Alex turned around and stared at our father. The tension in the room was palpable as they were facing each other, each with a stubborn expression on his face. Darius Crud had just placed an order, and his son disobeyed it, making his disagreement known in no uncertain terms. The head of Crud Clan, who was used to being the one in charge, bristled at his son's defiance. If the tension could be cut into slices, it would perfectly describe the atmosphere, with each man locked in a battle of wills."How dare you disobey me?!" Father broke the ice and raged."How dare you treat your daughter like this?!""Are you deaf, Alexei? I told you Madalina wasn't well. Can't you see how affected she is due to that ugliness on her neck? Such a disgrace to our family, such a spit on the graves of your other siblings!"My heart broke into a million pieces when my father called me 'a disgrace'. Instinctively, I grabbed Alex's hand and started to draw random objects with my finger on his palm."Which let
Traps of deceitAIDEN"Is it still far?""A few more miles and we will arrive at Ashton's Mills."Mira led the way with confident steps, but I couldn't help but wonder if we were walking in circles. It was hours since we left the safe house and the strange feeling in my gut couldn't be shaken off. This part of the forest was abandoned, with trees towering above us transforming into sinister monsters with gnarled, claw-like branches. They reached out like bony fingers, their twisted limbs scratching the sky. Dry leaves rustled on the ground like whispers, pushed by the wind. Apart from that, the forest was silent, perhaps even too quiet, as if it was haunted and filled with death."I don't like it here, Aiden. Are you sure this lady knows the location?" Remy was restless, his ears prickled up and the hairs of his fur rising with every occasional snap of a twig underfoot. "This place just does not look like ideal nor safe for pups to be brought in."He might be right. The surroundings w
Worth the fightAIDENThe struggle within me raged on. I didn't know whether to be angry and let the growling beast inside me out or rather stay calm and negotiate with the enemy.Would it ever cease? Why must my existence be fraught with such relentless drama and chaos? My life's narrative has been a series of calamitous events - my father's absence due to his sickness, my mother's slow heartbreak as she watched the love of her life dying bit by bit for decades, and the crushing rejection of my first mate.I thought my first mate was the one for me, the rare beauty in the sunlight, like a delicate and hesitant flower blooming in early spring, afraid of the icy breaths of winter that might return and freeze her. However, the affection between us was just one-sided and she felt the stronger pull towards my half-brother. So, I let her go.. I accepted the rejection, giving up the fight I could have never won. The agony of that moment lingered still, shattering any semblance of contentmen
Into the denMADALINALucien was sneakily observing me from the corner of his eye while driving the van, his attention primarily fixed on the road but occasionally shifting to the passenger seat."I'm sorry, Mada." He said apologetically and I could tell he meant it. Yet, it did help to tame the anger that blazed within me."Yes, you should be sorry." I grunted, not granting him a single look."I had to follow orders."But such an excuse did not satisfy me. Lucien had deceived me for two whole years, feigning ignorance about the deepest, darkest secrets of my family. It was hard to believe that he, the man who used to share a bed with me, could have been so deceptive."And why are you helping me now? Is it because my brother told you so? Are you once again just following orders?""No." He replied hurriedly. "I am doing it for you."I rolled my eyes and pushed my back more into the seat. Our trust was shattered beyond repair. In my state of disappointment and newly founded paranoia, I
I instructed Lucien to stay in the van. It was hard to predict the children's reaction as they had been imprisoned for so long with minimal contact with the outer world. Usually, the guards stepped inside just to bring them water and some food, although I doubted those meals they served were of proper nutrition.As I entered the old warehouse, the sight before me was heart-wrenching. Eight small figures were locked in a windowless room with bed bunks and a single bathroom. They were severely malnourished, with dirty clothes and swollen faces from constant tears. Despite overwhelming emotions, I tried to remain calm and approachable."Hello. I'm Maddie." I smiled at the children and spoke to them softly, using the name Aiden preferred for me. My goal was to assure them I had come to help and take them back to their parents. But they did not take my greeting well. Immediately, they ran to the corner of the room, snuggling into each other, almost as if they wished to merge into one big p
Clash of egosAIDENMy fist connected with his jaw, causing his head to snap to the side. The impact of my knuckles against his skin was satisfying. Anger surged through me as I glared at him, my chest rising and falling abruptly with each breath."Damn." He cursed, his hand rising to rub his jaw after he spat blood on the ground.Clenching my fists, I felt adrenaline coursing through my veins. He may have pulled me out of the ditch, but that did not mean I trusted the bastard. The frustration and resentment I'd been holding in for so long were finally boiling over."You deserve much more than just a beating, Crud. Should I start naming all the evil things you're responsible for?" I took a step closer to him, ready to punch his stupid face again.He raised an eyebrow, as if daring me to argue with him. "Yes, please. A small reminder never killed anybody. And I'd love to stay here till midnight listening to your ranting." His words dripped with sarcasm, each syllable oozing with disdai
Ceased heartbeatsMADALINA"Don't move." I instructed Lucien as calmly as I possible given the circumstances. It looked bad for us. Literally nothing seemed to be in our favor. Two vampires with eight little werewolf children who were all stressed and sobbing? Hm...Lucien's hand grabbed the nearest child and squeezed its shoulder protectively. He may have thought the wolves which had surprised us were rogues. He was wrong though. The four wolves were not feral at all.The one I recognized immediately was a ginger-coated female that I had encountered before in the woods. It was the same she-wolf I had knocked near the village of the lone wolves. She was Quentin's sister. To my surprise, she was still alive, despite the severe head trauma she had suffered. How was that even possible?As I watched her, a male wolf appeared by her side, brushing against her fur and then taking a fighting stance beside her. I realized that they were mates, both marked with the same symbol on their necks.
Blood and bondsAIDENMy wolf spirit may have returned but my twisted ankle was healing at a slower pace than usual, indicating that remnants of the poison still lingered in my bloodstream. I couldn't help but wonder about any additional side effects it may have had beyond subduing my werewolf abilities to human levels. Consequently, I was slowing us down and it took us twice that time to get to Ashton's Mill. I only hoped Madalina still waited for me. Alexei said she was on her way to pick up the pups when he parted ways with her.But what awaited me was much worse than I could ever imagine.Alexei was the first one to recognize the distinct scent of blood entering his nostrils. As a vampire, he could detect it from a much further distance than me. I would expect him to be aroused, experiencing a heightened sense of lust or hunger. I learned from my mate it was the normal reaction of every vampire, a reaction which could be controlled only with difficulty. Therefore, I tried not to j