IsabellaI moved quickly, finding the place.After seeing the note, I didn't waste any time in picking the dress I wore. I went for a light green spring-like dress, inspired by the note he had put forth.Through meeting most of the pack members in the hallway and greeting them with formality, I did my best to rush to the destination.Because it was so simple. How couldn't it be?The garden. Our garden.The place where, after begrudgingly realizing that I missed him, I held the olive branch to start again. It was the day I decided to open my heart to him, and one that changed the trajectory of our one-sided relationship forever.And that was where he was now.When I entered the destination, to my dismay there was no sight of him. Breeze fluttered my hair, tickling my neck as I moved across the grass, but yet, nothing.“Asher?” I called out in the open air. Nothing but the breeze answered.Confusion hit me, and for a short moment I wondered if I got everything wrong. That is, until I sp
Isabella‘This was the first place where I truly met you. So set on my ways, I was ready to push you away, announce to you that I was ready to break the mate bond. Yet that day, I was given a shock. Because you beat me to it.I think of that day so fondly now, because I didn't know then how desperate I was ready to be in your life. I had ignored the twinges of change inside me, which I know now we're the roots of something deeper. I was falling for you before I even realized it.I remember how you looked then. Thin and fragile, yet so guarded. The dress you wore seemed to swan over you, hiding you away from the rest of the world. But what caught my eyes the most was your hair. Though they were as red as they are now, the flecks of them, under the sunlight, looked golden.Your hair looked like this golden thread, a beautiful piece I couldn't fathom, trailing down your back in curls. I wish that I had the words to give, or the power to put the image of you then to paper. You were a visi
AriezelI stepped forward , all the blinding lights filling me. From the corner of my eyes I could slightly decipher the images out of focus in my periphery. I saw all of the decorations and embellishments that weren't formerly there, illuminating the place even though it was still day. But I didn't focus on any of them. I didn't want to.All I wanted was him.My eyes never wavered from his. It was a tether, one that dragged me towards him with bated breath. Each step I took towards him brought another spark in my lungs, an anticipation for whatever that came next.Finally, after my confession to him last night, after this short-lived treasure hunt, he was now here, in front of me.I still held the letters in my hand, the flowers in another whilst I stared at him, helpless to his gaze.“Asher.” I said, drawing his name out.. The tears in my eyes from his written words still burned, but now, seeing him in front of me, my relief and joy overpowered it.He smiled, “You came."I huffed ou
AsherI had never imagined that I could have been this happy in my past life.But as it was, the Moon Goddess seemed to have taken pity on me, and here I was heart full of it.It had been almost two weeks since my proposal. Almost two weeks since she had accepted to be my mate. And if I could say it a thousand times I would.The past one and a half weeks were the best I ever had in my life.Everything had going well.The morning after the proposal. When we stepped out, Alys had taken Ariezel's away to my discomfort.“Now that it's official,” she said, eyeing me whilst keeping her hands on Ariezel “s the we start preparing for the event. And it is my duty as the Female Beta to assist her in this”After that, the Mating ceremony became afoot, and it had been smooth sailing from there.There had only been one problem faced, and that was a discussion I had with Ariezel the night after Alys had taken her. She fretted over the things Alys had said over the extravagant plans available for he
sherI'll rush over there as soon as possible following the guard through the hallways to where Serena's quarters-at least, while she was still in this pack- were found jammed open.Several guards still stayed in that area, although from what I could see, Serena had done something to them to make them look so disoriented.I entered the room and stopped in my tracks.Destruction. Pure and utter destruction. The tables, bed and all the sheets were toppled over and rended to pieces. Not even the curtains or walls were spared.Ever since the day I detained her in the room, I hadn't even seen or heard from her, handing over all matters regarding her detainment to the head guard. I hadn't thought of whatever destruction that she had causedI turned to the nearest guard. He was leaning on the wall for support and I could see the red injuries he bore.“What happened here?” I asked.The guard looked at me, grunting before he finally spoke.“Ever since her detainment she had been causing destru
AsherI knew I wouldn't be able to reach her in time. It made my throat close up in fear.’No.' I couldn't let this happen. I couldn't let her get hurt. I couldn't…I couldn't-I stopped in place as Ariezel quickly moved. Shock filled me at the sight.I watched as she held Serena's raised hand, stopping her progress before she could attack her. Without hesitation, Ariezel pushed her away, making Serena stumble.I watched the entire thing in awe. From Ariezel's fast reflexes to her quick action. I never knew that she could move so fast.But looking at her, I knew that it was my cue.I moved forward, holding Ariezel up and doing a check. Even though I logically knew that she wasn't hard, my wolf and instincts encouraged me to do so. Just in case.Relief filled me as I realized that she was completely fine. I looked up at her.“Are you okay?" The words rushed out of my mouth quickly. As her soft warm hand cupped my cheek, I would have cried out in reverence.“I'm okay Asher." Her blue ga
IsabellaI sighed as I looked in the mirror, unable to melt the tension that came forth.After Serena's attempt on me and her subsequent imprisonment in the dungeon, everything else went well. Although even I was shaken from it, I soon brushed it off, focusing on finalizing the rest of the events. Subsequently the other pack members felt the same and the place was back.to normal in little time.And as for Asher? He kissed me goodbye as he left, whispering in my ear that the next time we'll meet is during the mating ceremony. Simply thinking about it brought a flush to my cheeks.I smiled at my visage in the mirror. Though my hair and dress were simple - at least, according to ceremony standards said by Alys- I felt beautiful.And I hoped that Asher would see me the same way when the time came.Looking at the darkening evening I knew it was soon time. Turning back I took in deep breaths.Tonight was the night, a new milestone in my and Asher's relationship and I couldn't be any happier
AsherAs more people filed into the hall unwelcomed, I felt a mix of trepidation and aggression fill me.No matter how hard I tried, my anxiety nor the quiet dread that filled my stomach hadn't left for a single moment. Once I let eyes with Ariezel, I thought it could all fade away and I was only imagining things.And then this happened.My eyes darted around to every single one if them, questions filling my mindWhy were they here?And most of all, who sent them?My mind instantly went to the one Alpha that made my blood boil. But no. It couldn't have been Derek. Not to mention that the men…they seemed faintly familiar…Shock filled me as my realization came too late.Amidst the soldiers that pooled and now surrounded the hall, only one person stood out. The rest of them separated in river-like fashion, creating a road through which only him passed through. As I spotted the look of my pack members, I could tell that they recognized his presence and his title. Just as I did.He stood
Ariezel “Look out there! It's a pretty bird!"I looked in command, spotting the bird Camilla spoke of.Rubbing her hair gently, I shifted my gaze to face her.“Yes. It is a lovely bird." I said, smiling at her giggle.She turned back, her red curls bouncing along with her.She was the youngest out of the two of my half sisters, nine years old, although she continuously argues that she was turning ten.After getting to know Florian, he introduced me to both of them with joy. Although for now they only saw me as an aunt and the future Luna, in spite of our resemblance.It hadn't taken long for her to grow used to me, although Jolene, the older one, was more reserved.I turned to look at her in the hall we were staying in. She lounged in a chair, short blonde tresses resting on the couch as she read a book. She was the sole outlier out of us, and she was mostly quiet, always analyzing whenever I was present.It was okay, I didn't mind staying for as long as it took for her to get used t
143: AriezelIn the end, Alys and Harriet left us alone in the room. We stared at each other for what seemed like ages.I couldn't believe my eyes as I stared at the man in front of me. It seemed more like a dream as I looked at him over.I felt him doing the same to me, awe and surprise written over his face.But we couldn't stay in silence for long. Not as it stretched to the point of awkwardness. Finally regaining a bit of my senses, I parted my lips to speak.“Hello." Both our voices chorused.I blinked in surprise. As it seemed we had both spoken at the same time.The single word seemed to sway through the tension that was presented. I cracked my lips in a small smile.“Please sit down." I said, gesturing to the chair which Alys once sat in.I was sure Alys must have been grilling Harriet by now. After all, she hadn't kept this from just me but from her as well.I waved the thought away easily. Alys and Harriet were the last thing on my mind as he sat down.It was even more uncan
Ariezel“So one of the members said that she insulted her butt, so the other- her name was…Amber I think? Proceeded to shiver her own butt in my face just for comparison.”My stomach hurt badly solely from the amount of times I laughed. It was so difficult to catch my breath from the words Alys was saying.Thankfully, she waited till I was done before she spoke again.“In the end," Alys sighed despondently “The fight turned into a butt comparing contest with people as the audience and I being the judge. All I could think of at the moment was that this wasn't what I had prepared for."I howled again in laughter, the humor of her deadpan words further aggravated by the resigned, almost haunted look on her face. In my laughter I vaguely heard Alys laughter follow as minutes passed.My breaths heaving for air I looked at Alys to find an amused look on her face.“I glad that my misery could make you a little bit happy.” she said.I shook my head quickly in response .“I'm so sorry." I apo
AriezelI was weightless, swimming in darkness without a care in the world. It felt like there was nothing holding me back. It might as well have been true.Like wisps of smoke, memories and voices came to me, only to fade away the moment I tried reaching out for them. In the end, I remained floating.I didn't know how much time I had spent, but soon, everything began to fade. The weightless darkness I floated in materialized until a firmament grew below, carrying me. The weightless darkness faded into something else. Something more material.Like a disk, I was drawn out of my water and the peaceful darkness, into something more material.And slowly but surely, I opened my heavy eyelids to see blinding light.It took me time to adjust, squinting and blinking against the harsh brightness. Once I finally did, all my other senses came back.A soft but firm surface below me, the scent of comfort that wafted over and ceiling I felt familiar in.Where was I?My memories then came back and
AsherI focused on her, taking her hand in mine in spite of everything in me that resisted.“Hello Serena." I said in a gratingly low voice, looking into her eyes.She sighed, looking awestruck as she looked at me.She, just like all the others who had once fought and scrambled to force me to mate with them, only saw what I was from the outside. A ruthless alpha and a powerful one.There was only one who didn't.Thoughts hammered in my head, coaxing me to go back and fix what I had done. I stayed firm however and brought the blonde woman closer.It was only a matter of time.“Let's go inside Serena.” coaxing her away, I led her inside, eyeing the rest of her guards who moved away, paving the path for us.Together, we moved through the forest with her and I at the forefront whilst the rest of my soldiers and hers followed from behind. Our arms were linked as we walked while she spoke ravingly. She kept on rambling about how she knew that I was going to come back to her and all her :sac
Ariezel My breath caught as those words reverberated through my brain long after they had gone.‘What?'My heart stuttered the moment I heard them, confusion filling my senses as I looked at him.It wasn't an illusion. Those were the words that came out of his mouth.‘Why?’What was he thinking? Why would he say that?I tried to look at him, praying that he would look at me and tell me that it was a hoax or something. Anything.But he kept his eyes away, focusing on Serena.“Asher." I cried out. I struggled against their grip, uncaring at that moment. It was only when I felt the threatening cool metal pressing against me in warning that I stopped.I didn't stop looking at him however, hoping that my call would finally make him focus on me.To my relief, it did.When he looked at me, I didn't expect to see his gaze so cold and shuttered.I was thrown aback by the sudden stare. This wasn't my Asher. The distance in his stare reminded me of back then, when he suddenly left me.My blood t
Ariezel “Relax. He'll be back in no time.” Alys said.I smiled at her in turn, yet I couldn't focus properly.Under the protection of soldiers within my room, Alys and Harriet stayed to keep me company throughout. Hours had passed, yet with no news, we stayed in place with more worries than not.Alys had left the hospital and held the same worried gaze in spite of her constant assurance. It was especially more of a necessity for her considering that Ambrose had gone along with Asher. Now we were both waiting and hoping that all went well for the sake of our mates.“I…I actually have something to tell you guys." Harriet spoke hesitantly.I was grateful for any distraction that could take away the churning anxiety.I had never expected what she would say next.“I found my mate."My jaw dropped.“Oh my…oh Goddess." Alys was the first to move forward, taking Harriet's hands in hers.“That's so good. I'm happy for you.” Alys gushed out.I knew that in spite of her carefree attitude, she
Asher The night was still, without so much as a cricket sound.My gaze swept the place. As I had expected, the security was lax.‘How foolish of them.’We had left the pack by evening, marching and moving until we hid close to the border of the Pack.When I told Ariezel of the sped up plans, she was worried, kissing me goodbye on the forehead.“Be safe." She whispered.My heart skipped a beat for her, knowing that she was out of my reach, filling me with anxiety.But there was no reason for me to be so worried about her this time. I had placed several guards under her to watch.Now? It was already midnight. We had trailed the path, waiting inconspicuously for hours. Whether or not Derek was here, at least I would be able to finish off one thing.It was soon time. My instincts were on overdrive, pumped with adrenaline. I could feel the weight of the celrescent moon above us.They wouldn't see this coming.I rose my hand to signal them all.This was the same thing they had done to us.
Asher “199…200.” I grunted out, pushing my body up.Only a day was left before the attack was launched. Until them, I had to continuously put myself in prime condition for certain victory.That involved constantly working out day by day, straining myself to the limits within the span of time I had.My days had only been limited to those two things; training and Ariezel. I wasn't shy to say that the majority of my time was spent with Ariezel, whether it was from taking walks with her to watching over her in the nights till early in the morning. I remained constantly by her side.Nothing was going to happen overnight, much less after two days. She was still reeling from my acceptance and remained hesitant. My heart still ached as she woke up with nightmares.But unlike before, she never faked a smile like before. She spoke openly about her nightmares before she slipped back into sleep. Even when she stiffened at the mention of her condition, whenever I was there, she relaxed. This tim