Then the big night would just come.Kicking off my heels after closing the door behind me, I decided to treat myself to a hot bath.While I was indulged in the
Cherry “Cherry, you've got to see this! She's here!” Kendra greeted me in excitement the minute I arrived backstage at the show. “What's it?” I asked, snickering at Kendra making a fuss about everything. “It's Anna Wintour! She's here! The chief editor and brain behind the famous vogue magazine is here at our exhibition!” Overwhelmed with joy and surprise, Maisy and Nina came over, joining Kendra to share this amazing news with me. "Anna Wintour's here at my show?!" I mumbled in disbelief, taking my eyes off my colleagues and following their eyes towards the front row, where Anna was seated. "But she didn't reply to our invites. I thought she was declining us." Things just happened too fast. I still couldn't believe what was going on in front of my eyes. “No, she didn't. But we did send her the catalog of your works at the show together with the invite. Maybe she happened to flip through the pages and saw something special in your concept!” Nina chirped cheerfully. “Nin
PrefaceAfter witnessing how the love between her parents helps them conquer all the hardship that they went through in the past, Fern grew up wanting to have such love and bond with her fated mate.Almost every shifters are bound to find their fated mate once they turn eighteen, but just that was not the case for Fern.Two years after Fern turned eighteen, she remained mateless.But she had a hunch that, in this year's mating ceremony, her fated mate would finally show up.Fern's fated mate did come.The only problem was the shifter whom the Moon Goddess fated her had a complicated feelings towards her.With a fair share of hatred towards Fern and her family, it sounded next to impossible for Fern and her mate to make love bloom between them. But who knows?After all, they were once crazy for one another.Fern's Perspective The mating ceremony officially ended. Shifters who had found their mate started to leave the mating ground, and just like the last two years, I was left standing
Fern's Perspective Giovan's eyes hardened. "You're not doing that little tree," he said to me. Giovanni is my brother. I could feel our bond as fated mates, but I didn't want to accept it. Nuu-Chaah might have made a mistake pairing us. "Eight years ago, I didn't blame nor resented you when you couldn't do anything to help me when Alpha Dylan exiled me...." "Giovan, please. If we accept the bond as fated mates. Daddy will hate you even more! If he only threw you to the wall before, this time he might kill you—" "Don't turn your back on me the way our parents did, Fern," Giovan begged. He looked in pain. "We grew up together, Giovan. Half your life you were treating me like a sister." "Do you want to know why Alpha Dylan and Luna Cherry agreed to kick me out of Starsmoon Pack?" I shook my head and covered my ears. "Your father saw the way I look at you. He said that's not how a brother looks at his
Fern's PerspectiveGiovan slowly pulled away from my neck. Our eyes locked in."Who do you belong to, Fern?" He asked."You," I said. My inner wolf growled in desire. Something about Giovan attracts me deeply, I found his scent addicting, and my wolf now can't stand being away from him, not even an inch."Who?" Giovan asked again."Who owns you, little tree?""You do," I said again.Giovan pushed the hair off my neck, staring darkly at the mark on my neck. He draws a smirk."Do you know what else happens on the night a she-wolf was claimed by her fated mate?"I looked at his wound."H-How can we mate when you're hurt and weak?" I asked. Giovan lifted my chin, gently crashing his lips with mine."Part your lips wider, Fern," he whispered. I pulled away from him remembering something."You remember it now. Our first kiss," he whispered to me."
Giovanni's PerspectiveI came out of the tent after I felt Tobias' presence outside."Did you use the drug on her?" He asked. I shook my head and threw the small bottle at him."I told you I won't need this," I said. He looked over my shoulder."Is she in the tent? What if Fern wakes up on the way to Dark Howl?" He asked.I walked to the tent and he followed me."Get her. We need to leave the ground before someone from the Starsmoon pack comes to pick her up," I said to Tobias. He saluted to me.Tobias carried Fern in bridal style. His eyes popped when he saw the mark on her neck."Alpha what the.... did you do this? Were you the one who marked her?" He asked, further inspecting the wound on Fern's neck."Aurora will be furious when she finds out that you claimed Fern as your mate."I grabbed my shirt from the ground, "Aurora will understand. She knew that she was the one that I loved, and ma
Fern's PerspectiveI woke up to a searing pain around my wrist. I think I knew what was going on before I could open my eyes."Our mate betrayed us, Fern! They betrayed us!" My wolf chanted over my head, her whines torturing me."How can our mate do this to us after claiming us last night?""Stop calling Giovanni and his wolf our mate! He doesn't deserve to be called our mate, he's nothing but a mere traitor who had to use our bond to get to us!"I breathed deeply and opened my eyes.I pulled my hands only for the pain around my wrist to worsen. The silver chain hurts as if it was melting my skin and flesh."I can't believe that the shifter I once looked up to became a spineless coward," I whispered tugging the silver chains even when I knew that breaking the chains was impossible.I chuckled bitterly."He knew that he couldn't easily defeat me that's why he took the chance that I was weak f
Fern's Perspective"Arthur, take her down!" After I finished speaking, Giovanni gave me a cold look before turning to Arthur and commanded with a dismissive tone."Yes, Alpha, but where should I take her? The Luna Suite?" Arthur asked humbly, his head bowed, glancing at me briefly."The Luna Suite? Have you forgotten what I said?" Giovanni's voice was filled with anger as he glared at Arthur. "I said she was just the newest lowly omega of my pack."Feeling Giovanni's wrath, Arthur bent lower. "Yes, sorry, I understand, Alpha.""Take her to the basement, where she belongs, doesn't she?" Giovanni's tone became icy as he instructed Arthur. He then turned to me, his gaze obscure. "So, let's see how far you can go as the Alpha's daughter."With those words, Giovanni quickly departed. I stood there in silence, watching his retreating figure."How dare he make us live in a place like that, the damn devil!" my wolf howled angrily.I forced a bitter sm
Fern's PerspectiveMy heart skipped a beat, and I immediately opened my eyes."...Fern..."His voice was faint, like the wind, yet it pierced my ears clearly. I jerked my head up to meet a pair of long-lost eyes.In an instant, my world collapsed.I threw myself into his arms, tears spilling uncontrollably, and finally let out a sob.—You're back."You're awake!" I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I nearly cried out, my tears already slipping down my cheeks.The corners of his mouth lifted slightly, a weak but warm smile forming. "Why... are you crying?""You were unconscious for so long... I thought..." I covered my mouth, unable to stop the sobs. All the strength drained from me in that moment, and I could no longer hold back. I jumped into his arms."I'm here..." he murmured weakly, gently stroking my back. "I'm back..."Giovanni's awakening shocked everyone. The pack received
Fern's PerspectiveHe's such a proud man. He's given so much to protect Daniel and me. He wouldn't just give up, would he?I forced myself to calm down, taking a deep breath before lifting my head with resolve."I want to see him."The hospital room was unnervingly quiet.He lay on the clean, white hospital bed, his face pale and bloodless. His chest rose and fell slowly, heavily. His once strong and powerful body was now covered in gauze and medical instruments, losing its former majesty.I slowly walked toward him, reached out, and gently held his hand. It was still warm, which reassured me, if only slightly."Can you hear me?" I murmured, my voice so soft it almost seemed to be swallowed by the wind.There was no response.I pressed my lips together, tears welling up in my eyes."You asked me to forgive you before, and I promised… so you can't just leave me like this." I choked out, my v
Fern's PerspectiveI rushed to catch up with Daniel in my arms, my heart pounding wildly, terrified beyond measure.He can't be okay… He can't be okay…The light in the hallway was dim and cold.Giovanni was wheeled into the emergency room, and the door slammed shut in front of me. I stood there, frozen, as if I had lost all strength."Mommy…" Daniel sobbed, tugging at my hand. Only then did I slowly snap back to reality, pulling him close and gently patting his back to soothe him. But my own body trembled slightly.Would he wake up?Would he open his eyes and look at me?I held Daniel tightly, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to stay calm. I can't break down. I can't let myself fall apart. But—"Fern," Tobias's voice rang out. He stood in the doorway of the emergency room, his gaze heavy with unspoken emotions."He…" My voice cracked. "He's going
Fern's PerspectiveHe should have been unconscious, but in that moment, he was like a demon returning from hell, furiously tearing through every enemy in his path. His body was still drenched in blood, with deep gashes on his back, exposing bone, yet he ignored the pain and ran toward me with single-minded determination.My heart raced in my chest, and once again, tears slipped down my face."Fern—!"He roared, throwing the last of the black-clad men aside and enveloping me in his arms. In that instant, it was as if I had truly come to life.But before we could catch our breath, Elena's laughter echoed in our ears."You really moved me, but…"She slowly raised the remote control in her hand, her eyes gleaming with twisted malice. "The game ends here."My pupils dilated in horror."Bomb countdown activated."Red lights blinked to life, and a sharp alarm blared from inside the warehouse
Fern's Perspective"Spare them..." His voice was low and raspy, as if the breath had been squeezed from deep within his throat—fragile yet firm.Elena laughed softly, her dagger at some point in her hand. The sharp tip of the blade gently slid down his cheek, leaving a fresh trail of blood on his already scarred skin. She leaned in close to him, whispering in his ear, "You really make me sick to my stomach, to have fallen this low. Didn't you always despise me? What now?"He didn't respond. He just opened his gray-blue eyes and gazed deeply into mine.My heart trembled.He was saying goodbye."No!" I struggled desperately, attempting in vain to rush toward him. But the man in black behind me held me down in an unrelenting grip, a cold gun barrel pressed against my back.Elena stood and turned to the henchman beside her, her tone chillingly calm. "Show him what humiliation truly means."Before I could reac
Fern's PerspectiveThe pungent stench of blood filled the entire warehouse, mixing with the rusty scent in the damp air, creating a nauseating atmosphere. My hands were bound behind my back, my knees sunk deep into the cold concrete floor, and my body had grown numb from the prolonged position. But the pain in my heart was unbearable, as if it were being scorched by an unrelenting fire, so intense that it stole my breath.Elena stood nearby, her heels echoing sharply on the ground like the bells of a death knell. She smiled, her narrow eyes glinting with the playful satisfaction of a victor, while several black-clad bodyguards behind her held Daniel down in a deadly grip. His mouth was gagged, and his eyes were wide with terror.But my gaze was fixed on the man before me—him, my MATE, my Alpha, the man I thought I'd never forgive in my life. Yet here he was, kneeling before Elena.I had never seen him so disheveled.His black
Fern's PerspectiveHowever, at that very moment, a loud bang shattered my thoughts—"BANG!" The warehouse door was viciously kicked open, sending dust flying and filling the air with a pungent, decaying smell. I instinctively opened my eyes, only to see a tall figure step through the doorway, standing frozen in the intersection of light and shadow, as if emerging from hell, radiating an unmissable aura.That figure was all too familiar to me—it was Giovanni.My heart skipped a beat, overwhelmed with a mix of surprise and pain. I hadn't expected Giovanni to be here, and even though I had long accepted that there was no going back to the past between us, seeing him in front of me still made my heart race and left me momentarily breathless.Elena clearly hadn't anticipated this turn of events either. My face immediately darkened, my gaze fixed on Giovanni like a viper's, and I drew a pitch-black pistol, aiming it menacingly at my
Fern's PerspectiveNight had fallen, and the air felt heavy with humidity, making it suffocating and uncomfortable. My heart raced faster than usual, and every step I took felt like it weighed a ton. My grip on the car keys tightened, and my eyes locked on the deserted warehouse ahead. I knew instinctively that nothing was going to be easy tonight, but there was no turning back. I didn't even let myself consider it.I tightened the collar of my jacket and took a deep breath, feeling a wave of suffocating pressure. Daniel's silhouette kept haunting my thoughts—the one closest to my bloodline, the one child who still didn't know who he truly was. I instinctively knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, I couldn't allow Daniel to be harmed.The doors to the warehouse were closed, and a disconcerting silence hung in the air. I knew Elena had anticipated my arrival. As I approached the door, I gazed at the faded iron gate, hearing the bea
Fern's PerspectiveThere was a strange tension in the air when I got home. The moment I opened the door, a gust of icy wind hit my face. The house seemed unnaturally quiet, and the air felt thick and heavy. I couldn't shake the growing sense of unease rising in my chest.The place was a mess. Papers were scattered across the table, a few books had been knocked off the bookshelf, and shoes and clothes were strewn across the floor, suggesting that something had happened here. My heart sank as I quickly scanned the room, my eyes darting to every corner of the living room, searching for the one person I was most familiar with—my son, Daniel."Daniel?" I called out, my voice sounding weak as it echoed through the empty house, but there was no answer. My heart began to race, and my brow furrowed as I hurried through each room, checking every detail. The kitchen, the bedrooms, the bathrooms—everywhere was empty. There was no sign of Daniel.