Bella:I loved Kai as my mate, but with each passing day, it felt like I was suffocating. First, I discovered Hazel could be a witch, and for the past three days, Kai’s grandma had been cleansing the house of supernatural energies, which meant she was trying to get rid of me. I loved spending time with him, but I had never prayed so hard for Finn to come and get me.“The twenty-fifth is almost here, and all hands need to be on deck!” Kai’s grandma yelled as we made our way downstairs for breakfast. “We have a lot to do, and I doubt thirty hours will be enough, so everyone needs to work to earn their meal!” she added in a loud tone, and I glanced at Kai.“She hosts her children on the twenty-fifth and the twenty-sixth, so we have to prepare for this large banquet. The servants will handle the meal and the baking, while I enjoy going to the woods to get the tree,” he whispered, and I nodded, trying to understand why we had to labor to eat.Christmas with my father was always easy; all I
Kai:“Aren’t we supposed to be fetching the tree for your granny?” Bella asked as she got out of the water, her entire body dripping wet.Her words barely registered because my entire being was focused on her smooth skin, glistening in the winter sun.“Kai!” she called out, snapping me out of my trance, but not completely.I had been with her just a few days ago, but the fact she would leave with Finn in two days made me want her every second. It was freezing, and I would have loved to add having sex in a hot spring to my list, but it wasn’t private.“Sorry, I got carried away,” I said, standing up while she rubbed her arms to warm herself as she walked to the car to get her clothes.We both got dressed quickly, and I set out to cut the tree. Soon, it was loaded onto the truck, and we headed home. On our drive home, I tried to concentrate, but my mind wandered to her juicy lips and her succulent bosoms, clouding my mind with the dirtiest thoughts.I had to have her, and soon.We stopp
Bella:The constant ringing of Kai’s phone woke both of us. He wrapped his arms tighter around me, pressing me to his chest as he tried to burrow deeper into sleep, hoping to avoid answering the call. It was our last day together, and in a few hours, Finn would be here to take me away.“Just pick it up already,” I said when the caller wouldn’t relent.He groaned, letting go of me, then rolled to the other end of the bed to grab his phone off the nightstand. He said only a syllable to the caller before ending the call.“It’s Finn. He’s already on his way with our parents,” he said, pulling me closer and kissing my forehead gently. “I can’t believe you’re leaving today,” he added, a deep sigh escaping his lips.“You say it like you won’t see me in fourteen days,” I replied, feeling his grip tighten. “I might pass out if you keep doing that.”I wriggled out of his embrace and gently caressed his hair with my hand, his beautiful grey eyes opening, filling me with a pang of sadness.“You a
Bella:The ride from the Dusk Pack to the Thorne Pack was longer than I had expected. It had been four hours since we left their grandma’s house, and we were only just arriving at the boundary of the Thorne Pack. My mind couldn’t shake off my encounter with Halle, and her talk about Hazel left me curious, but there was no one to provide the answers I sought.As we drove into the pack’s territory, I saw something zoom past us with incredible speed, causing me to glance into the side mirror. There was nothing there.“What’s that?” Finn asked, his hands steady on the wheel. I shook my head, trying to dismiss it. “You must be tired from the journey,” he said, and I forced a smile.The surrounding energy grew strange, sending shivers up my spine. I immediately knew something was off about the road, making me momentarily forget about Halle.“Bella,” Finn called out again, glancing at me briefly. I forced another smile. “Do you want me to make a stop?” he asked, slowing the car. Before I cou
Bella:The next day, a sweet smell that attacked my nostrils awoke me, causing me to open my eyes to see Finn leaning on one hand, watching me with a smile. His hair was rough, but he smelled like soap, evidence that he had already taken a bath.“Good morning,” I muttered, trying to keep my eyes open while he planted a kiss on my lips.“I made breakfast,” he said, a smile creeping onto my face.I tried not to compare my time here to that of Kai. Granny had kept us fed, but Finn was keeping me fed, and it made me happy.“What did you make?” I asked, throwing my arms around his neck and kissing his lips.“You’ll have to find out,” he replied, pulling away from me. Then he got to his feet.I sat up, taking his hand, which he had held out for me, and he pulled me up, causing my face to collide with his chest, giving him an opportunity to steal a kiss from my forehead. We left the room and made our way downstairs. I was fine on my feet, but halfway down, he thought it wise to sweep me into
Bella:It was the morning of the twenty-ninth, and after cleaning up from breakfast, I made my way up the spiraling stairs, marveling at how quickly the days had passed. It was already the fourth day, and I had until the evening of the first with Finn.When I reached the bedroom, expecting to laze around, watch a movie, and relax, I was surprised to see Finn dressed up, combing his hair in front of the mirror.“Where are you off to?” I asked, walking towards him.“We’re going shopping,” he said, placing the comb on the table. I raised an eyebrow. “Every year, the guys and I throw this awesome party, separately, and then we make clips to determine who partied the hardest during the break.”I crossed my arms, my brows shooting up. It sounded ridiculous, but the excitement on his face softened my expression. I had a lot to learn from them, and it wouldn’t be easy dealing with three boys.“You don’t seem happy...”“I’m good. I’ll be ready in a minute,” I said, kissing his cheek before hea
Bella:The thirty-first flew by in the blink of an eye with only a few hours left until new year. Despite the lingering sadness from my broken family, Finn had been my rock, helping me find strength. Being with him brought a sense of relaxation I hadn’t felt in a long time. I had never enjoyed planning a party, but today, because of him, I did.“The party is about to start, and people are already on their way.” Finn’s words jolted me from my thoughts as I stared at my reflection in the mirror.He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me close until my back was against his chest.“I will always be with you, and I want you to remember that. I hope this party will take away your worries,” he whispered, pressing his lips to my cheek.I forced a smile, trying to believe his words.Finn and I had showered together, and I dressed in a mini jean skirt, a crop top, and sneakers. Finn wore a baseball tee, baggy cargo pants, and sneakers.“You look great,” I said as I applied my lipstick in
Bella:Last night had been the longest I had stayed up, and I hated myself more for what I had done. I looked around for Finn, but he wasn’t nearby; I couldn’t pick up his scent, so I had to force myself to sleep.Maybe I overreacted, but how could I have known? She was all over him, and he took her to the room.No, you are wrong; I told myself as I curled up in bed, my heart feeling like it would pop out of my chest.Suddenly, his scent swirled around me, causing me to jump out of bed. I grabbed the door, opening it to find the hallway bare, which made my heart sink, but I didn’t stop. With weak legs, I made my way downstairs until I reached the bottom, where I saw him sitting on the couch with his head thrown back. Did he really have to sleep out the whole night?He opened his eyes at once and got to his feet. I expected him to be cold, but then he rushed up to me, pulling me into a hug.“I’m sorry about last night,” I said, wrapping my arms around him with tears in my eyes.“No, I
THIRD PERSON POV:Bella stood over Enzo’s battered form, her chest heavy from the stresss. Blood dripped from the cuts on her face and arms, but victory was near, so she held herself steady.“Bella! Catch!” Kai yelled, tossing her the stake.“No, you do not have to do this. We are partners,” Enzo said to her, and Bella scoffed. She hated the fact he thought his ‘sweet’ words would change her heart after she saw him take everyone she cared about.Bella reached up, her fingers closing around the black shaft, then she glared at Enzo, who was struggling under her grip. His once-dominating presence was reduced to desperation.“You deserve nothing but death,” Bella said to him, and he chuckled.“I will always find a way to ret—” Before he could finish, she drove the stake into his heart, and he gave a deafening scream that reverberated through the ground.Dark energy swirled around him as his body was being torn apart. Bella wasted no time pulling the stake free and driving it into his head
THIRD PERSON POV:As Bella’s body rose, her hand stretched out, pointing towards Enzo. Then the glow in her eyes dissipated as her eyes opened.“You want me, Enzo? Then come and get me!” she yelled at once. Enzo’s lips curled into a wicked grin, bloodlust evident in his eyes. He released Herald’s broken body, letting it fall to the ground.“Finally, you’re done hiding behind your pathetic friends. I’ll enjoy ripping you apart.” He licked his lips.In a blur, Enzo charged at Bella with blinding speed. Bella stood her ground as he closed the distance between them. She moved calmly, causing him to fall to the ground. Hazel undid the shield protecting them, and they tried to step in, but Bella turned to them.“This is my fight, and if you want to be helpful, then look around. Our troops are dying, and my father.” She locked off her emotions to prevent her mind from getting clouded by the thoughts of her father, who seemed to be dying.Then she turned to Enzo, who got to his feet with a sh
THIRD PERSON POV:Enzo’s eyes narrowed as he saw Sue collapse, clutching her chest where Fred had slashed her. She watched as the venom of his bite spread faster into her bloodstream. It was worse than being bitten by a living wolf, as it was consuming her twice. Rage bubbled inside Enzo as he watched her. She was useless to him, and he felt the need to get rid of her, as she had only foiled all his plans.“You!” He growled under his breath, leaving Halle and rushing toward Sue. As she saw her uncle from the fading light that drew her closer to death, her eyes lit up with a glimmer of hope.“You… you came to help me,” she whispered weakly, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. “I… knew you… cared…”Enzo stared at her in disgust as she said this, and for a moment, it seemed like the battlefield held its breath for this moment where Enzo was about to show kindness.With one pull, Enzo had Sue on her feet, then he stared into her eyes. “Of course, I came for you, Sue. You’ve been
THIRD PERSON POV:Enzo was still outraged about his failed immortality experiment. He was tired of running in circles with Bella and the entire werewolf community. He had sworn it would end that night, but now that it had failed, he imagined finding four hundred werewolves all over. That was close to impossible, and it was eating him deeply.“I asked you for one job, and you couldn’t get it right, yet you want me to acknowledge you!” Enzo barked at Sue, who was still in shock over what had happened.“I swear I didn’t do anything, Enzo. I would never do anything to jeopardize your plan. I will worship you forever, and—”“Silence!” he roared. “You are even more pathetic than my brother!” He gritted his teeth, and Sue felt as though multiple daggers were being thrown into her chest.He had to mention her father. It was said her father died fighting him, but Enzo had taken a liking to her, so he kept her as his daughter. He was nicer to her as a kid, but he abhorred her now, and it hurt.
THIRD PERSON POV:The air reeked of blood and smoke, thick with the cries of war. The Dusk Pack's territory, once a sprawling, serene land, had become a battlefield drowned in chaos. The moon hung low, partially obscured by clouds, casting pale light on the destruction below. Growls and screams filled the night as werewolves clashed with vampires in a brutal fight.Ryder stood at the heart of the storm, his wolf eyes glowing a fierce gold as he ripped through the enemy ranks with unrelenting force. His clothes were torn and soaked in blood. He wondered how his father was doing and if he thought of him often. Then there was Bella, whom he hadn’t heard from in a while. As he fought, he was determined to win because there were a lot of people he needed to reconnect with.They had been torn apart after the vampires struck their den, forcing them to flee back to the Dusk Pack with Riley. He had been scared of his father’s wrath, but now he wished he had listened.“Behind you!” Ryder roared
THIRD PERSON POV:Bella’s spirit wandered aimlessly, her bare feet touching nothing but mist and shadow. The world around her was colorless—a sea of gray stretching infinitely in all directions. There was no up, no down, just an endless void that pulsed with her heartbeat, faint and unsteady.“Where am I?” she whispered as a chill ran up her spine.It was cold here. She looked down at herself, seeing her missing arm somehow restored. She touched it in confusion.“What the hell? What is going on?” she asked aloud, but there was no one to answer her questions.Then she noticed it. A faint, flickering golden glow ahead. It pulsed like a beacon in the dark, and though her instincts screamed for her to run, but she couldn’t stop herself from moving toward it. She was curious to find out what was going on, and she wondered if this was what it felt like to be dead.As she got closer, the glow grew brighter, and soon the mist thinned to reveal something that made her blood run cold. It was hi
THIRD PERSON POV:“Bella!” Hazel’s voice cracked as she rushed toward her, the globe clutched tightly against her chest.“No, stay back!” Halle’s voice cut through the chaos.Bella staggered to her feet, clutching her side where Sue had struck her.“But she’s dying!” Hazel’s voice was shrill, filled with panic and anger.Bella barely registered their words. The sound of her own heartbeat pounded in her ears, growing fainter with each passing moment. Her head drooped, and she let out a weak, shuddering breath. Darkness started to creep into her vision, the edges of her consciousness slipping away. She could heal, but not regenerate an arm, and she was in fear cause her to bleed too much, making it difficult to focus on healing. Evelyn rushed to her, holding her and trying to apply pressure to the bleeding arm. She was scared her daughter would die.Then the ground trembled beneath them.At first, it was a faint vibration rippling through the earth. But within moments, it grew into a vi
THIRD PERSON POV:As the chant of the witches echoed in the air, Hazel and Bella stood close to the rock. Halle stood nearby with her hands raised as she reinforced the protective barrier.“Are you both ready?” Halle asked the two, and they glanced at each other, nodding. They each bit their palms, letting blood drip onto the surface of the rock. The ground trembled as the stone absorbed their blood. A surge of energy rippled outward, and for a moment, it seemed like they had succeeded. But then a chilling laugh echoed through the air, freezing them in place.Sue emerged from the darkness, but neither Bella nor Hazel was moved. The witches kept chanting their spell, and Halle, who had created a powerful barrier, turned to Sue.“Well, isn’t this touching? The living and the dead all merged together. What a joyous reunion,” she said in a mocking tone.Sebastian moved first, stepping between Sue and the girls.“Stay back!” he growled, raising his hands defensively, and Sue chuckled light
THIRD PERSON POV:Fae turned sharply to Sebastian, her eyes blazing with fury.“What the fuck did you just do?” she hissed, her voice sharp enough to cut glass. Sebastian remained still. He didn’t answer, and his gaze fixed on the stone as his blood trickled down its surface.“Sebastian!” Fae snarled, stepping closer as she burned with rage. “You just ruined—”A slow creak interrupted her. It came from deep within the ground beneath the stone, a sound like an ancient door being forced open. Fae froze, her anger replaced by confusion.“What’s that?” she whispered as fear crossed her heart.The vampires surrounding them snapped to attention, their heads turning toward the noise. Before anyone could react, the vampires behind Bella and Hazel snapped their necks, allowing them to fall into darkness.**Bella’s eyes fluttered open. Her head throbbed, and her vision was hazy. She sat up slowly in a sluggish motion. It was still nighttime, and she was trying to remember what had happened.“W