Emma.We were back in my room after the meeting with the elders. Aragon was awake. I was out of trouble. At least for the time being. "How did you know about the antidote, Emma?" Kael's voice was very soft as he sat on the edge of my bed, his gaze piercing. I shifted, my mouth suddenly dry. "A servant gave it to me," I stammered. "I told you, she just handed it to me."Kael's jaw tightened, and he looked at me as though studying every inch of my face. "Do you expect me to believe that? That a servant would just hand over something like that?""It’s the truth, Kael. Why don’t you believe me?"He let out a slow breath. "I don't think you're lying, Emma. I know you couldn't have just found those ingredients. There's no way you’d have access to what it took to make that antidote."Relief washed over me. "Then you believe me?" Kael’s expression softened slightly. "Emma, I’m not the one who needs convincing. They think you're lying to protect yourself."I shook my head. "But it’s the tru
Emma.I ran my hands down the dress Kael had chosen for me, feeling strange but somehow excited. It had been so long since I’d felt like I had a reason to be excited. Tonight, maybe things would start making sense. Maybe tonight I could start to feel like I belonged.Once I was dressed and Cassidy did my hair in a pretty braid, I waited at the porch of the royal house, my eyes on the horizon where I expected Kael to arrive any moment. But it wasn’t Kael who approached first, it was Selene. She wore a sleek gown that clung to her like she was trying to show off every inch of herself. “I heard you took a little trip to the servants’ quarters,” she said with a smirk, her voice underlined with mockery. “Decided to find where you truly belong?”My fists clenched, but I forced myself to stay calm. “I went to speak with someone. It’s none of your concern, Selene.”Selene’s eyes widened as I mentioned her name. We hadn't said much since after the Tis'Uma. I practically avoided her with all
Emma.I sat in the dark room, my knees pulled to my chest, face buried in my hands. The room was silent and the air was filled with the stale scent of untouched food and loneliness. I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t even sipped water in two days. It was as if every ounce of strength had drained out of me, leaving me hollow and numb. Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I didn't bother wiping them away.Cassidy was there, hovering just by my bed. She’d brought linens and fresh clothes, even food. But each time she dropped the food, I grew nauseous and went to retch. Right there on the bedside table was cold coffee, stiff bread, and chicken soup that had lost its warmth. I hadn’t touched any of it.“Luna, you can’t keep doing this. Please.” Cassidy's voice was soft, pleading, but I didn’t look up.“Don’t you dare call me that,” I spat, the words coming out hard before I could stop myself. “Do you even know who your Luna is?” I looked up, watching her flinch as she swallowed back any retort.“I’m sor
Emma.The few days leading up to the wedding passed in a blur. I kept to my room, ignoring the sounds of laughter and celebration drifting to my chamber. The pack house felt like it belonged to someone else. For two days, I remained locked away, an uninvited guest in a place I’d thought would be my home.On the morning of the wedding, I could hear footsteps outside my door. Cassidy was the first to come by, her voice soft as she knocked.“Mistress?” she called, “Can I come in?”I didn’t answer, just closed my eyes and leaned back against the headboard. I didn’t want to see anyone, especially not someone who would only tell me how beautiful the day was going to be.“Mistress, please,” she continued, her tone filled with worry. “It’s the wedding day, I thought you might want some company.”Then there was another knock, firmer this time, followed by Williams’ voice.“Miss Emma, it’s time to come out.”“Just go away, Williams,” I replied, keeping my voice steady.He huffed impatiently.
Emma.This felt like a dream. A good dream and yet a nightmare. Alec. He was alive and he was here at Kael's wedding. “How did you get into the pack without anyone noticing?” I asked, narrowing my eyes as he led me around a cluster of rose bushes.He chuckled softly, glancing back at me with a smirk. “It’s a big event, Emma. No one’s paying attention to a servant with a few wine crates.” He gestured to his clothing, a simple uniform, like that of the catering staff, his usual look swapped for something utterly different. Even his hair was cropped short at the root. And just at the edge of the bushes, I spotted the truck, loaded with crates and bottles. It was practically invisible, it blended right in. My eyes widened. “You risked all this just to come see me?”His expression softened, and he reached out to steady me as I stumbled over a loose stone. “Emma, you have to come see our mother. You have no idea how much she needs you.”My heart pounded but I shook my head. “I should go b
Kael.I stayed in my place at the head of the table, accepting the endless tributes from several pack leaders. They came with gifts, with words of loyalty, each bearing gifts that they presented respectfully and bowed before walking away to let the next wolf step in. It should have felt gratifying. It was faster all my special day and I should have been happy but my thoughts kept drifting and infuriatingly, it wasn’t about my bride. It wasn’t even about the pack or my father’s approval. I felt it every time I let my gaze drift across the room, seeking out a certain head of brown hair…seeking out her.But Emma wasn’t there. She’d been sitting in the far corner, half-hidden by the shadows, until now. A flicker of irritation coursed through me. I’d told her she was to attend the ceremony. I’d made it clear that she wasn’t to go anywhere. Yet, she’d disappeared, vanishing into the crowd like she didn’t belong to my command.I felt a heavy hand on my shoulder, pulling me back from my spi
Kael.I returned to the ceremony grounds, my eyes swept over the guests, they were still very cheerful and happy, unaware of the storm inside me. Emma has been taken. This was war. I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I stood at the center of the room. At once, a hush fell on the crowd and heads turned towards me.I had their attention. “An enemy has come to our midst on this day of joy!" My voice was loud and upset. I couldn't keep the anger down. I couldn't remain calm despite my best efforts. “My bond mate, Emma, has gone missing. She was last seen on the edge of our territory, and we have reason to believe a rogue vampire has taken her.”At once, whispers filled the air, people gasped in alarm and fear. I could hear murmurs. "A vampire?" "What was a human doing out there?"My pack was well aware of the rivalry between us and the vampires, and any hint of them encroaching on our land was more than just an insult, it was a threat.And yet, even as I spoke, I could fe
Emma.The world was dark. I felt hollow. Everything around me felt like a shadow. As if it was there and somehow still didn't exist. I was floating, or maybe sinking, I couldn’t really tell. A searing pain had wrapped itself around my body like a burning blanket. Every breath felt like it was about to rip my chest apart. But even through the haze, I could hear voices. Sounds blurred together in a way that made me think if this was reality or a part of my delirium. "She’s not strong enough for this," a voice murmured, filled with sadness."Why does she fight? It’s useless," another voice, darker and colder, sneered.I couldn’t tell what was real and what wasn't. But their words lingered, slowly pulling me down deeper into the darkness.Fragments of my memories drifted right past my eyes, voices of those I loved, faces of those who had left me. And then I could hear Kael's voice loud enough through the noise. “Emma, stay with me. Just a little longer.”It felt real, but I couldn’t r
Emma.Life has a funny way of coming full circle. One moment you're a normal teacher trying to help void beings understand humanity, the next you're standing in front of a classroom filled with every kind of supernatural being imaginable, all eager to learn the art of cosmic evolution."Remember," I said to the diverse group before me, "everyone's path to transformation is unique. What works for a vampire won't necessarily work for a werewolf. What feels natural to a void being might be challenging for a witch."The classroom – now expanded to accommodate our growing community – hummed with excited energy. Through my evolved awareness, I could see each being's potential shimmering just beneath the surface, waiting to be discovered.Derek stood beside me, his vampire-cosmic nature casting beautiful patterns across the walls. "The key is finding your anchor," he demonstrated, shifting between states while maintaining his core essence. "The thing that makes you uniquely you, even as you
Emma."Remember," Derek said to the small group of vampires gathered in our backyard, "it's not about fighting your nature. It's about letting it expand."I watched from the porch as my husband guided the first volunteers through their initial steps into cosmic evolution. Each vampire's shadow was beginning to shimmer with possibility, their immortal essence reaching for something new."Like this?" A younger vampire named Marcus asked, his form flickering between states."Almost," Derek moved closer, his own transformed nature casting constellation patterns across the grass. "Don't try to leave your vampire self behind. Let it be your anchor while you reach for the cosmic."First drifted between the practicing vampires, offering their unique perspective. "Is like learning new language. Still speak old language, but now can speak new one too. Both together make more meaning."From inside the house, I could hear Mom and Sara working with another group of supernatural researchers. The wo
Emma.You'd think that after everything we'd been through, nothing could surprise the supernatural council anymore. But watching a room full of ancient beings literally lose their composure as Derek demonstrated his new abilities?Priceless."Impossible," one of the vampire elders whispered as Derek shifted between shadow and starlight, his vampiric essence now interwoven with cosmic energy in ways that defied their oldest laws. "Our nature is fixed. Unchanging.""Clearly not," Mom interjected, spreading out her research data. "What we're seeing is a natural evolution of supernatural energy. The vampire's immortal essence provides the perfect conduit for cosmic transformation."I watched as Derek moved through states of existence as easily as breathing, his vampire nature not fighting the change but embracing it, enhancing it. He was neither fully vampire nor fully cosmic, but something gloriously in between."Show them the bridge thing," Violet encouraged from where she sat cross-leg
Emma.They say evolution is a slow process. Try telling that to a family that just accidentally created an entirely new form of supernatural existence over an evening kiss."So," Sara said, her scientific equipment scattered across our living room while she tried to make sense of readings that kept shifting into impossible patterns, "let me get this straight. You two kissed...""And the universe basically went 'oh, that's a good idea' and decided to upgrade everyone?" Violet finished, still experimenting with her new abilities by making small objects phase between vampire shadow and cosmic light."Not quite everyone," Mom corrected, looking up from her rapidly filling notebook. "Just those with a direct connection to both vampire and cosmic energies. Though the implications for supernatural evolution are fascinating-""Maybe we could focus on the immediate situation?" Derek suggested, his new form casting constellation patterns on the walls every time he moved. "Like figuring out if t
Emma.It started with a kiss.Which, if you think about it, is how a lot of supernatural revelations seem to happen in my life. Though this one was admittedly more spectacular than usual.Derek and I were having a rare quiet moment on the back porch. I was still in my human form, day ten of the "cosmic detox" as everyone had started calling it. He was watching the sunset with that particular intensity that only vampires and artists seem to manage."I miss this," he said softly, his hand finding mine in the growing darkness."Sunsets?""Being able to touch you without worrying about cosmic interference."I smiled, squeezing his hand. "Well, according to Sara, I should be able to start accessing my powers again soon. Though," I looked down at our intertwined fingers, "I'm thinking maybe I'll try to stay human-shaped more often."He turned to me then, and something in his expression made my very human heart skip. "You know," he said thoughtfully, "I've been thinking about what you said a
Emma.Have you ever had to orchestrate a disaster so perfectly that it teaches a lesson without actually destroying reality? It's trickier than you might think, especially when you're working with beings that consider quantum physics a hobby and existence optional."Everything ready?" I asked First as we watched the eager void beings put what they thought were the finishing touches on their transformation machine.They nodded, their form perfectly stable despite the excitement. "Others in position. Remember plan."The plan was beautiful in its simplicity, really. Sometimes the best teaching moments come from carefully controlled failure. And who better to control failure than a group of experienced void beings pretending to be inexperienced void beings?"Sara?" I checked my very human watch – another adjustment I was still getting used to."Containment fields are ready," she confirmed from her position behind the monitoring equipment. "Though I still think this is insane.""Welcome to
Emma.You know what's worse than a supernatural crisis? A supernatural crisis when you're temporarily grounded from your cosmic powers.The call came during what was supposed to be a normal human lunch break – another exciting adventure in remembering how to eat food that existed in only one dimension at a time. Mom's voice had that careful calm that immediately set off every alarm bell in my very human nervous system."So," she said, "don't panic, but we might have a situation at the void being integration center."I put down my sandwich, already reaching for my car keys. "Define 'situation.'""Remember those void beings that tried to speed-run transformation downtown?""Please tell me they're not back.""Not exactly," Mom hedged. "But apparently they told some friends about their experience. Friends who decided that if quick transformation was possible, maybe they could find a way to... streamline the process.""Streamline how?" I asked, though I had a sinking feeling I knew where t
Emma.It was strange, seeing myself as just... me. No cosmic energy rippling beneath my skin, no reality-bending aura, no occasional transparency. Just Emma, with bed hair and yesterday's t-shirt, looking simultaneously more solid and more fragile than I remembered.The smell of coffee drifted up from the kitchen, and my very human stomach growled in response. That was another thing I'd forgotten about – actual hunger, not just the abstract concept of energy needs that I'd been dealing with in my transformed state.Making my way carefully downstairs (after successfully remembering to open the door this time), I found Derek at the stove and Violet at the table, both watching me like I might accidentally try to float through the ceiling."I'm fine," I said, heading for the coffee pot with the determination of a heat-seeking missile. "Just... readjusting.""Uh-huh," Violet said, not even trying to hide her amusement as I missed the coffee mug twice before successfully pouring. "That's wh
Emma.Turns out, downgrading from cosmic entity to regular human is about as graceful as trying to parallel park a spaceship. In the dark. While wearing oven mitts."Focus on your breathing," Sara instructed as we sat in the meditation room she'd set up in her basement lab. The walls were lined with specially designed dampeners to block out cosmic frequencies. "Try to feel your core self.""I'm trying," I muttered, then winced as my voice made the air ripple. "But it's like trying to forget how to read. Once you know what all the letters mean, you can't just... not know.""Then don't try to forget," Mom suggested from where she sat taking notes. "Try to remember instead. Remember what it felt like to be just Emma."Just Emma. The phrase echoed through my being, stirring something deep and familiar. I closed my eyes, thinking back to simpler times. Movie nights with Derek. Teaching Violet to ride a bike. Burning dinner and ordering pizza instead. Normal, human moments.My form flickere