Alaric’s POVThrough the help of Fabian Gray, we unbound the spell cast on Lyla. A cloud of smoke appeared, and out came Lyla, who at first looked disoriented upon seeing herself surrounded by too many people. We were inside the courtroom. Alpha Douglas, as head of the council, was presiding over Lyla's trial. There was a general look of amazement, and everyone seemed to hold their breath when Fabian Gray started reversing his spell. Fabian's movements were precise and meticulous. It was no wonder he was the best of his kind and the undisputed Warlock chief. My gaze scanned the whole room until it landed at the back of the courtroom where Luna Bella and Erin were seated. Luna Bella insisted on witnessing the trial. Erin came in support of her mother. I guess it would be hard to tear Luna Bella at bay. Lyla is her daughter, too. After Fabian broke and retracted the spell, Lyla appeared before us in her human form. She looked around, surprised to see the Alphas surrounding her.
Erin’s POV How do you recover from the death of a loved one? One who had been an integral part of you and who had greatly influenced what you had become? How do you cope with the loss, at the gaping hole they left in your heart? They say that for werewolves, losing a mate means eventual death. I never fully understood it until now. I scattered the ashes in the air and saw specks mingled with the wind. They danced together, intertwined like some old lovers until that far beyond. While I watched them go, I murmured in the air, hoping it would reach the ears of my loved one. “Luna, it is time to go.” I turned around and met Boris’ shadowed face. We nodded at each other before my gaze locked with my mate. We do not need any words between us. One look from him is all it takes to calm the storm within me. “I love you.” He mouthed. His words were enough to puncture the dam in my eyes and it burst. In quick strides, Alaric reached my side. He wrapped my trembling body in his arms as
Today is my eighteenth birthday. To most werewolves, this is a coming of age, a milestone celebrated especially when you are one of the twin daughters of the Alpha of your pack. The night was young, and everyone seemed to be having a happy, gaily time celebrating my twin sister’s birthday, but not mine. While my sister enjoyed being the center of everyone’s attention, I am relegated to the kitchen, helping out to serve our guests at her party. I am Erin Acklen, the first among the twin daughters of Alpha Leo of the Red Stone Pack and his mate, Luna Bella. I watched my Alpha father sipped his wine while my mother fussed over my twin sister, Lyla and felt a heavy feeling in my chest. “What are you waiting for?” The head mistress scolded when she saw me dilly-dallying, hesitation all over my face. I bit my lip. The reluctance to follow her orders died in my throat. If I don’t show up at my family’s table tonight, Lyla would not like it. After pulling my hair in a scrunchi
Tears sprung in my eyes when she held my neck and squeezed. I gagged, feeling my windpipe starting to give way due to lack of air. Eyes rolling back on my head in agony, I cried to the moon goddess to save me from the monster that I used to call my mother while Luna Bella continued to squeeze my neck, choking me to near death. “Die, bitch! Die!” Luna Bella hissed, her eyes turning feral while her skin started to grow hairs. It’s the full moon. Werewolves' natural transformation happens during a full moon. At this realization, I was reminded of my mate, Boris. “Don’t dare die.” Maya, my wolf warned me. “Boris is waiting for us to perform the sacred mating ritual.” She added. “But I have no strength left,” I told Maya, arms flailing to the sides. With a sinking feeling, I realized that Luna Bella wouldn’t feel compensated for her sufferings unless she kills me tonight. It was only now that I was made fully aware of how deep her anger runs toward me - the offspring of
I looked at Boris with wide eyes. Shocked beyond words. Boris rejected me. I could not believe that he would throw the mate bond just like that. For what? Because he sees me as a liability more than an asset to his ambitions? Does his ambition to become the next Beta weighed much more than us? “I thought you loved me?” Boris threw his head back and laughed. There was a wild look on his face that I had not seen before. “Love? Do you think you are worthy of love when your family could not even look at you without contempt in their eyes?” That shut me up. Boris is right. How can anyone love me when even my own family could not? Slowly, I sank on my knees. Boris was my only hope. I thought he loved me, but as it turned out, his love is shallow. He could not love me as purely as I needed to be loved. Tears welled in my eyes, blurring my vision. A pain so deep seared into my heart. I could not breathe. My nose and throat were clogged. My chest felt constricted.
“Huh!” I gagged as something cold hit my face. I looked down and gasped, finding myself drenched in water. I lifted my hands to wipe my dripping face and hair, but I couldn’t. Then I felt my head lolling back as a shadow fell over me. “Good morning, princess.” A rogue woman with buck teeth sneered at me. I knew she was rogue because of her particular smell. She looked down at me in disdain while holding an empty pail with its rim still dripping with droplets of water. I presumed the contents of which woke me up from a deep sleep. Warily, I started to sit, propping the heel of my hand on the mossy grass to support my weight. My hands and feet were cuffed by what appeared to be Wolfsbane - a plant that caused mild to serious harm to wolves like me. So this is the reason for the lethargic feeling. I thought I was run over by hundreds of wolves. Speaking of wolves, I remembered mine and called out to her in my mind, but Maya would not answer back, making me worry. It was
I looked at the arrow trapped in the Alpha Rogue’s hand in disbelief before relief slowly washed over me. I staggered, my knees buckling with the sudden realization that I was so close to death moments ago. The man’s free hand held the sleeves of my dress to support me while on his other hand, he held the arrow’s shaft between his palm. I looked at him under my lashes and saw him sneer like he was expecting no less than this bold, unmerciless move from my father. Then, with a casual air, he threw the arrow back to my father. I watched in awe as the arrow took a spin, traveling in shocking speed until it hit its target, and landed on Gamma Alexander’s shoulder. He could have hit my father’s heart if Gamma Alexander did not interfere. Alpha Leo could have died. My breathing stopped as I watched Gamma Alexander pull the arrow from his shoulder and blood gushed out. A wave of nausea hit me as my eyes watered in a mixture of relief and fear. While I do not want to die, I
I shut my eyes involuntarily, my heart thuds painfully in my chest as I wait for the Alpha Rogue’s paw to slash into Boris’ skin. He was still after all, my mate. And though he rejected me, I know it would not be so easy for the feeling to go away. Love can not go away in just a blink of an eye. We broke up, but it does not mean I love him no more. In bated breath, I waited for the kill. “Not so fast.” I heard my father’s thundering voice and before I could blink Alpha Leo and his warriors attacked the Alpha Rogue simultaneously. All hell breaks loose as Alpha Leo lunges at the Alpha Rogue, shifting in mid-air. His warriors did the same, abandoning human form and transforming into their wolves. It was a magnificent sight as tall, muscular men shed their human skin, exchanging it to fur to become wolves. They snarled in anger, attacking the Alpha Rogue one after the other. But the Alpha Rogue gave them a good fight, deflecting every attack delivered to him. His wolf j
Erin’s POV How do you recover from the death of a loved one? One who had been an integral part of you and who had greatly influenced what you had become? How do you cope with the loss, at the gaping hole they left in your heart? They say that for werewolves, losing a mate means eventual death. I never fully understood it until now. I scattered the ashes in the air and saw specks mingled with the wind. They danced together, intertwined like some old lovers until that far beyond. While I watched them go, I murmured in the air, hoping it would reach the ears of my loved one. “Luna, it is time to go.” I turned around and met Boris’ shadowed face. We nodded at each other before my gaze locked with my mate. We do not need any words between us. One look from him is all it takes to calm the storm within me. “I love you.” He mouthed. His words were enough to puncture the dam in my eyes and it burst. In quick strides, Alaric reached my side. He wrapped my trembling body in his arms as
Alaric’s POVThrough the help of Fabian Gray, we unbound the spell cast on Lyla. A cloud of smoke appeared, and out came Lyla, who at first looked disoriented upon seeing herself surrounded by too many people. We were inside the courtroom. Alpha Douglas, as head of the council, was presiding over Lyla's trial. There was a general look of amazement, and everyone seemed to hold their breath when Fabian Gray started reversing his spell. Fabian's movements were precise and meticulous. It was no wonder he was the best of his kind and the undisputed Warlock chief. My gaze scanned the whole room until it landed at the back of the courtroom where Luna Bella and Erin were seated. Luna Bella insisted on witnessing the trial. Erin came in support of her mother. I guess it would be hard to tear Luna Bella at bay. Lyla is her daughter, too. After Fabian broke and retracted the spell, Lyla appeared before us in her human form. She looked around, surprised to see the Alphas surrounding her.
Alaric’s POVI shouldn’t have walked away from her. I shouldn't have let my emotions get out of hand. It was just that the mere mention of my mother reminded me so much about Alpha Leo’s crimes against my family. Compounded by her sister’s crimes and her mother’s demands, I could not hold back my temper and snapped at her. I looked back in remorse to where I last saw her, but Erin was already gone. She has probably gone inside the house. Taking my frustrations out on her is uncalled for. Alpha Leo and Lyla's actions are their own. Erin has nothing to do with it. Having the same family name does not make one responsible for the other member's mistakes.Shedding off my human form, I started galloping into the forest. I let the speed and the wind clear my head as I put distance between me and my mate. I stopped at the lake Erin, and I frequented panting. For a while, I looked at my reflection in the water. Dark, guilty eyes stared back at me. I snarled my frustratation. I loo
The following morning saw us atop the highest mountain lining the border of Red Stone and Black Water territory. Luna Bella chose this spot specifically. “I want to have a vantage view of our territory.” She explained when she requested that we bring her to this place. We arrived here before dawn. Now, the skies that were previously covered in darkness slowly lighten up as the first light appears. The sun is breaking. I watched Luna Bella contemplating in silence. Her shoulders hunched like she carried the weight of the world on them. “Even in death, your father cheated me.” I knew what she meant. Alpha Leo died ahead of her, thus, leaving her behind. Sometimes, I wonder, who hurts more: the one who left or the one left behind?Alaric and I stood a little distance from my mother to give a quiet moment with her thoughts. But she let her nurse, Dana, and personal slave Beth flank her small frame as she looked beyond the mountain range. The wind slapped against our faces as
The next few days are hectic. Mother and I went back to the Red Stone Pack to meet with Gamma Alexander to discuss pack affairs and to keep tabs on what has happened since Lyla and Gavyn took the reign of the Alphaship. Upon Gavyn’s death, the remaining pack officials elected Gamma Alexander to handle its affairs temporarily.With my mother sick, Lyla missing, and me in the hospital, the position of Alpha was left vacant.“Here are the books detailing the income and the expenses these past months.” Gamma Alexander showed us an updated version of Red Stone's cash position. In addition, he gave us a rundown of everything that has happened since Alpha Leo's death. Mother had no concern over that. She was impatient to know one thing, and so did I. “Where are Alpha Leo’s ashes? I did not give him my proper respects.” Mother’s voice almost broke in the end. She was trying to hold back her tears, and I knew she had never mourned his death yet. Or maybe, that is our way of coping. Gri
“Erin Acklen…” The sound of someone calling my name woke me up.Still cloaked in a sleepy daze, I pried open my eyes only to shut them close immediately when bright lights glared at me. “It hurts,” I complained to the voice, ignoring whoever it was calling me and letting sleep take over, only to be roused, yet again, by that same mysterious voice to wake up. Again, I ignored it, but it persisted. It kept badgering me until I was too irritated by the constant harping. Super annoyed with whoever has the gall to disturb my sleep, I opened my eyes and angrily bolted out of bed. Even with my disorganized thoughts, I was surprised to find out I was not inside our room back in Black Water Pack but somewhere else.Chin jutted forward, I scanned the area around me before my head tilted down. It was then that I realized I was in the middle of what looked like a forest, and the bed from which I rose earlier was a bed of moss-green grass. It felt ticklish under my bare feet. “Where am I?
It took Alaric not more than fifteen minutes to process my discharge slip and pay my hospital bills. Then, Alaric returned to tell me we were ready to go. I was excited to leave. In the past weeks, I was not allowed to leave the confines of this hospital, nor was I allowed to walk outside. Alaric posted bodyguards everywhere I turned, annoying me no end. It was a refreshing change to see the bodyguards’ unmissed presence. “Let’s go?” He asked, eyes drifting to the bag beside me on the sofa. In his absence, I collected all my stuff lying around to deposit them inside a travel bag I saw on the bottom of the cabinet.I stood and took the bag, but he knocked my hand off. “Just lead the way, ma’am.” He said playfully, making me laugh so hard. We were silent inside the elevator. We did not speak, but the silence was not a strained one.“Stay here,” Alaric instructed, placing the bag beside me on the floor after submitting to a security check and exiting the lobby. I did not argu
“Luna.” Ben struggled to get up from his hospital bed. I saw the pride and respect reflected in his eyes when he saw me. How do I know it was him? I don’t know. I just do. When I started to take in Alaric’s word and accepted the idea that I am his Luna, things began to clear in my head. My memory still eluded me, but maybe it was the acceptance that made me see things in perspective. My head turned to the side to see the other bed’s occupant. He was still asleep, but from what I gathered earlier, it was safe to presume he was Blake, the pack’s gamma. Both Ben and Blake were muscular like their Alpha, and I am quite sure they could hold their own on the battlefield, as good as Alaric. I still don’t remember anything about them, but there was a sense of rightness in seeing them. “Ben.” I drew close to his bed and reached for his hand. Ben’s eyes twinkled when our hands clasped, but later, it was fixed somewhere behind me. I do not have to make a wild guess to know he was
Erin’s POVIt was the sweetest kiss!My eyes snapped open when I realized what I was thinking. It was like crashing back down to earth after a spine-tingling explosive kiss.“W-what did you do that for?” I stammered when Alpha Alaric released my lips, only to venture south and nuzzle my neck. He darted out his tongue, sending glorious tingles of sensation that spread out all over my body. What is happening to me? Desire shoots up to every corner of my being. Wide-eyed, I stared at him. “This can not be!” I pushed him hard, but he would not budge. He pressed his body against mine, effectively trapping me to the wall. And his stare. Gosh! Why does it make me weak? “Do you understand what I was trying to tell you?” His muffled voice carried its weight to my ears, causing me to shiver involuntarily at the promise in them. I hate it! I hate how my body melted so naturally in his arms. “Stop!” I cried before I pressed both palms to his chest and shoved him off of me. I app