Emma.I sat in the backseat, my eyes locked on the house shrinking in the distance. Every inch it disappeared felt like another thread pulling at my heart, shattering inside me. My mom had begged me to stay, and part of me wanted to. But I couldn’t, not after what I’d seen. The image of that dead man’s lifeless body, the blood soaking the floor—it wouldn’t leave my mind. The worst part? My family’s secret. Vampires. My family had been vampires all along, and no one had told me. I felt betrayed. I felt... alone.“Hey, are you okay?" Kael's voice came again. He sounded genuinely worried, his eyes softening as he looked at me. Kael kept asking if I was okay, but I didn’t respond. I couldn’t. What was I supposed to say? That I was fine? That none of this mattered? My life had been turned upside down in less than a day, and there was no way I could pretend to be okay.After hours of driving, Kael pulled the car to a stop at the edge of Crescent Pack territory. The trees were thick and th
Emma.I shoved another shirt into the bag, my hands shaking with rage. I couldn’t believe how far things had gone. The humiliation, the constant fighting, it was all suffocating. I wasn’t going to take it anymore. I yanked the zipper close with more force than necessary, muttering to myself."I’m done. Done with this place. Done with all of them."The door creaked open, and I didn’t need to look up to know it was Williams. His footsteps were soft, hesitant. He'd been shadowing me right after Selene's show that morning. I wondered if Kael had sent him or he was genuinely concerned. "Emma, what are you doing?" His voice was laced with worry, but I wasn’t in the mood to be calmed down."Leaving." I spat the word like it was poison on my tongue. "I’m done. I’m not staying another minute here.""You can’t leave." His tone shifted, more urgent now. "The council has summoned you. You can’t just ignore them."I finally looked up, glaring at him. "Watch me. I’m not going to any council.""You
Emma.The council chamber loomed over me like a dark cloud. I tried to keep myself steady, but my legs felt like they were going to give out any second. The men sitting at the long table, old and stern, spoke in low voices. I swallowed, more nervous than I'd been a minute ago. Perry, Selene’s father, sat among them, his eyes drilling into me with a coldness that sent chills down my spine.One of the elders leaned forward, his voice rough and dismissive. “She is not one of us. She doesn’t understand our ways. To let her defy our laws would be to undermine the Crescent Pack itself.”Another elder, an older man with a balding head and a white beard, shook his head slowly. “She is but a child in our world,” he countered. “She knows nothing of our traditions or the consequences of breaking them. We should show mercy.”Perry’s father refused, his voice sharp and commanding. “Without the laws, we are nothing. If we show leniency now, how long before others question our authority?” He turned
Emma.The classes were grueling. Every hour seemed to stretch into eternity, each new move more complex than the last. My muscles ached, and sweat poured down my face. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, judging and laughing at my awkward attempts to wield a sword. I’d never been an athletic person. Gym classes in high school had been torture; anything remotely physical was a disaster waiting to happen. And self-defense? Not a chance. I’d never even tried, and now, here I was, being trained for what might be my last battle. It felt like the world was playing a cruel joke on me.Master Ugalo’s voice was rather loud as he spoke. “Remember, Emma,” he said, his tone stern, “fighting is a part of every human being. Whether it’s physical or emotional, we all fight in one way or another. It’s in our nature.”His words did little to comfort me. Maybe deep down, fighting was a part of human nature, but right now, all I felt was hopeless. The sword felt heavy in my hands, the steps too complic
Emma.“Alpha,” Gabriel’s voice shook as Kael stepped out of the shadows. He was like a storm ready to crash on a shore, and even from where I crouched, I could feel the intensity of his gaze. Kael’s eyes never left Gabriel. “How dare you?” His voice was dangerously calm, which somehow made it scarier. “Accosting a woman in the pack house?”Gabriel swallowed hard, lowering his hand. “I—I didn’t know—”“What didn’t you know, Gabriel?” Kael’s tone hardened. “That a woman shouldn’t be harassed? Or that Emma didn’t want you to touch her?”Gabriel’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe he was being questioned for my sake. “I—I didn’t know she was yours, Alpha,” he muttered, looking down.Kael’s jaw tightened. “It doesn’t matter if she’s my mate or not. You don’t put your hands on a female without her consent, ever.”“I’m unmated,” Gabriel pleaded, “and the full moon makes it worse for us—”“I don’t care about the moon,” Kael hissed, his voice filled with barely controlled anger. “You’re
Emma.The council room felt like it was closing in on me. I could barely breathe, my pulse hammering in my ears. Every elder’s eyes darted to the entrance where the strange gray-haired man had burst in. His eyes scanned the gathering with disgust. “Are you all mad fools?” he bellowed, slamming his staff into the floor with such force that I almost flinched. “Sitting here, watching two little girls fight to the death?!”One of the elders tried to explain, “My king, this is the Tis'Uma, it's the law—”“Silence!” he snapped, jabbing his staff in the elder’s direction. “The Tis’Uma was for warriors, not women!” His eyes swept over the room, landing on me, narrowing with each word. I felt like he was peeling back every layer of confidence I tried to cling to. “All of you, get out. Now!”I glanced nervously at the council members, who were exchanging uneasy glances before looking at Kael. When he gave them a small nod, they began to rise, some muttering apologies. The man’s voice rang out
Emma.I stood under the shower, warm water cascading down my naked body. I felt at peace, even for a few minutes. I felt relieved, like the weight of the pack wasn't resting on my shoulders. I still had a few bruises from the fight with Selena but it wasn't anything the right shade of concealer couldn't cover up. “Miss Emma,” Sir Williams’s voice broke the silence of the room. I froze, gripping the towel and wrapping it tightly against my chest. I glanced over my shoulder at the figure standing in the doorway. “Sir Williams?” I gasped, my heart hammering.He immediately turned his back, bowing low. “Apologies, my Luna! I did not realize… I—”“It’s… it’s okay.” I called, fumbling to grab my bathrobe off the hook and wrapping it around myself. I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “You can look now.”Sir Williams hesitated before turning around, his eyes respectfully downcast. “Forgive me, my Luna. I had knocked for a while, and when you didn’t answer, I thought—”“I'm not
Emma.Alec's grip tightened around my arm, the cold blade pressing against my throat. “Stay back!” he shouted, his voice a strange mix of anger, regret, and madness. “No one moves, or I swear—”Kael raised his hands, his voice low and steady despite the fear in his eyes. “Alec, listen to me. You don’t have to do this. Let her go, and we can talk—”“There’s nothing left to talk about,” Alec hissed, his fingers trembling around the hilt. “She belongs with her family, not in this pack of beasts!”“Beasts?” King Drag scoffed, stepping forward, his voice dripping with disdain. “I’ll show you beasts, boy. You think you can walk into my hall, threaten my wolves, and leave alive? Never.”“Father, please,” Kael cut in sharply. “If you provoke him, he’ll hurt her. Just let me handle this.”Drag’s eyes narrowed, his tone turning icy. “Hurt her? She’s not of our blood. You think I’ll let some leech like him wag his tongue and walk out of my pack?” His gaze shifted to Alec, his lips curling into a
Emma.It felt like waking from a perfect dream. Kael’s arm lay heavy around me, his warmth surrounding me like a shield against the outside world. For a moment, I was suspended in that blissful haze where nothing else existed—just him and me. His steady breathing brushed against my cheek, a gentle reminder of the night we'd shared. I closed my eyes, memorizing the way his fingers curled around my waist, the solid feel of his chest beneath my hand, the feel of his shaft deep inside me. For once, I felt truly complete, as though I belonged exactly where I was.A few minutes passed before I felt him stir, his length pressing against my butt. Kael shifted slightly, his arm pulling me closer for a fleeting second before his eyes opened, blinking against the soft morning light. He looked at me, a faint smile touching his lips as he noticed I was already awake.“You’re worrying, aren’t you?” he murmured, his voice low and soft.I smiled, shaking my head. “No. For once, I’m not.”He chuckled
Emma.I didn't know if Alec was alive or dead. Selene's words haunted me as I laid in my room, tossing and turning and not finding sleep. It was getting dark and I hadn't eaten anything. I didn't want to face Selene at the dining table. “Lady Emma," a voice came from outside the door and I sighed, going to answer it. “The alpha has invited you to dinner again." The maid said. It was the same girl from earlier. The titles still made me very uncomfortable and most times I wondered if there would come a day I'd ever fully accept it. "Please tell him that I respectfully decline. I am not so hungry and if I am, I will eat from my room.” I replied with a bow. The girl looked like she wanted to argue but I gave her a stern face, “Please," she sighed, clearly swallowing her words, then she nodded with a sigh and went off. I wasn't looking forward to dinner. I wasn't looking forward to anything. Simple. Selene was the bane of my existence and each day spent in her presence reminded me b
Emma.The room was cold as the morning light streamed through the windows and the silence wrapped around me like a heavy shroud. I was curled up on the bed, staring at the ceiling, trying to fight off the overwhelming wave of guilt and confusion. Alec’s thoughts were fresh in my mind, and no matter how I turned it around, I couldn’t figure out what I could have done differently. What haunted me most was that he looked at me like I had been the one to betray him. Like all of this had been my fault. I couldn’t breathe. The walls felt like they were closing in on me, suffocating me with the weight of everything that had happened. I needed air. I needed to see Kael.I pushed myself off the bed, my legs shaky beneath me as I made my way out of the room. I didn’t know exactly where I was going, but my feet seemed to carry me toward the royal hall where Kael often met with his father.As I approached, muffled voices drifted through the heavy doors. I paused, my hand halfway to the door han
Emma.Alec's grip tightened around my arm, the cold blade pressing against my throat. “Stay back!” he shouted, his voice a strange mix of anger, regret, and madness. “No one moves, or I swear—”Kael raised his hands, his voice low and steady despite the fear in his eyes. “Alec, listen to me. You don’t have to do this. Let her go, and we can talk—”“There’s nothing left to talk about,” Alec hissed, his fingers trembling around the hilt. “She belongs with her family, not in this pack of beasts!”“Beasts?” King Drag scoffed, stepping forward, his voice dripping with disdain. “I’ll show you beasts, boy. You think you can walk into my hall, threaten my wolves, and leave alive? Never.”“Father, please,” Kael cut in sharply. “If you provoke him, he’ll hurt her. Just let me handle this.”Drag’s eyes narrowed, his tone turning icy. “Hurt her? She’s not of our blood. You think I’ll let some leech like him wag his tongue and walk out of my pack?” His gaze shifted to Alec, his lips curling into a
Emma.I stood under the shower, warm water cascading down my naked body. I felt at peace, even for a few minutes. I felt relieved, like the weight of the pack wasn't resting on my shoulders. I still had a few bruises from the fight with Selena but it wasn't anything the right shade of concealer couldn't cover up. “Miss Emma,” Sir Williams’s voice broke the silence of the room. I froze, gripping the towel and wrapping it tightly against my chest. I glanced over my shoulder at the figure standing in the doorway. “Sir Williams?” I gasped, my heart hammering.He immediately turned his back, bowing low. “Apologies, my Luna! I did not realize… I—”“It’s… it’s okay.” I called, fumbling to grab my bathrobe off the hook and wrapping it around myself. I cleared my throat, trying to steady my voice. “You can look now.”Sir Williams hesitated before turning around, his eyes respectfully downcast. “Forgive me, my Luna. I had knocked for a while, and when you didn’t answer, I thought—”“I'm not
Emma.The council room felt like it was closing in on me. I could barely breathe, my pulse hammering in my ears. Every elder’s eyes darted to the entrance where the strange gray-haired man had burst in. His eyes scanned the gathering with disgust. “Are you all mad fools?” he bellowed, slamming his staff into the floor with such force that I almost flinched. “Sitting here, watching two little girls fight to the death?!”One of the elders tried to explain, “My king, this is the Tis'Uma, it's the law—”“Silence!” he snapped, jabbing his staff in the elder’s direction. “The Tis’Uma was for warriors, not women!” His eyes swept over the room, landing on me, narrowing with each word. I felt like he was peeling back every layer of confidence I tried to cling to. “All of you, get out. Now!”I glanced nervously at the council members, who were exchanging uneasy glances before looking at Kael. When he gave them a small nod, they began to rise, some muttering apologies. The man’s voice rang out
Emma.“Alpha,” Gabriel’s voice shook as Kael stepped out of the shadows. He was like a storm ready to crash on a shore, and even from where I crouched, I could feel the intensity of his gaze. Kael’s eyes never left Gabriel. “How dare you?” His voice was dangerously calm, which somehow made it scarier. “Accosting a woman in the pack house?”Gabriel swallowed hard, lowering his hand. “I—I didn’t know—”“What didn’t you know, Gabriel?” Kael’s tone hardened. “That a woman shouldn’t be harassed? Or that Emma didn’t want you to touch her?”Gabriel’s eyes widened as if he couldn’t believe he was being questioned for my sake. “I—I didn’t know she was yours, Alpha,” he muttered, looking down.Kael’s jaw tightened. “It doesn’t matter if she’s my mate or not. You don’t put your hands on a female without her consent, ever.”“I’m unmated,” Gabriel pleaded, “and the full moon makes it worse for us—”“I don’t care about the moon,” Kael hissed, his voice filled with barely controlled anger. “You’re
Emma.The classes were grueling. Every hour seemed to stretch into eternity, each new move more complex than the last. My muscles ached, and sweat poured down my face. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, judging and laughing at my awkward attempts to wield a sword. I’d never been an athletic person. Gym classes in high school had been torture; anything remotely physical was a disaster waiting to happen. And self-defense? Not a chance. I’d never even tried, and now, here I was, being trained for what might be my last battle. It felt like the world was playing a cruel joke on me.Master Ugalo’s voice was rather loud as he spoke. “Remember, Emma,” he said, his tone stern, “fighting is a part of every human being. Whether it’s physical or emotional, we all fight in one way or another. It’s in our nature.”His words did little to comfort me. Maybe deep down, fighting was a part of human nature, but right now, all I felt was hopeless. The sword felt heavy in my hands, the steps too complic
Emma.The council chamber loomed over me like a dark cloud. I tried to keep myself steady, but my legs felt like they were going to give out any second. The men sitting at the long table, old and stern, spoke in low voices. I swallowed, more nervous than I'd been a minute ago. Perry, Selene’s father, sat among them, his eyes drilling into me with a coldness that sent chills down my spine.One of the elders leaned forward, his voice rough and dismissive. “She is not one of us. She doesn’t understand our ways. To let her defy our laws would be to undermine the Crescent Pack itself.”Another elder, an older man with a balding head and a white beard, shook his head slowly. “She is but a child in our world,” he countered. “She knows nothing of our traditions or the consequences of breaking them. We should show mercy.”Perry’s father refused, his voice sharp and commanding. “Without the laws, we are nothing. If we show leniency now, how long before others question our authority?” He turned