Sheltered secretsAIDENThe paws pounded against the soft earth as my wolf darted through the dense forest. His fur bristled with agony from the bullet wounds that tore into his back earlier, but Remy pushed himself to keep moving. Still, the pain was nothing compared to the one caused by real silver. The enhanced hearing picked up the sound of the pursuers as they chased me. Their smell indicated they were vampires. Stopping and facing them would be suicide because there were just too many and I wasn't at my full strength. Eventually, the sounds of footsteps behind me faded away. Cautious, Remy slowed down, taking deep breaths to steady himself. He raised his snout upwards, trying to detect any signs of danger, but found none. It must have been Maddie. Somehow, she stopped the vampire soldiers.It took me more than a day to get to the safe house. The wounds were not healing properly because the bullets were still stuck in the flesh, so when I finally arrived, I was exhausted. My body
"Who is coming? Just our pack members or others as well?""Uh... The Committee does not want to have anything to do with it. Only two packs agreed to support our cause and provide some resources - Golden Meadows and Northwest Crescent.""My brother's pack?" The Northwest Crescent pack was led by my half-brother. I would lie to say it did not surprise me. My brother and I have the same mother but different fathers. Anyhow, different bloodlines were not the root cause of our conflict. Over the years, he tried to bond with me, but I always refused. We had history and it was something I could not digest that easily."Don't worry, he is not coming in person. He knows you can't stand his company because...ahem. What I wanted to say is that he's sending lots of warriors to support you."'Can't stand his company' wasn't exactly the problem. He wasn't a bad person in particular. And it wasn't his fault that..."Let's not go there, Aiden." Remy murmured. And he was right. The last thing we need
Whispers in the darkMADALINAAlex remained silent during the entire drive back home, his eyes fixed on the road. His hands kept squeezing the steering wheel tightly, as if he wanted to crush it. A visible vein throbbed in his neck, a sign of tension. However, he did not dare to further discuss the topic of my love life. Did he judge me for sleeping with the enemy? Most probably yes."Aren't you coming with me?" I asked him, after he parked the car in front of our mansion. I had already climbed out of the vehicle when I noticed Alex remained behind the wheel, his expression as frosting as the weather in the North Pole.He briefly checked his phone before replying the simple 'no' and drove away without sparing me a look.As I approached my father's office, my steps slowed down, my heart racing with anticipation. I filled my lungs with air, feeling the weight of the impending conversation bearing down on me. Hesitation prompted me to pull my hand away from the doorknob for a brief momen
"Of course, you don't remember," Father chimed in. Apparently, my mom opened the channel for him, and he could listen to our inner conversation. "When you were younger, you continuously sneaked into the mutts' village. You even befriended some of those animals and claimed they were good people. Eventually, you tried to drag Alexei down that path with you. As if you have forgotten what they did to us, what they did to your mother, brother, and sisters!""But those were not these people! You can't put the same label on the whole population just because of their origin, just because of the crimes of a few individuals. That is so wrong." I argued."Do you see that, Greta? She's falling into her old habits. That is why I tried to keep her away from that village or gold mines. But you insisted on giving her more responsibility. You said she was ready, and look at the consequences! She's an adult now. We can't change her mind anymore."I froze with my thoughts in turmoil as the weight of the
Battle of willsMADALINA"Let me in!" The familiar voice from behind the heavy steel door woke me up. The guards stationed outside were ensuring that I didn't escape and, as my parents claimed, did not get even more manipulated by the werewolf who had placed his mark on my neck. Though the idea was far from my mind. I could barely concentrate and stay awake due to silver cuffs imprisoning my hands, making me feel dizzy and sluggish. How long was I locked in this room?"I said, let me the fuck in!" The voice grew more insistent, anger seeping into his tone. I longed to reassure him that I was fine, to call out his name. But my parched mouth made speaking difficult.The door slammed open and banged against the wall, as if hit by a wrecking ball. While, in fact, it was just my twin brother making his way to my personal prison."Mr Crud, your parents precisely instructed that..." The guard hurried after Alex, whose normally pale face was now switching to all colors of red."Fuck off befor
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
Shifting perspectivesMADALINAMy stomach was upset, and my mouth was dry. Apparently, my body underwent a range of reactions due to the most important event of my new life. I would be the center of attention, all eyes filled with judgment on me. Even before, I never enjoyed public events or parties, and rather let my brother fulfill such a role. Alex was an extrovert like no other, never experiencing an increased heart rate or sweating when giving out a speech. And although I wasn't afraid of speaking up my mind, my attitude was more... military oriented? I was not good at sugarcoating or putting on a perfect-smile façade. And yet, that was exactly what I was about to do tonight.I stood before the mirror, my gaze fixed on the reflection staring back at me. Who was this woman and what did she do with Madalina Crud?Carrie had chosen for me a stunning long dress with bare shoulders in the shades of dark red. It was definitely a departure from my usual style of leather pants and milita
When I first learned about Carrie's idea to throw a big welcome party for Madalina, I was a little hesitant. Ever since we arrived at my pack, my mate has faced a barrage of unwarranted prejudice due to her different background. No one dared to confront her or me directly, but the silent whispers were there. People stared. At me. At her.It was mostly due to all those horrible crimes her family was responsible for. Her family had tortured lone wolves, treating them like slaves. Sadly, even my mate took part in it, blindly manipulated by her parents. Though with each new day, I could see how much she regretted all her past actions. I may have gotten a second chance at love, but Madalina got her second chance at normal life. And she was going to prove to everyone that she no longer was the ruthless, stone-cold werewolf slayer.The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation as the preparations for the grand evening were in full swing. Decorations adorned every corner, bringing vibrant colors an
Unwelcome newsAIDENUpon Jerome's resignation, I was faced with an enormous workload that made me truly grasp the extent of his responsibilities on my behalf. An Alpha was like a lost puppy without his Beta. Despite Scott shadowing Jerome for many years, he struggled to fulfill the role with the same efficiency. Regrettably, Scott was caught between his previous Gamma duties and attempting to assume the Beta position. Our pack was huge in size, and leading it was never meant to be a solitary endeavor. It necessitated a cohesive team, which, unfortunately, I did not have.Days started to merge, and I couldn't tell the difference between light and dark, granting me less and less time for my mate. And I hated it. I hated leaving Maddie alone, even though I could count on Carrie to keep her company. But it would be irresponsible of me to just ignore the escalating situation in my pack and simply lock myself in the room with my gorgeous woman. I was an Alpha and sometimes I needed to put
Notre DameMADALINAIt has been a whole week since I moved to Black Forest pack, but nothing has changed significantly.My mate was incredibly busy, leaving our room early in the morning and returning at night. His Beta stepped down and he now had only his Gamma to support him. Aiden's father tried to help too, but it wasn't common practice to see a retired Alpha interfering in the pack's business. Moreover, it would shed a bad light on Aiden, putting him in the position of not being competent enough to lead the pack if daddy needed to hold his hand.. Eventually, it would motivate ambitious males outside the pack to come and conquer the place, seeing Aiden as a weak element that could be easily challenged and eliminated. Status was everything in the werewolf's world.Aiden spent the entire week searching for a proper candidate for the Gamma position. He wanted to promote the current Gamma to Beta. That man seemed to be one of a few who were loyal to Aiden and openly supported him desp
"Go back to your own kind. Leave our pack before facing further humiliation."I cleared my throat before speaking, controlling the fiery rage that tortured me. Oh, the fantasies that danced in my mind - to give her a taste of her own venomous words, to unleash that never-ending thirst in me, and sink my fangs deep in her flesh until she begged for her life. To punch that nasty mouth and show her true fear.But could I afford such scandal on my first day among werewolves? As much as I wished to make her pay, I concluded she simply wasn't worth the trouble with my mate. I came here to be a better person.Hence, I put my old habits aside and kept the fight on a verbal level."Oh, wow, thank you so much for your unsolicited prophecy! How fortunate I am to have you... whoever you are, enlighten me about my inevitable fate. Your concern for my well-being and humiliation is truly heartwarming. Clearly, your wisdom knows no bounds. Perhaps I should bow down and seek your guidance on all life
Fire tangoMADALINANerves fluttered in my stomach when his family first approached me. Will they grimace in disgust? Will they be bothered by the presence of a vampire? I had all those questions clawing at my mind, terrifying me. But what I experienced... it was something entirely unexpected.In a flurry of introductions and warm smiles, my unease began to dissipate. I stared at Aiden's mother, who exuded a genuine kindness which I found both comforting and bewildering. Not like my own mother, who only veiled her real personality under a sweet, innocent face. My mother carried the mask of kindness, pretending to be a good person, a victim of horrible crimes for which, after all, she was primarily responsible. But the warmth in Amelia's eyes and the way she squeezed my hand indicated she was genuinely happy for her son and accepted me as I was.Aiden's sister, Carrie, was a vibrant young woman. Her presence required attention as she effortlessly owned the room with her wild and loud p
"I'll get some drinks. It's time to celebrate." Carrie winked at us and rushed to one of the Omegas, splashing instructions."Okay, I guess." Maddie placed a light kiss on my lips to ensure me she would manage to survive my family. I didn't need to worry about her. My mate wasn't any shy damsel in distress. If anyone annoyed her, she would deal with it. I promised her not to be away for long and left her with mom and Carrie.On the way to my office, I met my dad. He had arrived at Black Forest pack before us."Jerome knows." He informed me shortly. I sighed, feeling how a big lump formed in my throat. My Beta had already learned about the death of his son.~~~~~~~"We are currently providing shelter for over a hundred lone wolves. The majority of them have already applied for asylum but some haven't decided yet. They still consider returning to their original village once all is settled. Anyhow, we can't accommodate them all permanently. We are running short on resources. But the disc
. Bitter tollAIDENMadalina squeezed my hand when we passed through the main gate to my pack. The Black Forest pack was one of the largest packs in Yukon, providing a home to thousands of people, mostly werewolves. We had several witches among us, as well as humans. Overall, it was a great place to live in. Despite the isolation within the mountains, our civilization thrived.The air carried the scent of freshly bloomed flowers, intermingled with the sweet aroma of home-cooked meals waffling from the houses. The streets were alive with the joyous spirit of community, as people strolled leisurely, their smiles radiant and genuine. Children reveled in their innocence, their laughter echoing through the pathways, while the sun cast a gentle glow upon their carefree games.We lived in peace, surrounded by beautiful nature, and I couldn't wait to show it all to my beautiful mate. Therefore, I was stunned when we finally arrived at my pack and the streets were empty. Gone was also the melo
Raindrops farewellAIDENI was glad that my mate agreed to live with me in my pack. I understood the depth of sacrifices she had undertaken to be with me. Her departure from her family was due to forbidden love and it led to her being estranged by her own parents. They cut off any future physical contact with her and although she tried to be strong and not to show it, I knew it bothered her tremendously. At least her brother, despite being a sick psychopath, stood by her side.And now, I was going to be her family and I would do anything to make her happy.When I returned to the safe house together with Madalina, the place was emptied. Only my father stayed with a couple of soldiers. He was eager to meet my mate and shook her hand a bit too enthusiastically that I had to remind him to keep it cool. As surprising as it was, my dad was very open-minded and didn't care about Madalina's origin. I assumed after all he had to go through in his life, he understood how precious true love was.