Bella:“It’s crazy how the days are flying by,” Ryder said, breaking the spell of the book I was engrossed in. I closed it and looked at him as he sat close, lifting my legs onto his lap. His warmth seeped into my skin.“I’ve kept you cooped up here for days, just eating and lounging around. I must be boring you to death,” he said, his voice tinged with concern. His lips puckered in a mock pout, making me smile. I took his hand, sitting up to reassure him.“I love being with you, Ryder. We don’t need anything spectacular. How about a walk?” I suggested, hoping to ease his mind. He sprang to his feet immediately, his sudden energy almost startling me. He began pacing around the room, one hand covering his mouth, the other resting on his waist.It was a familiar sight—Ryder overthinking things again.He suddenly clapped his hands, eyes lighting up with an idea. “I’ve got it!” He rushed over, grabbing my thighs and shaking me gently. “A party! But not just any party, I—”“Let it go,” I i
Bella:The walk back to the house was far from peaceful. My mind was a whirlpool of thoughts, each more distressing than the last. Sebastine in Frost Pack? It had to be a joke.Someone from my past playing a cruel prank. But who? Father wouldn’t do this, or could it be Fae? That thought sent a shiver down my spine, worse than the idea of Sebastine being here. My anxiety tightened like a vise around my chest.“Did I do something wrong?” Ryder’s voice cut through my internal chaos. He sounded worried, his brow furrowing as he glanced at me. “You’ve been so quiet since we started walking back. Did I…?”“No, Ryder,” I interrupted, forcing a smile that felt more like a grimace. “I’m just a bit hungry. I’ll be fine once we get home,” I lied, hoping to ease his concern.I tried to return to my nerve-racking internal debate, but his worried eyes haunted me all the way home.As we stepped into the house, I unwound the muffler from around my neck, hanging it on the coat rack. The rich aroma of
Bella:Despite my vacation nearing its end and the unsettling possibility of Sebastine stalking me from the shadows, I woke up with a wide smile. For now, I felt on top of the world. The triplets had gone off in their various ways to prove their worthiness, sometimes making me feel undeserving. Yet, this was all part of the Moon goddess’s design, and she knew best.I opened my eyes slowly, careful not to disturb Ryder’s firm hold on me. His steady breath against my neck was a comforting rhythm, but I needed a moment to myself. I wriggled out of his arms, slipping quietly out of bed, and made my way to the balcony. The chilly morning air greeted me, biting at my skin, but the view was worth it.The snow-covered beach stretched out before me, meeting the icy waters of the ocean. Birds chirped in the trees nearby, their melodies echoing in the calm air. I gripped the railings, feeling the support of the balustrades beneath my fingers, and let the serene scene wash over me.Suddenly, Ryde
Bella:I struggled for a while to get myself as my entire body went weak. My hands could barely grasp my phone as I stared at the picture of Hazel and Sebastine together with a huge smile planted on their faces. Was he the guy she met during the break? It couldn’t be.Mentally, I tried to pull myself away from the darkness from a few months back, but the shock on Sebastine’s face as he watched his mate die remained vivid.“Bella.”Ryder’s voice pulled me back as he placed his hand on my thigh.“The car stopped about five minutes ago, and our parents are already inside.” I shut my phone when he said this, then I opened the door, getting out of the car while he got down from the door which was already opened for him. He walked over to me, taking my hand in his. “We need to be strong for Finn and Kai. This is going to be very difficult, but if we are this sad, then what about them?”When he said this, my mind was fully drawn back to the occasion. There were cars littered around the house
Third person pov:The extra week given by the Alpha for people to get a hold of themselves flew by in the twinkle of an eye, and before the students could tell, it was almost time for resumption. Bella and Hazel had planned to shop for school, which was bound to begin in three days, while Sebastine was at the other end of the Frost Pack with Fae, finalizing their plans, which would throw Bella off balance on the first day of school.Sebastine and Fae had met after Fae’s suspension from school. She had requested a break from the Rune pack from her parents, who spoiled her and couldn’t say no. This enabled Fae to do some extra snooping until she found Sebastine, who was the son of the Rune pack’s Beta. Their families were close, so it wasn’t difficult.Her parents, on the other hand, paid off Mr. Ezekiel to retract his statement, enabling Fae to take her exams during the break. Having to do all that extra work made her swear to make Bella’s life a living hell.“So, do I need to go over
Third person pov:It was the first day of school, and the entire place buzzed with energy as students returned from their winter vacation. The school grounds were still blanketed in snow, forcing everyone into thick coats that barely allowed the girls to showcase their mini skirts, though it didn’t stop them from flaunting their latest designer heels.The triplets were back, and though it had been tough for the twins to move on from their mother’s death, Ryder, Bella, and Hazel had been doing their best to help them.“How about we go see a movie after classes today? I mean, school isn’t that serious yet,” Bella suggested. Everyone nodded in agreement as they made their way to their usual table at the café. The place was packed with students, all eagerly sharing stories about their break, creating a noisy, chaotic atmosphere.Bella sat between the twins, while Hazel and Ryder sat opposite them. They chatted casually about their holidays, carefully avoiding any mention of the events tha
Bella:“Sebastine, my boyfriend,” Hazel completed, and I stood still as if I had seen a ghost.He bent down at once, picking up my books and handing them to me. As my hands grasped my books, his brushed against mine, giving me a feel of his flesh.A part of me wished he were a ghost because he was definitely here to wreak havoc, and I already had Fae on my trail. I remembered Hazel’s words from before, so I remained silent and shut my eyes, hoping to open them and realize it was a dream. But he was still standing there with a coy smile on his face, his hand stretched out for a handshake.My eyes darted to Hazel, who wouldn’t stop grinning like a child. Reluctantly, I forced myself to take his hand, and Hazel clapped in excitement before hanging her arm on his.“I finally get to meet the alpha princess of my pack,” Sebastine said, and I kept a straight face, wondering what lies he had told her. “Forgive my manners, I am Sebastine,” he said, and I withdrew my hand, glancing at Hazel.Se
Bella:My walk back to class was slow and steady. I tried to gather every ounce of strength within me because I had to face Sebastian fair and square. He had no clue who Fae was or how she could ruin his life with one snap.The moment I stood a few meters away from the classroom door, Sebastian walked out immediately, a smirk hanging on his face.“Finally, I can be with you,” he said, walking towards me. I tried to maintain my stance, unfazed by his aura.He closed the gap between us, wrapping the ends of my hair around his finger, and took a brief sniff. I slapped his hand away.“Do not touch me!” I gritted my teeth, and he chuckled.“A few months back, you were begging to be touched by me.” He whispered in my ear while I scoffed.I never had sex with him because I thought it right to wait until we were sure about the mate bond, and boy, am I glad. But then he wouldn’t stop pestering me, and a part of me thought it was one reason he cheated with Bonnie, aside from the mate bond.I wa
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