ELLA
"Why do I have to carry this guy?” Nathan hissed. He nudged Kyle's body with his foot and turned to us. "I think he's dead!"
"He's not dead," Tristan replied with a heavy sigh. He had checked his pulse just seconds ago. "Nathan, I didn't think you were this whiney."
Nathan groaned deeply and rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying, this is very unpleasant right now."
"He helped me, " I said in Kyle's defense. “Without him, I wouldn't have broken out of that place. Please, we need to get him to help. I can't bear it if anything bad happened to him."
"Hmm, I guess he does deserve my kindness after all."
"Come here," Tristan said to me. He carried me bridal style and held me closer to his body. "We have a long way from here."
"Yeah, tell me about it," Nathan replied. He bent down, grabbed Kyle's arms, and pulled him on his back. "My heavens, he's heavy."
"Oh, quit your groaning.”
"Allow me to groan in peace
ELLA"That's it." I pulled my outstretched hands back to myself and smiled at Ryan and Kyle. The pit of power in my chest slowly fizzled until nothing was left."Huh?" Ryan opened his eyes and stared at me. "That's all?""Are you sure?" Kyle asked quietly."Yes. You both have been purified now. You're free of all those toxins."'Unbelievers.' Ava snickered.Yes, yes, unbelievers.It's been a week now. My health and strength had returned to normal, and I could finally access Ava fully.To fulfill my word, I purified Kyle and Ryan. They knelt in front of me for me to do my job, and safe to say when I finished, they both looked shocked."You both are free to go now," I said and rose to my feet. "I have kept my end of the bargain.""Thank you," Kyle said. "I'm grateful for this kindness.""And thank you too, Kyle. Without your help, I wouldn't have gotten out of that place."He turned red and his face. "
ELLAThe dungeons gave off a depressing atmosphere.Not that I expected much, but it was still bad. It reminded me of being locked in that cell, my blood drained from my body, and Alpha Rambo laughing at it all.Cold and dark, we walked through the messy halls. Ryan led the way, his back ramrod straight and shoulders tight with tension.The captured witch was somewhere here. And today, we would find out exactly what her mission was.I walked with the twins, and behind us were three guards who would serve as interrogators.Ryan paused in front of a cell and turned to us. Particularly me. “Ella, are you sure about this?" He asked, concern all over his face.I nodded. "Yes. Let's do this, or we'll never have the peace we desire."Ryan looked at the twins."Just open the place, man.""Yeah. Do it."Ryan rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. Don't hurry me up."I guess he was trying to lighten the mood.
ELLA“You are returning to Alaska, and that is my final decision."I folded my arms and glared at the twins.We had talked about this long and hard, all night long. And we had all decided that this morning they would head back to Alaska.The pack needed their Alphas. And I needed to understand what the actual hell happened last night in the cell."Ella, I know you're sure about this, but haven't you reconsidered?" Tristan said, his brows scrunched in worry."Don't you think getting cold feet now is a bit too late?""It's not cold feet. It's more like...""You have to go back." I moved closer to them. "The pack needs their Alphas. You both can't remain here any longer."Tristan grabbed my hand and pulled me closer to him. He hugged me close to his chest and sighed. "You're so stubborn, seriously.""Tell me about it." Nathan sighed. "And so aggressive too."I laughed. "Well, it takes a lot to be Luna, don't you think?"I looked up at Tristan. He tried to smile, but he still looked worri
ELLA“Give me the strongest thing you have."The bartender gave Sara a worried look. He turned and looked at me as if asking for my permission."Make it two," I said."May I see your IDs, please?" He said.Sara huffed in anger. "For fucks sake! I just want one drink!" She rummaged through her purse and pulled out her ID. She slammed it down on the table and glared at the bartender. "Does that satisfy you?!"I took out my ID and showed him.He sighed softly. "My apologies.""Thank you." Sara snapped.We both sat at the bar and waited as he poured our drinks.The day had gone to shit.After Sara had stormed out of the lab, I tried to talk to Alpha Adonis. But he was having none of it so I went after Sara.After so long, I eventually found her. And then she wanted a drink to clear her head.Who was I to refuse?The bartender returned with the drinks—two glasses of whiskey with ice.Sara grabbed hers and drank all of it. She then grabbed mine and downed it, too."More, please," She said.
ELLAJust as I pulled back my elbow to ram it into the ribcage of my attacker, a familiar scent filled my nostrils.I lowered my hands, the scent soothing to my nerves.The alcohol had dulled my senses to the point that I couldn't catch the scent of my mates on time."Hey," Nathan's deep voice filled my ear. His hand wrapped around my waist, and he pulled me close to him. I leaned into him, a soft exhale on my lips. "It's me," He nuzzled my neck and kissed my skin."Hey," I drawled.A shadow moved in front of me. Strong hands grabbed my hips. "You're wasted," Tristan chuckled. He bent down and kissed my lips. "Expensive stuff. You have good taste.""No shit," I said and burst into a fit of giggles. "But wait...you both were supposed to be in Alaska.""But we aren't," Nathan said, his kisses unrelenting. "Come on. We've booked a room for the night.""Okay," I yawned, too tired to argue.Nathan lifted me bridal style. His scent enveloped me like a warm, fluffy blanket. "Let's go.”*I f
ELLAIf I had a knife with me, I would be able to cut the tension in the air.Seated between the twins, right across from Alpha Adonis and Luna Hannah, my cheeks hurt from smiling so much.And it was barely five minutes since we arrived at Stoneheart Pack. I sat stiffly, my palms clasped together in my thighs.Everyone looked tense and on guard.Alpha Adonis cleared his throat."Welcome, all of you," he said. He attempted a smile that didn't go well and wiped it off his face."Thank you, Alpha Adonis," Tristan said. "We hope you have been well.""Please, call me Adonis. I'm no longer the Alpha. Yes, I have been fine." He said with a dismissive wave. He turned to me and beamed. "Ella, my dear, I have heard of the exploits you've done for our society. I must say how proud I am to have you as my daughter.""Thank you," I said with a bow.I didn't miss how Luna Hannah's face became pinched.She glanced at Adonis worriedly but didn't say anything.I instantly understood how she felt. And m
ELLA“Maybe you really are a rebellious child.”Sara rolled her eyes so hard that she nearly poked her eyes out with the liner pencil. She met my eyes through the vanity mirror and sighed. “How about you come and help me rather than repeat Dad’s words to me.”I looked around us and shrugged. “You’ve got it all covered. Wouldn’t want to blind you.”She chuckled. “Sure, yeah.” She went back to applying her makeup.It’s been a few days after the very awkward meeting with Adonis.Not much had happened, but Sara and Ryan decided to take wedding photos today.Naturally, I had to go with her.Now, we were at a studio in the heart of Seattle, and everything has been going well so far.Sara wanted to infuriate Adonis.She was taking the photos to rub it in his face.And I was all for it, yes.As her sister, I would give her my emotional and physical support.“And done!” Sara exclaimed and jumped to her feet. She turned to me, the elaborate skirt of her gown bunched in her hands. “How do I look
ELLA“Something is wrong."Nathan and I turned to Tristan. We had been looking over the digital copies of the photos we had taken, fawning over how attractive the three of us looked."What's the matter?" Nathan asked.Tristan, phone in hand, turned to us. His brows were furrowed in worry, his jaw tense. "I can't reach mother, father, or anyone at all.""What do you mean?" Nathan rose to his feet."What I mean is, no one is picking up their damned phone. This is very strange. I know for a fact that Dad always has his phone on him.""Perhaps it's a poor connection?" I offered."Maybe." He sighed. "I sure hope so. We should be heading back today. I don't like this."My phone began to ring.I picked it up from the desk and glanced at it. A strange number was calling.Hesitant at first, I picked up the call after it rang out twice."Hello?""Ella? Am I on to Ella?!" A distressed voice filled my ear."Luna Hannah?""Oh, thank the goddess!""What's going on? You sound so worried.""Sara, Sar
ELLATEN YEARS LATER“Welcome, Luna.” The small, bespectacled woman bowed with a smile. “The kids have been waiting. They can hardly sit still at the moment.”I favored her a warm smile. “That is to be expected of kids. You know how they are, young and full of so much energy.”Today, I was to spend some time with kindergarteners at the pack’s new daycare center.Little ones who had no idea at the moment that they weren’t humans, babies, in the sense of the word.She adjusted her horn-rimmed glasses and laughed softly. “Ah, yes. Right this way, please. Would you like anything to drink? Tea or coffee, perhaps?” She gestured to the hallway ahead, where the walls were painted a soft baby pink with motifs of flowers, rainbows, and stick figures playing in green fields.We walked down the hall side by side.“Water is good.”“I shall arrange for that.”We paused in front of a door.From the glass screen, I could see the kindergartens running about, smiling brightly as they chased one another
ELLA“At this point, I think you have a laughing disease or something.""She's just high, we all are.""I'm not fucking high.""Yes. Like you didn't drink an entire winery barely thirty minutes ago.""Can you two quit your incessant rambling and take this gown off me? Hello? I'm trying to get dicked down right now!”Nathan and Tristan turned to me, eyes shiny with mirth.It had been a long day.The wedding after-party stretched into the night, long and packed with fun.And right now, I have a beautiful wedding ring on my finger, which matches my mates' rings, too.We had a joint shower and settled down to drain the Blackwood family cellar."You want to get dicked down?" Nathan asked, his brows wiggling suggestively as he approached me. He pulled me into his arms, and I shuddered just at that touch alone. "Mrs. Blackwood,""Oh, shut up," I laughed to myself. It started small and soon blew out into a wild laugh. "I think Wendy spiked our drinks,""With what?" Tristan hugged me from behi
ELLAA WEEK LATER."We look amazing, don't you think?" Sara said, her head tilted back and forth. "These gowns are the best, don't you think?""Um...yeah. I..." I tried to say something, but my nerves wouldn't let me form a coherent sentence.My hands balked into fists at my sides.My cheeks were tinged rogue, and it wasn't from blushing. I felt a million butterflies released in my belly.I was so fucking nervous! And I wanted to pee too."Hey, hey," Sara said softly. She grabbed both sides of my face and turned me to face her. "What's the matter?""I’m nervous?" I said with an uneasy laugh, and Sara laughed, too."Tell me about it; I am terrified." She put her hands over my shoulders and gently steered me to meet our reflection in the giant mirror in front of us. "But think about it this way: We are about to get married to the loves of our lives. Don't you think that's amazing?"We looked stunning.I had always imagined myself in a wedding gown, but none of my imagination topped the
ELLADr Celia was dead.We found her body and that of the witch who was controlling her outside of the altar, badly burned up.The altar itself was on fire, but the fire was going down as if being suppressed by an invisible hand.Magic was probably at play, we guessed so.Some of the saved werewolves offered to bury the dead.Even as I stared at the dead body of the witch who controlled and killed my mentor, I didn't feel any feeling of satisfaction that she was dead.I would have felt a million times better if I were the one to tear her apart bit by bit and leave her body parts for the vultures and crows to pick her bones clean."There's someone inside there," Tristan said as I watched the wolves dig a grave for Dr Celia.I turned to him. He and Tristan had gone to check the altar, but they didn't get as far as the door."There's a witch inside." Nathan said. "Just how many of them are they?""It's a coven." I said and turned to the altar. "There's a lot of them. And we're going to k
THIRD PERSON POVBeing under a witch's control was like being trapped in your head.Dr Celia didn't know exactly when she fell under the witch's control.All she remembered was waking up one morning and finding that her body wasn't in her control.She had woken up in the lab with no memories of getting there.She still had her consciousness, and the witch would sometimes let her take control for a few minutes or hours at a time, depending on what was needed.Celia did try to break free, or run, or alert someone of what was going on.But before she opened her mouth to speak, she would find herself slipped back to the darkest corner of her mind, and a strange presence would take control of her body.She hated it. Absolutely hated it.It went on for long months. An unspoken rule. "Keep your mouth shut at all times."The witch searched her brain, all her memories, the treasure robe of medieval knowledge and experience that she had. And the witch used them all to her advantage.Not only di
ELLA“What the fuck is that thing?" Tristan asked, his voice carrying the awe and surprise we all felt.The large circle was the size of a small football field. The land strips around it looked like they had been lynched of all life. The circle glowed a pulsing red, dark and ominous, like something from a horror movie."A circle," Wendy said, her voice shaky.I couldn't even speak."I can see that it's a fucking circle, Carter. But what exactly is it?!""We don't know," Nathan replied. "We don't fucking know."We had been able to save most of the werewolves who had been mind-controlled and injured.I couldn't shake off the feeling of something being wrong.Then we noticed a light in the distance, not far from the altar, and traced it to this weird circle."You've got to be fucking with me," Tristan said, his voice cold and angry."Oh my goodness." I gasped, my eyes going wide.Out of the circle werewolves, many of them coming out in their numbers. Their eyes glowed red, signifying tha
WENDY’S POVMy entire body screamed out in protest.The ache had settled deep in my bones, and each step I took worsened the pain.I felt lightheaded and on the verge of passing out.Vomit rose in my throat, and everything felt too bright and too loud.I was bleeding. Those idiot vines had thorns that cut into my skin. The cuts hissed in pain as my contaminated blood flowed out of it.My heart hurt like a banger.I was literally about to pass out on the cold forest floor.But seeing Ella's face above mine, her brows tight with concern, her lower lip between her teeth in a way she did when she was stressed, the smoke and burns all over her body when she had pulled me out of that fire — how could I pass out when my friend needed my help?"Wendy?” She tapped my chin. "Hey! Can you see me? Wendy!""I can," I groaned. “Thank you; I feel better now."I felt like shit.But at least I didn’t feel the burning of that disgusting wolfsbane in my body."Here," Ella extended her hand and helped me
ELLAI burst into the altar first.Inside, the weirdly circular place was dark, even with the numerous candles lit everywhere.I looked around frantically, my heart beating so loud in my ears.My eyes were drawn to an inverted cross in the center of the room, raised on a flat stone altar.There was a girl bound to the cross with tight, thorny vines that slithered and moved across her skin.My eyes widened as I saw the girl, her face bloody and dirty but familiar."Wendy!" I screamed out, my voice laced with horror. I rushed to her side.Wendy's head rolled to the side, and she looked at me.Her eyes were blood red, similar to the wolves who had been under the witch's mind control. She bared her fangs at me, growling in anger."I'll get you out of here!" I cried out. I grabbed the vines and pulled them. "Argh!" I stumbled back, my hand cradled in my lap.The vines cut into my palm, and blood dripped steadily down the cuts onto the floor. Those vines looked alive, moved, and sounded lik
ELLAMy flashlight shot through the dark forest, a flurry of bats scurrying to safety overhead.The twins and I walked through the thick forest, and with each step, the feeling of foreboding over me grew.The forest was too silent.It was too dark.And I could swear I saw things moving at the corner of my vision.Every sense I possessed tingled, and all my instincts warned me to run away—to turn and run.I pressed forward, my grip on the flashlight tight, even though I was trembling.Tristan walked in front of me, Nathan behind me. I felt safe between them, but I was still worried.Perhaps we should have waited till morning.But I didn't want to see what would happen if we waited.Each time I blinked, I saw the map with the red-marked location glaring at me."There's someone here," Tristan said and paused.I looked around, but the shadows in the forest moved and slithered. The beam of his flashlight moved from left to right, too."I feel it, too," Nathan said.A low growling sound rea