Emma.The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the darkness. It wrapped around me like some sort of blanket, and for a moment, I panicked, thinking I’d lost my sight. But on second thought, I might be dead. I should be dead. My heart raced wildly until I blinked and finally saw something. It was tendrils of smoke curling out from a clay pot placed on a table to my left. I coughed, my throat dry and raw, and tried to sit up. But pain shot through my body and I fell back against the bed, hissing in agony. My head throbbed, my limbs ached, and it felt like every part of me was screaming for relief. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel my arms. I opened my mouth to call out, but the sound that came was hoarse and weak, a rasp more than a voice. There was no way someone could hear me and come to my aid. I had to move. Swallowing hard, I swung my legs off the bed and struggled to hoist myself to the floor. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor and a sharp pain jolted thr
Emma.The hammock rocked gently under me, swaying with the breeze. It was slightly chilly and I could smell the pine and dew in the air. I was outside at the edge of the forest surrounding Derek’s chambers. It was a peaceful moment. The kind I hadn’t experienced in such a long time. But somehow, I knew I wasn't totally alone. Ahead, I could see the guards stationed at the edge of the clearing, clearly armed. The baby in my arms stirred against my chest and a soft sigh escaped her tiny lips. My heart clenched as I looked down at her perfect face, so small, so peaceful. She was everything I never knew I needed. Soon, I heard footsteps and looked up to see Derek approaching. My heart skipped and without thinking, I adjusted my dress, pulling at the sleeves to cover my bare shoulders and the hem to cover my thighs. My hands fumbled nervously as I looked down, trying to avoid his gaze. “What are you hiding from me?” His voice was low, almost teasing. “The ivory breasts? Your juic
Emma.I slammed the stack of pictures down on the editor's desk, my voice trembling as I spoke. "Another attack, Mr. Karl. Another one just last night. You can't keep ignoring this." Karl barely glanced up from his computer, adjusting his glasses in that slow, deliberate way that always made me irritated. “Emma,” he sighed, leaning back in his chair like he had all the time in the world, “what people want to read isn’t wild animals running through the woods. They want celebrity gossip, local scandals, you know, stuff that sells.” I crossed my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. “People are dying, Mr. Karl. I’m talking about lives here, not some silly drama about who cheated on who." "You'll watch your tone, miss Emma.” his voice rose a notch and I stepped back. Mr. Karl sighed, tapped his pen against his notepad, his eyes locking onto mine with what looked like sympathy. “Emma, you’re good at what you do, but I’m running a business. People eat up the gossip like candy, but they
Emma.I'd had enough of the wild animal attacks. Benny was injured and I knew I had to do something. My backpack was stuffed and detective Shaw would be meeting me later. “Hello, Mr. Karl," I said, “I won't be coming in today. I've got a family dinner and all." Mr Karl hummed, “Are you upset about yesterday? Look, Emma. One day you'll write the big headlines but now, you've just gotta stick to the articles and__” "Yeah, I get the drill. I'm just busy, I'll drop by tomorrow with the articles, bye." I said all in one breath and hung up. As I stepped outside, I could feel Mom’s eyes on me from the window. She hadn’t said much after I arrived from the hospital, but she was clearly worried. As I reached the car, Alec was already there, leaning, his fingers absentmindedly playing with the onyx ring he always wore. That ring was the only thing we had left from our father. He passed months after my birth. Alec didn’t talk much about him, but that ring meant something to him. “Wo
Emma.The next morning, I sat at the breakfast table, staring blankly at my omelet and half eaten toast. The kitchen was warm, the scent of freshly brewed coffee mingling with the sound of clinking plates, but my thoughts were miles away, back to the woods, to that strange man. And now, the gray wolf."Emma, are you listening?" My mother’s voice snapped me back to the present.I blinked, shaking my head. "Sorry, Mom. What did you say?""You’ve barely touched your food, and you’ve been looking out the window all morning,” she set a plate of eggs in front of me. “Emma said she saw a wolf last night," Alec cut in, curling his salad. My family didn't eat much, in fact, I could say they didn't like food. But mum always cooked for me, she claimed. I swallowed hard and interrupted him, "I know what I saw, Alec.""We’ve been over this, Emma. You were in shock. That man you encountered in the woods, he was dangerous, but there’s no wolf. It’s just your mind playing tricks on you."I leaned f
Emma.We agreed to investigate and I'd never felt so fulfilled. Finally, I was going into the mountains to uncover countless attacks on the locals. There had to be something there, Karl would realize I've always been right. To Alec and my mum, I had an alibi ready. I was going to a party with Benny and her brother would come along too. Knowing who Benny's brother was and that he'd just gotten back into town, they would totally agree. A few minutes into work, a loud tap came on the door and Benny suddenly burst in without waiting for a reply. "Emma, wait." her face was pale with fear. "You can’t go into the woods. Stay away from the forest."I blinked. "What? Why?” "My brother's not coming." Benny said, her voice low and serious. I shook my head. Typical. “Yeah, whatever. We'll still check it out. There's really nothing out there. Maybe we could find…like a… cave where these animals are and tell the cops about it. Look, I need to do this, so many people are getting hurt." "I’ve b
I blinked, trying to shake the fog from her mind, my heart still racing. “Get off me!" I yelled, clutching my bleeding neck. He was the man from the forest the other night. "It's you!” The man hissed and grabbed me again despite my struggles, “I'm sorry, let me heal you." For some reason, his voice made me freeze, commanding and alluring, like the poetic siren's call. I held still and his lips touched my neck, a brief wet kiss that sent shivers down my spine. When he pulled away, the wound was gone. “How?" “My body can heal and I'm sorry I bit you, I was just carried away." “Wait. What just happened? You... you turned into a wolf, and now you’re—” I backed up a step, my voice rising, “—a man?”“My name is Kael. I'm a werewolf," I was about to speak when he held up his hands, his expression calm. “I know this is a lot to take in, Emma, but I need you to trust me.”“How did you know my name?” I flinched. Trust you?!” I laughed, the sound more hysterical than I intended. “You just.
Emma.Selene’s face went pale, her eyes glued to the tattoo on my collarbone. “No… this can’t be. It’s impossible. She can't be the one.”I clutched my shirt, feeling my heart racing in confusion and fear. “What are you talking about?” My voice broke as I watched them speak. The Lycan king had just called me his Nate. But surely, I knew he didn't mean that. He couldn't have. “I am sure, Selene. Look for yourself." Kael replied. Seen grabbed his arms, staring at the intricate pattern like she wanted it to disappear. But it didn't. “What do you mean by ‘The one’? Can somebody please explain what’s going on here?”Selene spun around, glaring at Kael. “Do you understand what this means, Kael? This mark, it’s the Luna’s Mark, the sign of the Alpha’s chosen! You brought her here? Are you out of your mind?”Kael stepped forward, calm but firm. “Selene, calm down. We don’t know enough yet. Let’s not jump to conclusions.”“Calm down?” Selene hissed, her voice rising as she turned her gaze
Emma.The hammock rocked gently under me, swaying with the breeze. It was slightly chilly and I could smell the pine and dew in the air. I was outside at the edge of the forest surrounding Derek’s chambers. It was a peaceful moment. The kind I hadn’t experienced in such a long time. But somehow, I knew I wasn't totally alone. Ahead, I could see the guards stationed at the edge of the clearing, clearly armed. The baby in my arms stirred against my chest and a soft sigh escaped her tiny lips. My heart clenched as I looked down at her perfect face, so small, so peaceful. She was everything I never knew I needed. Soon, I heard footsteps and looked up to see Derek approaching. My heart skipped and without thinking, I adjusted my dress, pulling at the sleeves to cover my bare shoulders and the hem to cover my thighs. My hands fumbled nervously as I looked down, trying to avoid his gaze. “What are you hiding from me?” His voice was low, almost teasing. “The ivory breasts? Your juic
Emma.The first thing I noticed when I woke up was the darkness. It wrapped around me like some sort of blanket, and for a moment, I panicked, thinking I’d lost my sight. But on second thought, I might be dead. I should be dead. My heart raced wildly until I blinked and finally saw something. It was tendrils of smoke curling out from a clay pot placed on a table to my left. I coughed, my throat dry and raw, and tried to sit up. But pain shot through my body and I fell back against the bed, hissing in agony. My head throbbed, my limbs ached, and it felt like every part of me was screaming for relief. I couldn't feel my legs. I couldn't feel my arms. I opened my mouth to call out, but the sound that came was hoarse and weak, a rasp more than a voice. There was no way someone could hear me and come to my aid. I had to move. Swallowing hard, I swung my legs off the bed and struggled to hoist myself to the floor. The next thing I knew, I was on the floor and a sharp pain jolted thr
Emma.The pain was unbearable. I wanted it to go away. I wanted to be numb. I was shaking as I felt the warm gush of water dripping down my thighs. My legs couldn't hold me up anymore. It gave out beneath me, and I crumbled to the ground. It wasn’t just the pain, it was the fear. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Not now, not here, not like this. I heard Cathy’s voice right beside me as she tried to grab hold of me. “Emma! You have to breathe!” I couldn’t. The contractions hit me like waves, each one stronger than the last. My body convulsed and I cried out. “Take deep breaths," Cathy urged and held my arms. But I couldn't breathe. I couldn't pull in air into my lungs. It felt like a task. Something so simple felt like a Herculean task. I could see Derek gazing at me worriedly. Like he didn't know what was happening to me. And maybe he didn't. “Emma, what’s going on?” Derek asked in confusion. Cathy turned on him impatiently. “What’s happening? The baby is coming!” Derek’
Emma.The news hit me like a thunderclap. An attack on the pack. My heart raced as Derek’s eyes turned to meet mine. What would happen to me? Would he be safe? Would he end up like Roger? I was scared. Scared for him, scared for me. Scared for what would happen to me and my child if he ended up dead. “I need you to stay here,” he said firmly, “I’ll go check on what’s happening.” I shook my head, stepping closer. “No, please don’t go out there. It’s too dangerous.” He looked at me oddly for a second. He didn't understand. But of course I didn't expect him to. “I can’t just stay here while my pack is under attack. I’m their alpha. It’s my responsibility to protect them.” “You can’t protect anyone if you’re hurt or worse,” I argued. I didn't expect him to understand. I knew that he wouldn't understand. He placed his hands on my shoulders softly and drew his face closer to mine. “Emma, you’re vulnerable right now. I need to know you’re safe. Stay here. Don’t leave this room.”
Emma.I would rather be anywhere than here. Yet, I found myself walking closer to him. Seeking his touch, his warmth, his eyes. . My fingers trembled as I toyed with the fabric of my dress, my gaze fixed on the ground. I couldn’t bring myself to look at him. Derek was there, just a few feet away, and yet it felt as though an ocean stretched between us. My stomach felt hollow with doubt and fear, and I hated myself for even being here. “Emma," he called out to me again and I blinked. “Alpha Derek," I replied meekly. “Why are you here?” His voice was cold, distant, “Is there something wrong with your room?” I flinched at his tone. It was dismissive and I looked down. “No, the room is fine,” I stammered. My voice cracked, and I cleared my throat quickly. “That’s not why I’m here.” Derek's eyes bore into mine. “Then why?” My breath hitched as tears pricked my eyes. I hated this feeling. I felt small, exposed, and foolish. “I’m sorry,” I muttered, backing toward the door. “I s
Derek.Madrid’s voice was like background noise as I sat in my study just across the throne room. We had to restrategize for the attack against Jonathan's pack. It was getting out of hand and I was losing patience. But still, something else played out in my mind. A memory I didn't want to relive and yet it was stuck in my head. I had my hands splayed out in front of me, but my mind wasn’t there. It hadn’t been for a while now. Madrid night as well have been speaking with himself. “Alpha?” I heard him still, he sounded like a fly disturbing my thoughts. “Alpha Derek?” Madrid repeated, his voice sharper this time. I blinked and turned to him, nodding absently. “Did you hear anything I just said, Alpha?” He sounded bothered at my being distracted. I gave another small nod, though the truth was, I’d caught only fragments of his plan. Something about baiting the enemy and making them attack first. “You said we should bait them in,” I replied, hoping it was close enough. Madr
Emma.I froze. The massive wolf stood before me, its green eyes glowing wildly. My breath hitched, and I instinctively removed my hands from my breast and crossed my arms over my chest, shielding myself as best I could. But the wolf suddenly snarled and stepped closer intimidatingly. I was lost. I was trapped. I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I tried to turn away but at this time, the wolf growled and moved towards me, each step made me back away until I was now completely immersed in her shrub. “I'm sorry," I mumbled helplessly. I didn't know what I was apologizing for. Seeing him naked? Or being so moved by it that I couldn't help myself? The wolf didn't stop, it moved even closer and its eyes remained firmly on my breast, staring intensely. “Please,” I whispered, my voice trembling. The wolf moved even closer until the space between us was a few inches. I stumbled back, my foot catching on the uneven ground. It followed. My back hit the rough bark of a
Emma.I hadn't slept well. No, I was plagued with visions of Cathy trying to hunt me down and finish me off. The thought of the poison still lingered in my mind and I couldn't help but wonder how much the hybrid from her past had hurt her. I was a hybrid. But I'd never transformed. I didn't want to see the monster I'll be. Or were the doctors even right? Could I ever transform? My head was filled with these questions as I swung my heavy legs off the bed and padded to the door. I was a little hungry and Derek had warned me against starving. The knock at my door startled me as I reached for the handle. Pausing, I moved away a little. “Come in,” I called softly. The door creaked open, and Daniella stepped in, balancing a tray with a cup of latte and a plate of pancakes. Her face lit up with a shy smile at the sight of me. “Good morning, Miss Emma, you look beautiful as always.” My cheeks flushed. I felt heavy, like a bear or something. But I guess the pregnancy glow was still a
Emma.Cathy sprang to her feet, looking at me guiltily. I started, transfixed. Cathy. Cathy poisoned me. “You," I caught myself saying before I could stop myself. “What? Emma, how could you say something like that?" Her face went pale, her hands trembling slightly as she held them up in surrender. “Why would you?” I started, but my voice broke. Cathy had been my only friend in the whole pack. She was my stronghold. Why would she poison me? Why would she want me dead? Was she trying to save her pack from me? Did she think I was a spy? Words failed me. I looked at Cathy and tears poured down my face freely. “Wait,” Derek stepped between us. His voice was calm. “Cathy, did you give her the tea?” “Yes, but—” Cathy stammered, shaking her head. “I didn’t know! I swear, I didn’t know anything was wrong with it. I just made it the way I always do!” “Nightshade doesn’t accidentally end up in a cup of latte,” Derek said, his tone hardening.“I didn’t do anything!” Cathy cried out