My gaze met with Sylvia's, the only female in the room who I recognized besides Adriana and I smiled back at her when she smiled warmly at me.
Her little gesture helped ease the tension I was feeling, as I walked over to take my seat next to Adriana who was already patting the seat next to her, gesturing for me to sit.She seemed oblivious to my nervousness, "Come quickly, Maya. They have all been expecting you." She said, shifting to create more space for me."Adriana, why did you not tell me there would be so much people?" I inched closer to whisper to her, completely forgetting the fact that everyone seated here was a wolf and whispering in such close proximity was no use."It seems Riana did not mention a word to our guest here," A brunette with an haughty air said, shooting me a look that I translated as her unwillingness to have me in their gathering."Maya is not a guest, She's the Luna of the Pack and the new leader of the Éclat s"You did great," Adriana said on our way back home, her eyes gleaming with pride and a little bit of excitement that dampened with her next words, "That Jana, I have to teach her a lesson next time. She demeans everyone she meets."Her mention of Jana made me recollect the latter's words from earlier that seemed more like a veiled threat.What exactly lay ahead that I was ignorant about?"Adriana, what other things does the Éclat society do?"I turned to ask the only other person I could get my answers from."Everyone of us is from a longstanding family of aristocrats, with mine being the head. Besides managing internal relations, we also dabble in various businesses across the Pack. Leah is on the advisor team that handles Pack policies, Brooke commands the female sentinels, Sylvia is one of the record keepers and also manages the largest mall in the city. The others, including myself, also handle other important things in the Pack."I wa
His eye held mine with an intent stare, one that carried unvoiced emotions.I felt an almost irresistible urge to morph and run into the ring to lay and curl myself next to him, just so I could revel in the warmth of his embrace.'Stop it, Lia," I chided quite harshly, interrupting her purrs of affection. She was influencing my feelings and clouding my thought process and that was not good.Firstly, I did not want to do something I would instantly regret, and also, I did not want to interrupt what seemed to be a favourite pastime.That was what I told myself, but my wolf knew better, "You know you find him attractive too, right?""What are you talking about?" I asked even though I knew exactly what she was implying."If you are attracted to him as well, then let us just make a move. I do not understand why you keep stalling when he is right in front of us." She went on to say."Maya, come. Let's watch from the stands; th
"What sort of Trouble?" Travis asked as everyone's mood turned pensive.Adrianna looked especially concerned, and her earlier boisterousness was long gone.In just that few seconds, even I was fraught with worry because whatever could make Beta Jay look so grave-faced had to be serious.It was not like the man had ever put on a happy expression, not that I had seen but this was much more heavy."We have received a report of an unknown Pack settling within the northern lands, and following that, a few of our people have gone missing subsequently.""And why are you just reporting this?" Travis demanded, his voice sharp and commanding."They settled just a few days ago and seeing as they have posed no threat to our city, I did not think it was worth mentioning.""Well, now they might pose a threat," Travis's jaw ticked with a restrained anger that was easily recognizable."I apologize, it was a lack of appropriate
The way he had me backed up against the chair reminded me of an alcove, a space where he could freely intrude on my privacy with a sense of intimacy like right now.My shoulders bumped against the leather fabric of the sofa, cool to the touch."Um, Travis," I cleared my throat awkwardly, glancing behind me for a way of retreating from the hunger that was written visibly in his eyes."A nice upgrade from Alpha Travis," He mused amusingly, his hot breath fanning my face.He lowered his head and his lips, smooth and silken, laid a feathery kiss on the side of my neck, one that made my toe curl involuntarily.Right from the moment I laid sight on this man, I thought he was the most attractive person I had ever seen yet I was scared of him, scared of what he could do to me and terrified of what being his mate meant and how it would change my life but right now, it all didn't matter.All I could focus on was the warm pressure of his li
The next morning, when I woke up, Travis was gone like always.His side of the bed was cold, without the warmth I had felt from snuggling up close to him.I thought it was an illusion but realized it was very much real the minute I opened my eyes.Being with him brought me a sense of comfort I had not felt since my Father died, yet it brought a sense of fear too.What if what happened with Shawn repeated itself? The thought of that kept my heart, which was itching for affection from my mate, under control.I let out a heavy sigh then got up and began to lay the rumpled sheets when a knock sounded on the door."Anne," I muttered with a smile; her soft, milky scent tended to herald her arrival before the person herself showed up.Straightening my body, I smirked in satisfaction at the perfectly laid bed then walked up to the door to pull it open."Good morning, Miss Maya," Her voice rang out cheerfully,
"Adriana, you always forget everything," Cameron chided, casting a worried look at my expression that had gone pale almost instantly.I cleared my throat then tried to muster a smile, "It's okay, Cameron. It just happened much sooner than I thought."Adriana scratched her head guiltily, "Sorry Elara, it skipped my mind."Between news of the Pack settlement that had suddenly popped up unexpectedly and her other duties in the Pack, I could understand why she would have forgotten."Are you nervous?" I snapped my gaze towards him in surprise when his calm, collected voice suddenly filled my head.How did he even do that?I was still lost in my surprise when Travis raised a brow questioningly, waiting for my answer.His words seemed to have boomed in my mind like how I thought my voice sounded whenever I was talking too loudly.Having no idea what to do to establish a mind-link just as he had done, I simply nodded my
"So what do I do?" I asked, facing a woman I could only regard as the Female Version of my mate.She had not so much as spoken a word to me since I arrived and all I had gotten from her was a nod of her head in reply to my greeting."You can stay and watch if you want," She responded, still giving me barely any information on whatever I was meant to do.Stay and watch what exactly? I was at a loss.She came down from the observation deck which was essentially a high vantage point that allowed overseers and trainers to monitor and analyze training sessions and also had communication systems to provide feedback and adjust training programs to a large open space that seemed to have reinforced floorings to withstand heavy impacts put in place, where there were other females in the same bodysuit as her standing.From what I learnt from Anne who had been here before, there were various rooms specialised for different purposes.There wa
With Jana's goading and the eyes of the other women fixed on me, I took slow steps down the observation deck, knowing I could not avoid this confrontation.I had no idea what level Jana was on but I could guess it was much higher than mine, enough to give her the confidence to challenge me.It could hardly be considered a challenge because I had not agreed to it but the looks of the Female surrounding me told me I had no choice.They seemed curious to know how strong the Luna that had been thrust in their faces was and each of their looks were expectant.My guts churned and my pulse raced because I knew...I knew I was going to fail, and miserably too."I came here to support and learn, not duel with you," I tried to keep up a calm expression, hoping this was enough to make Jana give up."The Luna must be a scaredy cat, already trying to back out from a challenge. Is this how you intend to support and learn?" She spat ou
"Alright, I agree to a ceasefire. You will stay off my land, and I will keep from yours as well; you can have the Gold Moon Pack territory. Based on Maya's proposition, Sylvia will act as a middleman and handle any business we might have with you. However, as compensation for the loss of lives you have caused me, we will deal with you at a much lesser rate than the others." I exhaled a breath of relief, and Travis dropped his words of concession quietly, taking a step back by agreeing to my suggestion once again.It gave the illusion that I was the only one present capable of making him change his mind.Julian grunted, and Alex leaned closer to mumble something to him quietly and instantly; his expression eased. As for him as well, this was the first time I had seen him have any expression that resembled calm.Both he and Travis had gotten really angry earlier and had a violent faceoff. The broken table in between us and Julian's bruised face was evidence
"Alpha Travis," the blond-haired man seated on the other end of the large table, directly facing Travis said, his voice dripping with distasteThis was Julian, Sylvia's half-brother, and true to her description of him, he was a man consumed by rage and hatred and had a permanent scowl on his face as if anger was his default state of being. Travis, on the other hand, seemed more at ease, as if he were a mere observer and not an active participant in the tension that filled the room."Julian," Sylvia called, her anxiety written all over her face as she switched glances between both men."I was told you had plans to eradicate not only myself but my people. I did not think you could be so cruel, Alpha Travis," Alex inputted, his frame of mind much calmer than Julian's and for a minute; I was grateful for his presence.At least he was guaranteed to keep Julian in check before an explosion of anger occurred between him and Travis.Tra
Hard to believe that this was happening but it was.The jolting movement of the carriage as the horses moved confirmed it, and so did the overwhelming scent of the man next to me and the faint smells of the wolves following behind us I could pick up on.Cameron and Sylvia were in the carriage behind us, accompanied by some of Travis' trusted guards, and I could very well imagine the situation within. It was surely no different from ours.I was seated with my hands clasped between my thighs, regretting my decision to throw a regular tank top over a brown bootcut trouser and as the name implied, I was on a pair of boots.Travis was dressed in warmer clothes, cosy even with a thick outer jacket casually draped over his lap.Oh, how I so wish I could snatch it right off and put it on.In actuality, knowing Travis, he would have handed it right over to me but I guess he was still angry. Still unable to accept all that I had done despi
The air in the room seemed to freeze, going several degrees lower as Travis's presence filled the room overbearingly.His eyes were cold and sharp, like the edge of a blade, and his muscles were filled with tension as his eyes scanned both of me and Sylvia with demanding scrutiny.Sylvia's breath caught in her throat, all the colour draining from her face as she swallowed, her wide eyes flicking from me to him.I was sure my expression mirrored hers; my throat felt constricted and dry, and I could not formulate a quick response, gaping instead at him as his face hardened even further, "I asked you a question.""Travis," I pushed past the lump in my throat to say, my growing fear a chasm that passed between us.How should I begin to explain that Sylvia had come to seek my help to disrupt or at least stall his plans, and I, on the other hand, had made an instant decision not to tell him in favour of her? I had even hidden the fact that I ha
"What do you mean by that? What problem?" I asked, my brows knotting into a frown as I stared at her face searchingly.We had parted just a few minutes ago, so I wasn't expecting to see her so soon or that she would suddenly grab me.Her face was lined with worry, fear reflected in her wide-open stare, "Alpha Travis, he's planning a hunt.""A hunt? Why is that a problem? Isn't a hunt normal?" I questioned in bewilderment. Most werewolf Packs I knew frequently organised hunts to hone their skills and survival instincts so I could not understand why she was so anxious about that."No, no, you don't understand," She shook her head vehemently, "He's planning to hunt down the hybrids, he's going to kill them all."The realization of what she meant finally dawned on me and my eyes widened in shock, "Kill them all? How?"."Their trip to Chantel Ridge wasn't so simple; their true intention was to purchase Nightshade.""Nightshad
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy. "Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to." She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again. "Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly. It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes. "I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others." After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the h
"Please do not mention a word of this to anyone," Sylvia paused by the threshold to say to me, her eyes pleading for secrecy."Of course, my lips are sealed," I made a motion with my finger then smiled softly. "You don't have to worry. I won't tell anyone unless you ask me to."She nodded appreciatively, turning to head in when I called out to her, "Sylvia," Stopping her in her tracks once again."Thank you for sharing this part of your life with me," I mumbled softly.It was a hefty decision she had made when she wasn't even sure about my intention and if I would rat her out to Travis but, she had still done so because she trusted me and, I was thankful to be made out as someone reliable, even if it was just for a few minutes."I did that majorly because I wanted your help, thank you for not judging like the others."After that, we came to a tacit agreement to stop discussing our trip to the hybrid Pack, lest the others caught o
"That's Alex, right there," Sylvia pointed towards a young man with dark brown hair in the distance who was heaving a squealing child above his head while the other children gathered around him tried to douse him with the water from the pond their feet up to their abdomen were submerged in.They were all hybrids; I could tell even though we were still some distance away from them."Alex, look who is here," Ava shouted, waving her hands towards the man who slowly turned and set the child in his arms down.The children all gave squeals of excitement, rushing out of the water to run towards Sylvia the minute they recognized her.They surrounded her, their cheery voices filling the air while giving me curious glances just like Ava had done earlier."She's just like Sylvia and those other big wolves we've seen," Ava chattered to them excitedly, looking back at me with the belief that I was oblivious to what she was saying because of how low he
I took in a deep breath, mulling over her words. You know what, maybe she was right; maybe we had never given the hybrids a chance to show that we could live harmoniously together."I know, I shouldn't have brought you here; I just wanted to show you a world different from what we know. To show you that the hybrids our kind detest are not so bad after all." She said, placing a reassuring hand on my shoulder with the knowledge that I was already giving in to her words.I grabbed her hands and let out a long sigh then smiled softly, "Alright, I guess I should get to know them. You are a kind and sweet person, Sylvia, and if these people are really what you say they are, then I trust you." I nodded firmly.It was about time to stop letting my past cloud my decisions; not all people would betray me, and I needed to understand that.Sylvia had been nothing but kind to me since I arrived and this was a time for me to reciprocate her goodwill towards me.