CherryDylan's incident left me deeply troubled. I lay awake the whole night after tucking Fern into bed eventually. With my father, Bert, Chris and Heather being away from the community, I had to face all this alone. After dropping Fern at school and reassuring that her daddy would be back from his "business trip" soon, I rushed to hospital immediately.From the door of the ward, I saw Dylan lying in the bed, pale and still. “This is so unlike of you, mate. I'm not used to seeing you like this,” I muttered to myself while eyeing him.The doctor walked towards me, wearing an expression that made me anxious.“Luna, I have some bad news. We detected wolfsbane in Alpha's body. He is now reacting to it. I'm afraid that, from right here, his condition would get worse and he'll lose memory.”"Wolfsbane?! How's that possible? Aren't I the only one who got the poison during that war?" Not believing what I heard, I turned to stare at my husband with my mouth half-opened. "Alpha is awake now.
DylanI dashed into a thick forest after running out of the hospital.I was not sure why I was doing it, but there was a voice in my head, a constant reminder that the forest was the safest place.“To the forest is where you should go. No one would harm you there.” Those words sounded in my head. A mist blurred my vision, and I could only run forward, aimlessly. Waves of intense pain pulsed through my head, as if it was on the verge of splitting open.I had no idea how long I had run, stumbling forward, until I collapsed onto the chilly forest ground.The smell of grass and earth seeped into my nostrils, easing my pain. With my eyes becoming even more blurry, I drifted into unconsciousness.When I woke up again, my eyes met a wooden ceiling and then found myself lying in a wooden bed. “Where am I?” I asked myself.There were thin rustling footsteps outside this room. I got off bed and gently pushed the door open. My eyes fell on a woman with her back to me, long, dark green hair fall
Cherry Dylan's missing was no longer a secret eventually. Some of the pack members got to know it.“I know that she is our Luna, but with the sudden disappearance of our Alpha, she would take over and lead us.” “Why are we letting a cursed shifter lead us? We should ask her to abdicate her right as a Luna,” one of the oldest shifters in the pack whispered to her granddaughter. ...I could feel the weight of their accusations. They suffocated me with guilt and heartache.However, I couldn't bring myself to just leave as wished. Not when Dylan was still missing. “Dylan, where are you? When will you come back? I am hanging by a thread here, and I really need you now.” I mumbled as if Dylan was around. He'd be able to hear that.Ignoring the hostile stares and cutting words, I ventured out into the stormy nights, searching for any trace of Dylan.“Dylan! Dylan, please come back!” I shouted, looking around just in case he would suddenly show up. “We need you! The pack is starting to fa
DylanChelsea and I returned to the Starsmoon pack a few days later."Dylan! Thank god you're back!" A young man of my age rushed in after that vicious Luna left. He must be Bert, my competent and loyal Beta Chelsea mentioned before."Hi Bert! Thank you for holding all this together during the absence!" I got out of the bedroom and patted on his shoulders."Not at all. Actually I just came back from the borders after Jason called to tell me what happened back here. Cherry's father is holding it there alone on the borders. By the way, did you see Cherry? I saw her...""How about talking about the pack affairs first, given I've been away quite a few days?" I cut Bert through when he was going to mention Cherry, the name that pissed me."Sure!"I got quite a lot of information that I badly needed in the following hour.“You did? Good for you!” I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Bert started a hotel business.“Yeah, we need a stable business. I don't think we want to be exposed to an
CherryI must have offended Nuu-Chah, and she took my husband, my family and my everything away from me.Those happy moments between Dylan and me were just like a long dream, vanishing before I could savor their pleasant tastes.“What would I tell Fern now? How am I going to explain this to our daughter?” Walking aimlessly along the road in misery, I barely noticed a man appearing before me.“Cherry, it's been a long time,” he said in a voice that sounded oddly familiar.“Do I know you, sir?”“I think you do.” He handed me a business card.My heart raced the minute I saw the name "Karson Blewet" on the card. I couldn't believe that the person standing before me was none other than the master designer I had admired for long.“You're…Karson Blewet?” I uttered in awe, my voice barely above a whisper.“Yes, that's me.” With a smile, the man nodded in affirmation. I couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and exhilaration. “Your designs are really something,” Karson continued, his eye
CherryWith Dylan and Chelsea back in the pack house, I had to move to my father's. Bert told me that my father wouldn't be back from the mission on the borders in quite a few days. I settled Fern into bed after getting home, telling her we'd spend a few days at Pops Mike' house because that was what I would do when I missed my dad.“Good night, mommy,” my sweet daughter whispered. “Have a sweet dream, Fern. I love you." The soft glow from the nightlight cast a warm ambiance in the room.As exhaustion tugged at my eyelids, a persistent knock on the door disrupted the peace.“Bert, what are you doing here? It's already late,” I said after opening the door.“You met Dylan, huh?” He looked concerned, his brow furrowing slightly.“Come on in.” I stepped aside, inviting him in. “Cherry, Dylan seemed to have forgotten about you. I want to know what happened on earth over the past couple of days.” Bert spoke with apprehension.“I honestly don't have an idea how it all happened. He fainted
Cherry I couldn't sleep that night. The next morning, I had to be extra careful when driving Fern to school.“What is it, baby? You look like you want to ask something,” I hummed the question to my daughter. “Go on and shoot your questions.”“Mommy, when will daddy be back from the business trip? I miss him.”The smile on my lips froze, and I nearly cursed at her question. “Soon. Daddy will be back in a few weeks. You miss him, huh?” “I do. He is not even calling us. Is he that busy? You must miss daddy too. You don't even design or bring me to the store lately.” She pouted, her voice laced with genuine concern.“I know. Sorry about that, my princess. I promise we'll visit Aunt Maisy in Seattle soon.”“I just think it's so cool that you're a designer, mommy. I've always been proud of you, and I want to be a remarkable designer just like you when I grow up.” Fern looked at me. My emotions welled up as I listened to my daughter's words.“Really? Then, when we visit Aunt Maisy next ti
Cherry I found myself in hospital after regaining consciousness, my vision blurry and my head still throbbing.“Nuu-Chaah, my head hurts so much.”As I tried to make sense of my surroundings, I heard voices, distant at first but clearer later.“Doctor, thank you so much. We will keep in mind everything that you told us.” I struggled to turn my head, finding Bert and Karson talking to the doctor. “We found traces of poison in her body that, if drunk a lot, would cause a miscarriage. Thank Nuu-Chaah that Luna only had a small portion of it.” The doctor glanced in my direction, and our eyes briefly met. Bert looked at me, worried about what had happened. All of us were speechless by this finding. Who would have done such a thing to me?“I've administered the antidote. She'll need some rest here.” The doctor instructed Bert before leaving.“Thank you, doctor. I'll make sure she gets the rest she needs.” Bert nodded. As the doctor and Karson left the room, Bert returned to my bedside.
Daniel's PerspectiveThe wind howled in my ears, and my heart nearly leapt into my throat. In that moment, the world seemed to freeze. There was only the sound of the wind and the frantic thumping of my heart. I looked down, closer and closer to the lake, knowing that this was the moment when I would reach my limit.But then, at the exact moment I braced myself, I turned my head to look at Giovanni. He, too, had leapt off the cliff and was plummeting downward. I had expected him to squeeze his eyes shut, flailing his arms and legs like I was, bracing for the inevitable plunge into the water. But what happened next was beyond anything I could have predicted.As we neared the surface of the lake at nearly the same time, I witnessed an incredible transformation: Giovanni shifted mid-air. In an instant, his body morphed into the form of a majestic werewolf—his muscular frame expanding with raw power, his entire being exuding the energy of a st
Daniel's PerspectiveI thought nothing special would happen today – or at least, that's what I originally believed. But as it turned out, I misjudged how the day would unfold. And that's how life often works—always teaching you an unexpected lesson when you least expect it.In the plaza of the amusement park, sunlight filtered through the swaying trees, filling the air with laughter and the tempting smells of food. People were buying cotton candy from the booths, jumping on trampolines, and shouting with excitement as they zipped by on roller coasters. I moved along with the crowd, step by step, almost as if I were trying to leave the mundane behind—without even realizing it.Giovanni, Finn, and I stood at the entrance to the park, and despite knowing I didn't really belong here—not with the joy that seemed to surround me—I couldn't help but look around. My gaze drifted from one attraction to the next, my insides fl
Fern's PerspectiveI almost held my breath. I knew that the temptation embedded in that statement wasn't just a comment about Daniel.My fingers brushed the edge of the tablecloth without thought, the cool fabric pulling me back from my musings. My gaze quietly settled on Daniel and Giovanni, their interaction like a subtle tug-of-war—effortless and fluid, but sending ripples through my mind.Giovanni's gaze was intense and focused. The familiar scrutiny that sometimes swept over Daniel made a cold sweat break out across my back. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that everything was under control—at least for now.To keep Giovanni from discovering Daniel's true identity, I'd turned to Peter the Wizard, the eccentric and mysterious old man. He'd given me a potion that supposedly shielded Daniel from the fluctuations of werewolf power, making him appear like any other ordinary child. However, the potion's effects were limit
Fern's Perspective"Mom, I'd like another roast." Daniel's voice rang out sharply, pulling me back to the present. His little hands shot up in the air, and his eyes sparkled as he eagerly watched the waiter bringing the dish. His movements were effortless, as though he had nothing to hide, no secrets to keep.I took a deep breath, and the corner of my mouth lifted into a faint smile. "Eat slowly, don't choke." My words were light, but underneath the table, my hands clenched into fists, a thin sheen of sweat breaking out on my palms.Giovanni's gaze felt like a searchlight, locking onto me with unsettling intensity.I kept my composure, the smile on my face unwavering. "As you can see, Mr. Giovanni, this is my son, Daniel.""A human son?" Giovanni asked bluntly, his tone smooth yet heavy, the kind of gentleness that carried a weight you couldn't ignore. He picked up his dinner knife and sliced into his steak with deliberate slowness
Giovanni's PerspectiveThe air in the room seemed to freeze, my eyes locked on Diana, like black holes intent on piercing through every secret she tried to hide. She stood on the other side of the desk, her fingers gripping the strap of her handbag so tightly that her knuckles turned white. I didn't respond immediately to her words, just stared at her in silence. But inside, my emotions churned like a storm, threatening to suffocate me."He's human," Diana repeated, her tone firm but betraying a subtle tremor. "Daniel is my child with a normal human. He has nothing to do with the werewolf world."I rose to my full height, my towering frame casting a shadow over Diana's petite one. Slowly, I rounded the desk, each step deliberate. The air grew heavier, charged with the intimidating presence only an Alpha could command. Her small frame trembled slightly under the weight of my unspoken challenge."Diana," I said, my voice low and even, thoug
Fern's PerspectiveEarly in the morning, with the fresh scent of damp earth in the air, I sat at my desk, my fingers resting on the keyboard, my gaze drifting aimlessly. Today's work felt unusually uninteresting, and my mind had already wandered far away. For some reason, I couldn't shake the feeling that something unusual was about to happen.I couldn't focus at all; my heart beat erratically, as though something was urging me to face it. I glanced at the clock on the wall, and just as I was about to dial my assistant, I heard a sudden voice.
Fern's PerspectiveMy heart skipped a beat, and my vision blurred. A thousand thoughts rushed through my mind, but none of them stuck. First, I was shocked. Then, fear gripped me. And finally—anger.It was almost surreal that my past, especially with Giovanni, was being casually dragged into the open today. The anonymity I'd worked so hard to maintain had been shattered by an uninvited guest."How did you... know?" I finally asked, panic evident in my voice. My heart pounded, as though a vice had tightened around my chest, making it
Fern's PerspectiveMoonlight streamed into the room through the blinds as I sat by the window, my hands clutching my cell phone. The unexpected message on the screen made my heart skip a beat. For days after the party had ended, I'd been anxious that Giovanni might discover something about Daniel, but to my surprise, Giovanni hadn't shown up at the office. All my suspicions and insecurities gradually settled, and I convinced myself I could go on with my life as it was—until this moment."I know your secret. If you don't want it exposed, meet me tomorrow at 3 p.m. at the Eclipse Café."
Fern's PerspectiveI never imagined I'd be standing in front of Giovanni at a moment like this. Six years had passed—six years enough for me to almost forget that painful memory, those deep and tangled emotions. But today, fate had brought me face-to-face with those eyes, eyes that once pierced so deeply into my heart.My heart pounded so hard it felt like it might jump out of my chest. Instinctively, I hid Daniel behind me, doing my best to block Giovanni's view. Even though I knew Giovanni's gaze was far sharper than I'd ever anticipated. My body tensed, frozen, barely able to move, and the clash of reason and in