Bella’s POV:The four of us left for the apartment, and silently, I prayed Ryder would be fine. I tried to block out the gory images clouding my head, picturing the things that could have happened to him. I believed he was okay, and it would be nothing severe, but I was just fooling myself because I could feel it in my chest.When we arrived at the tall glass building stretching far into the sky, the twins handed me a card key.“The apartment is the penthouse,” they said, and I nodded, opening the door. Hazel grabbed my hand, giving me a reassuring smile. I got out and headed towards the sliding doors.I made my way straight to the elevator, pressing the button that led to the penthouse. When it stopped and the doors slid open, my chest thumped as I walked into the hallway leading to the front door. I slid the card on the lock and swallowed hard, waiting for the door to open.What lay behind was what I had dreaded. There, on the floor, Ryder lay hopelessly with bloodied clothes, makin
Bella:“Ryder!” I gasped, rushing towards him as he crashed to the floor.I reached for his hands, but then he opened his eyes, and a frown appeared on his face as he saw me. He slapped my hands away, sitting up.“What the fuck? Who let you in, Runestone?” he questioned in a raised tone as he surveyed the room. “Babe,” he called out to Fae, and she rushed towards him while I stood there, allowing my heart to shatter into multiple pieces.It was happening again, and everything felt like it was just yesterday.I watched Ryder wrap his arms around Fae, kissing her forehead before pulling away to look at the both of us.“I... I can’t really remember how I got all bloodied. The last thing I can remember was you saving me, and I can’t imagine what I would have done without you,” he said, pulling her into a hug, while Fae turned back briefly, giving me a smile that hurt more than anything.I tried to steady my breath, but it wasn’t working, and my mind became lost.“Why the hell is she still
Bella:Secretly compelling Ryder to do what I wanted by fooling Fae into thinking he was on her side was my only shot at getting rid of her. The first thing I did at the rising of the sun was pray to the moon goddess, hoping my plan would go smoothly, because that was the only way I could exist in peace with my mates at the school.As I sat at the cafe table with Hazel beside me, I stared at Ryder and Fae, who were a few tables away, and watched her put her hands all over him.“You have barely touched your food, and it’s bothering me. You all are mates, but he is an asshole, and you have two against one,” Hazel said. I forced a smile, picked at my meat, and then looked up again as I took a bite.‘How long will this take? I am losing my patience with her, and I want her off my body.’ I heard Ryder speak, and I widened my eyes, pausing with my fork of meat hanging close to my lips.‘Did I just hear you speak or…?’‘Bella, we have fulfilled the mating ritual and are fully connected. I do
Bella:The entire day had been filled with tension as Fae spent it facing the panel because Mr. Ezekiel wouldn’t let go of the case. I had no clue about his granddaughter or what Fae had done to her, but it worked out for me. Even though I felt bad for him getting hurt, I was happy I won.“... I was just so tired of getting beaten and bullied by her, so I decided to stand up for myself.” I concluded the story, leaving the twins and Hazel in stunned silence.Of course, I didn’t mention the part where I compelled Ryder. I still couldn’t tell if they would accept me the way I was, so I left that out.“You did nothing wrong, Bella. Because of you, we won’t be seeing her face for a while, maybe even a lifetime. She has hurt many people, so she deserves whatever she gets.” Finn, who sat on my left, reached out for my hand. I forced a smile onto my face.We continued our lunch, digressing into different topics until the subject of the match came up.“The match is coming up in a couple of hou
Third Person POV:The game had everyone on the edge of their seats, and Bella’s heart raced each time Ryder faced an opponent. Even though he was skilled, she couldn’t bear the thought of him getting hurt. The entire time, Hazel wore a bright smile, cheering and booing at the right moments.“Hey, do you want to get a drink or something?” Hazel grabbed Bella’s hand, and Bella nodded, grateful for the distraction.Bella turned to inform the guys, who were deeply engrossed in the game.“Do you want us to come?” Kai asked, but Bella shook her head.“We’ll be fine.”Bella didn’t want Ryder to look up and see their seats empty. Plus, she wanted to spend time with Hazel.Hazel stood up quickly, and they made their way out of the bleachers, searching for a vending machine around the field. They found one, but as they approached it, Hazel tugged Bella’s hand, pulling her backward. They slipped behind the vending machine, hiding in an alley that led back to the school building.Bella was about
Bella:The cheer from the entire school snapped me out of my thoughts, and I rushed outside with the twins to see which team had won the tournament. The entire Howlstone crowd was on their feet, chanting with the football team and lifting Ryder on their shoulders.“Yes!” Finn yelled, jumping up with pride. He pulled Kai and me into a hug, as if he was the one who had won a trophy, making me ecstatic.We waited there until the school team made their way over with Ryder still on their shoulders. He told them to stop when he got to us, and they put him down, still cheering.“I’ll be with you guys in a moment,” he said to them, and then they rushed into the school building, screaming at the top of their voices.“We are proud of you, man!” Finn said as they shook hands and engaged in a light hug. Ryder then turned to me. I was dying of excitement and couldn’t say a thing; I just pulled him into a hug.He pulled away, kissed my forehead, and grabbed my hand.“The coach said you put in a goo
Bella:As my lips pressed against Kai’s, I pulled Ryder close to me with my left hand. Kai ravished my mouth, sucking and tugging on my tongue. It was the first time kissing him, and it felt amazing, better than I had imagined. Ryder and Finn closed in on me from the sides, and I felt Ryder’s hardness against my back, which made me pull away from Kai.The reality of my mates wanting me hit me all at once, and panic surged through me. I pushed Ryder backward, then left the circle and sat on the bed.“Did we do something wrong?” Finn asked, and I shook my head.“I... I just can’t do this because... because I don’t know how to. It has only happened in my dreams, and they’re not long enough to figure out how to.”Kai crouched in front of me, caressing my thighs gently. “That’s why we’re here. Allow us to show you how to,” he said, planting kisses slowly from my legs up to my thighs, making me gasp.Finn and Ryder got on the bed behind me, their lips glued to the sides of my neck simultane
Bella:Winter break had finally arrived, and although many unpleasant emotions hung in the air, I tried my best to focus on the good things. Hazel and her aunt were leaving for an island in the Western region of Moonfire, the Rune pack’s territory. This trip stirred up old memories for me. Plus, my father had called a while ago to ask if I wanted to spend the holidays with him, and I still hadn’t given him a reply. I didn’t blame him for letting me go, but his desire to have me back, knowing I would always feel like an outcast, made me unsure about going.“So, have you decided how you would like to spend the holiday?” Hazel asked, cutting through my thoughts as I placed her luggage in the trunk of her aunt’s car. “We only have about four weeks left, and we’ve wasted the last three weeks crying over my terrible relationship,” she said, and I cleared my throat.I had cried with her, but not only because of her own problems, but also mine.I wanted to see my dad, but I couldn’t face him.
Third Person Pov:After a few minutes, Hazel sat up in bed as sweat clung to her skin while she stared blankly at the dark room. The thoughts of what had happened earlier still swirled through her mind, and Riley’s comforting presence next to her did little to soothe the icy knot of fear and dread settling deep in her stomach. Something about the nightmare didn’t feel right—it felt far too vivid, and too real to be just a dream. Her parents’ faces and the accusations in their voices couldn’t be figments of her imagination, and the witch in her refused to let it go.“No,” she whispered in a shaky breath.Riley’s hand rubbed soothing circles on her back. “Hazel, it was just a nightmare. It’s okay—”He tried to convince her with a sleepy voice, but Hazel shook her head sharply, pushing the covers off her body as she swung her legs over the edge of the bed.“It wasn’t just a nightmare, Riley,” she said firmly, trying to steady her voice. Her parents had never come to her, and now that the
THIRD PERSON POV:One would have thought Bella was crazy because of what she was seeing, but she was far from that. She wasn’t the only one plagued by ghosts, but no one knew this for now. While Bella was battling the ghost of Joseph Black-Moon, Hazel was in the Dusk Pack with Riley, trying to enjoy her weekend.They had spent the entire day driving from the Frost pack to his father’s mansion at a beach with a good ocean view. Finally, they got there in the evening.“My butt hurts,” Hazel groaned as soon as Riley came to a halt in the enormous mansion in front of them.Riley leaned in to kiss her cheek. “You can rest all night now, and we can do whatever we want tomorrow.”He spoke as though he hadn’t been the one driving the entire time while Hazel had done nothing but play songs, read a book, and sleep through the entire ride. They both got down from the car, and Riley took Hazel’s bag from her, grabbing her hand with his other hand, then they made their way to the front door. He sl
Bella:“What?” I asked, staring at Finn.“Is something wrong?” Finn asked, and I shook my head at once, shutting my book and getting to my feet. “Bella, is something wrong?” I felt a slight shiver as his hands grazed my skin, then I turned to face him.For a moment, I battled with my mind, wondering if I should spill what I knew to him, but if I didn’t, I would have to solve whatever this was, and I didn’t want to follow the same path I did with Fae.“He is the man from my dream last night.” The words came out of my mouth, and Finn stared with his face contorted in confusion.I sighed, then walked back to the bed.“I had a nightmare last night,” I said to him, and he sat close to me as I started narrating everything I could remember from the dream.I ended by saying, “The dream felt so real, and I have a scar from it.” I showed him the mark on my hand, and he ran his hands over it.“According to Hazel, you didn’t kill Bonnie, so why is she mad at you? She should be mad at Sebastian.”
Bella:Today was cheerful enough for most of the students at Howlstone Academy. The vibrant energy of exam prep filled the air, a relief from the tension that had shadowed the halls two weeks ago when Fae was expelled. There were no bullies lurking around to ruin the day, and for once, I didn’t have to glance over my shoulder, expecting someone to plot my demise.As usual, I walked to class with Hazel and the triplets. The sun streamed through the tall windows, casting long beams across the polished floor, but something about the brightness felt off. It was too cheerful, too perfect. As soon as we stepped into the hallway, the bell blared through the air, startling me.“That’s the bell for class,” Hazel said, her voice snapping me back to reality.“See you guys later,” I said to the triplets, giving them a quick wave as I grabbed Hazel’s hand.We made our way down the corridor, the familiar hum of conversation and footsteps filling the space. At our lockers, I grabbed the books I need
THIRD PERSON POV:CONTINUATION OF FLASH BACKAll hell was let loose when the Luna knew that the first child would be a girl, but there was nothing she could do immediately. This made her decide she would stress Evelyn out so much in order to cause a miscarriage. She started maltreating Evelyn throughout the pregnancy, but she never did this in front of Herald. She was a saint when he was around, but the moment he stepped out, the two women were at loggerheads.Herald believed that Evelyn’s constant nagging was from the effects of the pregnancy, so he provided more material things for her without waiting to hear her out each time she tried to complain to him. This continued until the Fifth month of the pregnancy when Evelyn started spotting. The stress had weighed her down so much that her body could no longer take it.She was placed on bed rest, and she feared her baby would die. That same night, she woke Herald up because she was in a lot of pain, but he didn’t believe that she would
THIRD PERSON POV:Evelyn knew that her life without Fred wasn’t going to be rosy, but she didn’t expect what her in-laws had in store for her. On her first night at the Rune pack, she asked for a room where she could be alone, but her mother-in-law laughed.“What do you think you are here for?” she questioned, and Evelyn stared at her, unsure of what she was playing at. “You just got married, and you act like you do not know what couples do on their first night together. I mean, you have done it before, so continue from…”“I didn’t sleep with Herald,” Evelyn said, but Kate didn’t care.She had achieved what she wanted, and she was certain she had secured beautiful and strong grandchildren to take over their lineage.“Lie all you want, child, but you will sleep with your husband tonight, and you both will produce an heir for this family,” she said, and then Evelyn watched the guards move her things into Herald’s chamber.Herald, on the other hand, didn’t return on time that night. The
Bella:I felt the air being knocked out of my lungs as I asked my mother the question. She hurriedly shut the door, then faced me, shaking her head.“Why would you say that, Bella?” she asked, and I shrugged.“That day in your office, when Hazel talked about things that reminded you of the past, you glanced at me. You must not like me that much, and I definitely remind you of something you want to forget,” I said, watching her shut her eyes momentarily.“I do not hate you, Bella, and I never would. Of course, you remind me of my past because you are my daughter, and I’ve had you for sixteen years plus, and—”“Mum, stop!” I cut her off, raising my tone, forcing her to fall silent.I was tired of being driven around in circles. I wanted answers.“I need to know what happened with you and Dad because it kills me every single time I think about it,” I said, and she scoffed, shaking her head.“You do not need to know everything, Bella, and it’s called the past for a reason. So, do you want
Bella:“Good riddance to bad rubbish,” my mother said, and for the first time, I felt relieved standing close to her.Emily had said a lot about her last night. She had sent Emily’s mother to rescue me, and although it didn’t seem like much, I was grateful she was willing to save me even after all her threats to hand me over when I got discovered.As soon as the Stormclaws exited the school, I turned to leave, but my mother reached for my hand.“We are going for a drive,” she said, and I swallowed hard.This time, I didn’t pull away violently. I allowed her touch to seep in, and it felt a little less cold than it always had.“It’s Saturday, and I need to study,” I said, and she shot me a death glare before cocking her head towards her car, which stood in the parking lot.I took a deep breath, walking towards it. As soon as we got into the car and the doors were locked, she placed both hands on her lap, gripping them tightly. My heart raced as I expected her to do something drastic, bu
THIRD PERSON POV:The moment Emily’s mother said this, the haze in Fae’s eyes cleared at once, but it was too late.“What?” Fae asked as the guard came after her. “Principal Evelyn, I am sorry, and I... I didn’t mean it,” Fae tried to apologize, but no one seemed to listen, and the guard grabbed her hand at once.“Take her away, and I will call her parents right away!” Emily’s mother said to the guard, but then Fae bit him in the hand, causing him to yelp in pain.“That’s it!” the man growled, grabbing both hands and putting them behind her.“This isn’t right, and if you do not unhand me, you will face my father. You will face his wrath, I tell you! This isn’t the end, Howlstone! You cannot treat a Stormclaw like this and get away with it!”Her voice vanished in the distance as the man dragged her back to the dormitory.“Go back to bed right now!” Barry yelled at the students who were still watching, and they all groaned, putting away their phones and sliding away from the windows.In