Denera….“Denera…”I found myself back in that damned forest, the twisted trees and shadows closing in around me. "Denera..." The voice sent a chill down my spine, a familiar yet deeply unsettling tone that filled me with fear.I whipped my head around, searching for the source, but the thick foliage obscured any sign of another presence. My heart raced as I realized I was trapped in this nightmarish place once again. But this time, I was not the scared little girl I once was - my body had transformed, shifting into Sevyn’s wolf form. Still, the gut-wrenching dread crept up my spine, the instinct to flee overwhelming my senses."Run, Denera!" the voice commanded, and without hesitation, I took off, my paws pounding against the forest floor, snapping twigs and kicking up leaves in my desperate sprint. My muscles strained as I pushed myself to run faster, deeper into the woods, away from the unseen threat."Help!" I cried out, my wolfish howl echoing through the trees. I needed her p
Denera It was all happening too fast. As I peered out from the shadows of the corridor, observing the bustling activity in the grand hall, a sense of both amusement and anxiety washed over me. The guests, all dressed in their finest attire, mingled about, their laughter and chatter filling the air with tangible energy. It was clear that they were eagerly awaiting my arrival – the guest of honour whose birthday they had gathered to celebrate.Me…“Us,” Sevyn argued in my head. “It is our birthday, remember?”I rolled my eyes, knowing that she was as happy as I was at the moment. A part of me wanted to believe it was a dream or even a prank. Another part of my new life that was too good to be true. Maybe I was going to get out there and the whole room filled with werewolves would burst into laughter upon my arrival. Having my birthday celebrated and acknowledged by others was just too good to be true. And despite the festive atmosphere, I found myself rooted to the spot, unable to
Chapter 65Denera With a renewed sense of confidence, I followed Rachel out of the room and towards the grand staircase that overlooked the bustling hall below. As we approached the top of the stairs, I could feel the weight of countless expectant gazes upon me, the soft murmur of conversation gradually fading into an anticipatory hush.Pausing for a moment, I took a deep, steadying breath, my gaze sweeping across the sea of unfamiliar faces. The guests, adorned in their finest attire, stood in clusters, their eyes trained upon the top of the stairs, eagerly awaiting my arrival.Beside me, Rachel offered an encouraging nod, her hand giving my arm a gentle squeeze. "You've got this, my lady," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of my own heart.Squaring my shoulders, I began my descent, each step drawing me closer to the awaiting crowd. As I moved, the guests parted, creating a clear path for me to follow, their expressions a mix of reverence and curiosity.I cou
Denera As I pleaded with Rockan, his expression softened. "Alright, we can go to the village. But we'll need to be discreet about it."He turned to Rachel. "Rachel, you'll need to come with us to make sure the Denera is safe."Rachel nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. She knew how much I had enjoyed my previous visit to the village.As the sun began to set, the three of us slipped out of the packhouse, trying our best to avoid drawing attention. The journey to the village was filled with a sense of excitement and anticipation. I could hardly contain my eagerness to see the pack members again."Luna, look at this!" Rachel exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise as we entered the village square. "They've prepared a celebration just for you!"I followed her gaze, taking in the bustling scene before us. Tables were laden with an array of delicious-looking dishes, and a group of musicians had already begun playing lively, upbeat tunes. Children ran about, chasing each other and g
Denera As I stirred awake, the warm morning sunlight gently caressing my face, I became acutely aware of Rockan's strong, protective embrace. His steady heartbeat and the familiar scent of pine and earth enveloped me, filling me with a sense of profound comfort and security.Reluctantly, I tried to shift my position, but Rockan's arm tightened around me, refusing to let me go. A content smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I nuzzled deeper into his chest, savoring this rare moment of tranquility.Our lives were often consumed by the demands of the pack, and his constant disappearance to perform his duties to keep the entire kingdom. But here, in the privacy of our shared room, it was just the two of us.Gently, I traced the strong planes of Rockan's face, marveling at the softness that had replaced his usual stern expression. His eyes fluttered open, and I was met with the familiar amber gaze that had captivated me from the moment we first met."Good morning, little mate," he mu
Denera "Great, today we'll discuss plants and herbs," Adrianna began, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she gestured to the lush greenery surrounding us in the palace gardens. I took a seat on the ornate stone bench, my notebook open and pen in hand, ready to diligently record her every word. "I'm all ears," I replied, giving her my full attention.Adrianna smiled and started pacing slowly, her fingers trailing along the velvety leaves of a nearby shrub. "Plants are truly remarkable, you know. Each one is a veritable treasure trove of medicinal properties, just waiting to be unlocked."She paused to pluck a delicate purple blossom, twirling it between her fingers. "Take this lavender, for instance. The oil extracted from its fragrant flowers has tremendous calming effects. A few drops can soothe frayed nerves and induce a restful sleep."I dutifully jotted down 'lavender - sedative, sleep aid' in my notebook, eager to learn more."And just look at this rosemary," Adrianna continu
RockanI was lost in the paperwork scattered across my desk, mindlessly signing document after document. The monotonous task had lulled me into a subconscious state, my thoughts drifting elsewhere. But the sharp knock at my office door jolted me back to the present."Come in," I called out, hoping it was Denera on the other side. A moment of silence passed before the doorknob finally turned, and my anticipation quickly turned to a scowl as Adrianna stepped inside. "What do you want?" I asked firmly, doing little to mask my disdain for her presence.Adrianna's lips curled into an innocent-looking smile, but I knew better than to trust that facade. "Calm down, I just came to say hi," she replied, her tone dripping with feigned sweetness."Now leave," I demanded, not wanting to be anywhere near this woman. The mere sight of her set my teeth on edge - I feared what I might do if she lingered any longer."Oh Rocky, don't be so brutal," Adrianna purred, clearly enjoying my irritation. "I h
Denera "What if we check on anyone called Elena?" I suggested, watching as Rockan's eyes widened in realization. Rockan quickly turned to the book he was holding and began flipping through the pages. Finally, he stopped on a page that had a large family tree drawn on it, with many names scattered throughout."That's a lot of Elenas," I said, my eyes scanning the family tree Rockan had opened in the ancient leather-bound book. Seventeen distinct names were listed, each one bearing the same moniker. Rockan nodded solemnly. "The first Elena was the original healer's mate, centuries ago. Her husband's name was Stephen."We traced the lineage downward, the branches growing thicker as the generations passed. The names blurred together, a tapestry of intertwined lives stretching back through the ages. "It ends at the 18th generation," Rockan murmured, running his finger along the final entry. "But this book is over fifty years old. There could be more recent additions we're not seeing."
Denera“Your Highness,” a voice called softly, pulling me from the depths of sleep. My brows furrowed in concern, but I chose to ignore the words, hoping to drift back into my dreams. A knock on the door followed, and I groaned, forcing myself to open my eyes. “Come in,” I muttered, my voice thick with sleep.The door creaked open, and Rachel hurried inside, flanked by two other maids. My eyes widened slightly at the sight of them. “What’s going on?” I asked, my voice still heavy with drowsiness.“I can’t honestly believe you’re still in bed on a day like this,” Rachel said, her tone a mix of disbelief and urgency. She moved around the room with purpose, her hands gesturing for the other maids to follow her lead.“What do you mean by that?” I questioned, watching as they began to scurry around the room, arranging things I was yet to comprehend.Rachel turned to me, raising an eyebrow. “What are they doing?” I pointed at the other maids, who were now pulling back the curtains, letting
DeneraHe was in my arms, and it felt both surreal and grounding. This was the first time I had seen Rockan so vulnerable—raw and exposed, stripped of the mask he usually wore to shield himself from the world. The sight of him like this stirred a mix of emotions within me, and my dislike for Tyris deepened. How could he force Rockan to reveal himself in such a painful way? It felt cruel, a betrayal of the trust Rockan had placed in those closest to him.But right now, I was grateful he was here, in my embrace. For the first time, it felt like I was the one keeping him safe, the one who could shield him from the harsh realities that had shaped his life. “It’s okay,” I whispered softly, hoping my voice would be a soothing balm in the tense silence.As I looked at him, the scar that brutally marred his face caught my attention. It was a stark reminder of the things he went through, both physically and emotionally. Anyone with such a mark would typically be forced to wear a mask, hidin
Rockan“Leave,” Tyris left, making the tension even worse. She hated me. Her gaze fell to the ground, and I could see the conflict churning in her heart. “I didn’t mean to—” she began, but her voice faltered, leaving the words unspoken. I felt tears prick at the corners of my eyes, a wave of despair crashing over me. This wasn’t how I had envisioned this moment. I had wanted to show her my true self, to share my burdens and my past, but now I feared I had only pushed her away.“Do you… do you regret it?” I asked, my voice breaking as the question hung heavy in the air. The vulnerability I had sought to embrace now felt like a curse, leaving me exposed and raw.Denera lifted her gaze, and I could see the struggle in her expression, the way her heart fought against the fear. “No,” she finally said, her voice shaking. “I knew but I didn’t want it to be like this. This tension.”I nodded, my heart aching with the weight of her words. “I understand,” I whispered, feeling the gulf betwe
Rockan “How in the world do you fall in love with someone you haven’t even seen?!” Tyris yelled, his voice piercing through the quiet of the corridor.“Tyris!” I snapped, stepping out from the shadows where I had been hiding, my heart pounding with a mix of anger and disbelief.“Great, speak of the devil,” he shot back, rolling his eyes as if my presence was nothing more than a nuisance.“What do you think you’re doing?” I glared at him, my fists clenching at my sides. The tension crackled in the air between us, thick and suffocating. Instead of backing down, he merely scoffed, his arrogance pushing me closer to the edge.“I’m trying to open her eyes to what she doesn’t see and understand,” he retorted, his tone condescending. “I know you, brother, better than anyone else. Let this girl go. Drop the stupid ego of yours.”His words ignited a fire within me, fueling my anger. “I thought you came back with a change of heart. What in the world are you talking about now?” I frowned, strug
RockanHours had passed, and I found myself once again drowning in paperwork that demanded my immediate attention. The desk was cluttered with files, each stamped with the weight of responsibility and pressing urgency. Every pack, every territorial dispute, each one requiring my approval before a conclusion could be reached. The sheer volume felt suffocating, a mountain of bureaucracy that threatened to overwhelm me.I rubbed my eyes, fatigue creeping in like a slow tide. Each page was a reminder of the burdens I carried, and the stress began to knot in my stomach. I leaned back in my chair, glancing at the stack of documents that seemed to multiply with every passing hour. The ink blurred before my eyes, and I could feel the tension pooling in my shoulders, a tight band that constricted with every moment spent poring over the files.Another dispute over hunting grounds. Another request for more territory. A pack claiming grievances over boundary violations. I sighed, flipping throu
Denera “Did you miss me that much?” Tyris smirked, leaning casually against the doorframe. A part of me was glad to see him back home, but something about his presence right now did not settle well with me. I could see the unease mirrored in Rockan’s expression, his brow furrowed as he studied his brother.“What are you doing here, in our room?” Rockan asked, his voice steady but laced with an underlying tension. I hoped he wouldn’t choose this moment to be mischievous; we had enough on our plates without adding sibling drama.Tyris shrugged nonchalantly, strolling back and forth in our small space, his movements almost too relaxed for the gravity of the situation. “You know, Rockan, I looked up to you as my older brother,” he said, his tone mocking. “I thought you’d have a bit more sense of responsibility than to take what’s mine.”It was too early upon our arrival to have any form of argument with him. I felt a wave of frustration wash over me, wishing he would just take his lea
Denera“Over there!” I heard a man yell, and my heart plummeted.“Mum,” I whispered out in desperation, hoping she’d come back to me. I clutched my legs tighter around my waist, hoping this nightmare would end, wishing we could go back to the peaceful drive, the laughter, and the warmth of my family. But then, everything froze when I heard my mother cry out. “Rosa, please, no!”…..My eyes snapped open, gasping awake as I blinked profusely, the remnants of the nightmare still clinging to me like a thick fog. We were still in the car, with Rockan quietly staring ahead, the tension in the air palpable.“Are you good?” he questioned, not bothering to turn to look at me.“Yeah,” I replied with a nod, though I lied. I wasn’t good—not at all.The dream was a stark reminder of the darkness in my life, the shadows cast by Aunt Rosa and her husband, Austin. They had twisted my reality into something unrecognisable, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake. I felt the familiar anger ris
Denera“Do you have to go?” Luna Danielle questioned, her voice tinged with a mix of concern and warmth. “You can stay a little longer and learn more.”I smiled at her, appreciating her kindness. “I will visit very often. But you know we have things to settle,” I admitted, my thoughts drifting to the responsibilities waiting for us back home.Rockan was way ahead of me, ensuring our luggage was packed and ready to go. His broad shoulders moved with purpose, and I could see the determination etched on his face. But as I watched him, a frown appeared on my forehead when I realized we were missing something.“Wait!” I heard from afar, making Luna Danielle and I turn toward the sound. A sigh escaped my mouth when I realized that the one thing I was missing was her—Adrianna.She was running toward us, her long hair flowing behind her, holding a brown bag in her hand. My stomach twisted at the thought of her being with us throughout the ride; the idea was almost too disgusting to be true.
Bruno I woke up to the dull throb of a headache, the remnants of last night’s drinking still swirling in my mind. The memories were hazy—laughter, clinking glasses, and the overwhelming haze of too much alcohol. I groaned, rolling over in bed, hoping to find some comfort in the cool sheets. Instead, I was met with the sight of Freya, my supposed girlfriend, sprawled next to me, her warm, bare skin pressing against my side.I felt irritation flare up inside me. Her hands rested on my chest, and I pushed her away with more force than I intended. “Get off me,” I demanded, my voice rough from sleep and lingering irritation.Freya stirred, frowning as she woke up. “Good morning, you didn’t have to push me,” she muttered, yawning and scratching her eyes, the remnants of sleep still clinging to her.“Well, it’s morning. Please leave my room.” My tone was curt, and I could feel my patience waning. I wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries, especially not after the chaos of the previous night.“