VALERIE “I am not the Luna."A lump formed in my throat as I tried to sink in her words.“You… you are not the Luna?" I found myself sputtering.She smiled and took a step closer. My heart sank when she fell on her knees and bowed her head to the ground.“Forgive me, Luna; I know you've always hated me because the Alpha claimed me too, but it wasn't my fault. I begged him to have mercy, but he wouldn't listen,” she blabbered, and my eyes widened in shock.I turned around, searching for the person she was talking to.But when I saw no one behind me or close by, it dawned on me that she was referring to me.“What… what are you saying? I am not the Luna!" I snapped.I glanced over at Killian and Lucian. I found their amused eyes staring at me.“I…" I trailed off and glared at her.I understood that she wanted to escape Killian and Lucian's wrath. She wanted to put me in her place and make me suffer in her stead.It finally dawned on me that she didn't love her mate, perhaps, that explai
VALERIE I felt a chilly sensation on my arm when I tilted my head. I tried to snap my eyes open but couldn't; I felt like something was holding me down. Two different scents slipped into my nostrils and I gasped out, enjoying the scents of dark musk and rich sandalwood that intermingled and played with my senses. The chilly sensation came again, but this time, it was on my waist. I felt something slide up my thighs, heading in between them. My heart skipped a beat and I forced my eyes open. The first thing that hit me was the grey and blue eyes that flickered blackness the moment they met mine. My mind reeled, my pulse raced and my mind shot back to the previous tragic events that took place before I fainted. I wasn't dead, I was still alive and trapped with the devils that threatened to ruin my life. “You?" I gasped and shifted uncomfortably. I tried getting away but found that impossible as they were both hovering over me, caging me down to the soft mattress. “Stop, let
VALERIE The door creaked open, and I raised my head, expecting to see Lucian and Killian, but to my disappointment or perhaps to my relief, it turned out to be a girl who seemed to be my age mate. My eyes trailed after her as she walked over to a table and set down the tray she was holding. She turned in my direction, walked up to the bed, dropped some clothes on the edge, and turned around to walk away without saying a word. My heart constricted at her cold attitude. “Hello," I whispered and her feet stopped shuffling to the door. She cranked her neck and stared at me with blank brown eyes which seemed to have a layer of pain and sadness behind them. "Hello," she replied and bowed her head then quickly averted her gaze. I needed to get out here, but firstly, I had to know where I was. “Where is this place?" I asked, still clenching the duvet. She switched her gaze towards me and I saw a flash of disgust dart across her eyes as she looked at the duvet covering my nude body.
VALERIE “Hello, who is this?" Her voice sounded more like a ghostly whisper. My heart tightened and I regretted calling her at that moment. I would only be a burden to her again. But then again, I couldn't stop myself from yearning for her lost warmth. “Mom," I muttered in a weepy voice. The silence that loomed from the other end of the line made me think that she had hung up on me. I was about to put the phone down in despair when her voice came up again; this time, it was filled with surprise and fear. “Valerie, is that you?" She said in a hushed tone that got me wondering if my stepfather was at home. Mom, it's me," I replied and heard her release a breath of relief. “I heard about what happened to the Pack, you aren't hurt, are you?" She said in the same tone. “No, mom, I'm fine." Silence trailed after my reply and after a couple of minutes, she spoke up again. "Are you still in that Pack? I heard that lots of people were killed and… and Thomas isn't doi
VALERIE I peeked into the dark tunnel Bianca led me to and sighed out loud in relief. “Go through the tunnel; you will find your way out to the Pack’s boundary, but be mindful of rogues; lots of them lurk around the boundary of Dark Moon Pack,” she advised, waving her hands towards the entrance of the frightening tunnel. I sucked in a deep breath and muttered a word of appreciation before taking the flashlight she extended toward me. “You won't get into trouble, right?" I asked for the third time and she smiled, shaking her head. “No, I won't." I nodded at her words and began to shuffle into the tunnel. “Valerie," her voice made me pause and crank my head backward. “Be careful. Survive." My throat knotted at her last words. I nodded when I couldn't find my voice and bade her goodbye before walking into the tunnel, with my heart in my hand. I jumped in fear when I saw a skeleton leaning on the old dark walls of the tunnel. I shuddered and cautiously walked past i
VALERIE My heart shrank and the pieces dropped into the pit of my belly as I stared at the red eyes that glared at me from the dark. I clasped my hand against my mouth as my heartbeat thumped loudly to my hearing. It was so loud that I was afraid that the beastly tiger standing before me would hear the sound. I stepped back, making sure that my feet didn't make any noise. The growl came again, loud, fierce, and horrific. Sweat broke out on my skin and shivers rushed through my body. I kept stepping back until my feet stepped on a dry bone on the ground. I tripped and unintentionally released a howl before dropping down to the ground. The tiger roared upon hearing my yell and bounded towards me. I was filled with fear and struck with horror. An ear-piercing scream escaped my lips. I reached for my flashlight which I had picked up earlier, and turned it on. The rays of light fell on orange and black stripes on a large body. The tiger, which was facing the wall opposite w
VALERIE The door was pushed open and Killian flung me in. I winced in pain as my arm brushed against the rough wall, getting bruised in the process. “Please, don't hurt me," I whimpered, backing away as they approached me. “You should have obeyed when you had the chance to,” Lucian snickered, glaring haughtily at me. “Please, I promise never to attempt running away again, I promise," I cried, rubbing my hands together I wasn't only scared of dying, I was scared of losing my virginity to them, in the most cruel way. No matter how much or long that I pleaded, their expression remained the same. A flash of pity didn't dare dart across their face. Killian took some steps towards me, covering the distance between us. I made to shift back but he grabbed my hand and pulled me up to my feet, dragging me towards the bed. I screamed till my throat burned yet none of them had mercy. “Pull off your clothes," I heard Lucian say from the door. What was the use of making me suffer this wa
VALERIE The cold water that was splashed on my face made me snap up from bed. I gasped loudly and swerved my head, searching for where the water came from. My heart shrank when I saw Bianca staring blankly at me with a bowl in her hand and right behind her was Killian and Lucian. I shuddered, feeling betrayed and used. “It's time for your punishment!" Lucian snapped and my belly knotted. “Get up and get dressed," Killian added. Tears gathered up in my eyes as I looked at Bianca, who kept glancing at other things in the room aside from my face. Who would have thought she would betray me? I considered her a friend and a sister but she ended up betraying me, just like Margaret and Juliet. I managed to get my sore body up from the bed. “Don't be so clumsy!” Lucian snapped and I jumped. I picked up my clothes and pulled them on, subduing the pain that throbbed in my body. Killian grabbed me, digging his nails into my arm as he dragged me out of the room. Once we were out, he pu
MICHELLE I stood at the edge of the crowd, forcing a smile as Adriana danced with her sister, Arlene. My heart would always skip a beat every time she turned to look at me with an evil glee in her eyes.I needed no one to tell me that she planned on exposing me, but what I feared was the time she planned to do that.The music stopped playing and the Luna Queen grabbed a glass of wine, hitting a spoon against it.Everyone stopped what they were chattering about and focused on her.The Luna Queen smiled so happily, making my heart bleed. Whenever I saw her on that podium, I would always be reminded of the sadness on my mother's face before she died. That should have been my mother's throne, that should have been her place.If Luna Jasmine hadn't killed my mother back then, perhaps everything would have still been right. I wouldn't have to be intimidated by her mannerless daughter."It is time for the cutting of the cake and the announcement of a new age!" She announced and a loud ovat
VALERIE I walked into the large grand hall alongside Bianca, holding my head up high. A gasp slipped out of my lips the moment I stepped into the hall. It gave a charm that noroom had ever given. The ballroom stretched wide, its polished marble floor gleaming under the light of massive crystal chandeliers. Ornate gold-trimmed walls rose to meet a vaulted ceiling painted with delicate frescoes, while tall arched windows let moonlight spill across the room. Velvet drapes framed the windows, and soft classical music floated through the air, echoing the elegance of the atmosphere."Bianca, why does this place look so lovely?" I whispered, my eyes gleaming.She chuckled and nudged me playfully, a smile on her face."This is the grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack where every royal ceremony and gathering is held. Perhaps in the future, you and the Lycan kings will get married in this hall," she muttered and the smile on my face dropped."What?" I gasped.Her brows raised in confusion and
KILLIAN I walked down the dark hallway, swinging the blade in my hand and a cigarette stuck between my lips. I reached a door and punched in the passcode. The door rolled open and I walked into the room. The lights turned on, and my lips stretched into a smirk when my eyes fell on Alpha Cameron, who was struggling to remove the tapes tied around him. "Alpha Cameron, long time no see!" I laughed loudly, waving the blade in the air. He murmured but his words weren't delivered due to the gag on his mouth. "You want to say something?" I asked, grinning. He nodded his head, his eyes pleading. I chuckled and covered the spaces between us, then tore out the gag. He gasped in relief and sucked in some air, muttering words of gratitude. "A low-ranked alpha like you tried to step up to me? That is crazy!" I said, huffing loudly. He panted, refusing to say a word. I took a long drag at the cigarette and bent down, grabbed his hair."Tell me, who sent you?" I asked. He raised his eyes
MICHELLE "Your bath is ready, my lady," my maidservant said as she trudged into the bedroom. I smiled lightly and got off the chair that I was sitting on then shuffled into the bathroom. "Any news?" I asked her as I dipped my body into the warm water. "Did you prepare my gift?" I asked. "Yes, my lady," she responded. I smirked and took the body scrub, lathering my body with it. I would give Adriana a kind of gift that she would never forget. Not just her but everyone that would attend the birthday party that would be held tomorrow evening. "Your dress for the birthday ceremony has been delivered, my lady," the maidservant poked her head in and said. I smiled lightly and hummed in response, dipping my head into the water. Perhaps I could fulfill my mother's wish of finishing what she started and still be with the ones that I had always dreamed of being with. That would be killing two birds with a stone, and that was a method I had always been perfect in, even when I was a ch
ADRIANA My eyes batted in confusion and my lips trembled. "How can I argue with a dead woman? That's crazy!" I blurted out, unable to understand her words. Noah leaned closer, his eyes fixed on Diana. "Look here, Diana, I don't think it's the same woman. The woman behaved like every normal living being, she isn't—" "Hold on!" Diana said and took the phone, zooming the video. "Here, do you see that mole? That woman had that mole," she muttered, pointing at the small mole on the woman's face. "Who is this woman to you?" Noah asked while I replayed the video, searching for clues that would prove Diana either right or wrong. "She was my homeroom teacher in middle school. I attended her funeral with my parents," she muttered. "What killed her?" I asked. "Influenza," she mumbled. I peered closely and finally realized something strange about the woman. "Why is her skin tone different?" I muttered. Noah and Diana stopped talking and swerved their head in my direction. "What?" I
ARIANA Noah sighed and followed me out, laughing mockingly behind me. "Can you stop?" I snapped when I got to the parking lot. "Don't tell me that moron is your boyfriend—" "Was!" I corrected him, "Besides, I was just helping him become relevant." Noah stared at me in silence, his head tilted to the side while I fumed."You are pained, aren't you?" I scoffed and shook my head. "The only feeling I'm having right now is regret. I can't believe I let that leech go after the money I've given him. He'll pay for it all," I snarled, smirking sinisterly. "Now I know why you didn't break his skull in there," he chuckled and lit a cigarette, leaning on the car, beside me. My phone rang and I cursed loudly, bringing it out. I narrowed my eyes when Diana's name flashed across the screen. I accepted the call and placed the phone to my ear. "Are you in town? Let's meet up at our spot," she said. I felt relief wash over my body and I hummed in agreement. "I've had a terrible day, this i
ADRIANA I kept complaining about the blind lady as I marched out of the restaurant, swinging my bag in my hand. "Calm down, Ari, calm down!" Noah groaned as he trailed after me. I huffed and leaned on my car, filled with anger. "I need to go to an apparel store. I need a change," I muttered and slipped into the car. "Should I come along?" Noah asked as he stood by the door. I looked at him and hissed loudly. "Do you want to leave me alone?" He chuckled loudly and threw his hands in the air, strolling over to the other side before getting in. I ignited the car and drove off, still fuming in anger. "That trash had to get in when we were in the middle of something important," I complained, stepping on the acceleration pedal. "Come on, I've told you to let it go—""Don't tell me that shit, Noah!" I snapped. He shrugged lightly and sighed, reaching for his seatbelt. "How's Arlene?" He suddenly asked. I scoffed and twitched up my lips in disgust, feeling a slight pain in my ch
MICHELLE "You?" She gasped and sprang up. Before I could part my lips to defend myself, she slapped me hard on my cheeks. A sharp sting washed through the cheek she slapped and my eyes slammed shut. "You wench!" She spat and grabbed the cup of chocolate, emptying the rest of the chocolate drink on my body. "Adriana, I think that's okay," the young man pleaded, striding towards her. "No, it's not! This dress costs 3000 dollars! I doubt if she has ever earned that much before!" She snapped, glaring at me. I gulped hard and bowed slightly then picked up my face cap. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to bump into the waiter," I muttered. People had already gathered around and some were even recording a video. "Sorry? You ruined my dress! How are you going to make up for it?" She snarled curtly. "I'm sorry!" I repeated, unable to come up with another word. "Stop saying the fucking sorry!" She yelled, stomping her feet on the ground. I flinched, staggering back while surreptitiously gl
MICHELLE I paced around my room, biting my nails in fear as Valerie's words kept echoing in my mind. I couldn't sleep all through the night and I had been glued to the window since daybreak, looking out for Adriana. Out of the four of them, Adriana had been the most cunning of them all. She had always had ulterior motives beneath the smiles on her face. Though, the shocking part was that I never expected her to add me to the list of the people she hated. I thought she loved me, I thought she wanted me to be with her brothers. I never knew she hated me and was just looking for the right time to strike. I was sure she wouldn't just dig into my life but also use my words and actions against me. I had to find out what she knew and get rid of anything that would destroy my image before the Luna and the entire Pack. I sighed and walked away from the window then slumped down into the bed, cupping my face. The door opened and my maidservant walked in with a tray of my favorite fruits