I rested, as my father commended, but only for two hours. At 10pm sharp, I threw back the covers and unpacked my luggage. Changing into black clothes, I coiled my ember locks into a tight bun and pulled on a mask. With the backpack containing the vials of the D15 strapped to my back, I jumped out of the second-floor window and landed on the lawn overlooking the pack houses with an inaudible thud. It was a perfect Rainer night in Washinton State, chilly with a hint of sprinkles foreshadowing a light shower. Just the cover I needed to get done what needed to be done. Rising to my feet, I clutched my backpack strap and trudged out of the Alpha Mansion. My boots squelched in the mud as I went from one cabin to another, infecting the pathogen with unmated female pack members who were at the fertile age. I wasn’t as worried and anxious about my actions this time as I was back at the Pacific Sea. The successful recovery of the she-Lycans proved the cure was safe to use. But just in case,
I couldn’t believe what Saira was saying. Vampires couldn’t have offspring. They didn’t have that reproduction ability. As creatures of the night and dead souls brought back to life, they were corpses walking. The sperm and eggs in their bodies had gone bad due to their cold constitution. It was impossible, no, absolutely ridiculous for them to breed with any creature let alone werewolves. “Of course, it would be impossible for them to breed with other creatures if they were to go about it the natural way. But what if they snatched the wolf-spirits of unmated she-wolves and transferred it into their females?” Saira asked. I gaped at her in disbelief. Did she hear what she was saying? How was it even possible for something like that to happen? The wolf part of werewolves was a part of them. Though the wolf didn’t awaken until the age of 18, all weres lived with the knowledge that their animal side grew up with them and experienced everything they went through from the moment of their
Well, that was easy. “Because you didn’t tell them the whole truth.” Zaria said, “Saira, tell them. They need to know if they’re going to support you. They need to know…” “Like hell I will!” I snapped and cut off the link between us. Sofia and the gang were understanding and supportive of me and my decisions now, yes, but only because they didn’t have a reason to shun me. They believed in me and were willing to trust me because they didn't know the full story, I didn’t harm anyone in the pack, and because my actions were only in the best interests of the werewolf community. But if I told them the forces hunting the unmated she-wolves were not only sucking out their wolf spirits, but also stealing their appearances, their scent, and ultimately their identities, what would they think of me when my truth came to light? They would group me with those creatures, that’s what. They would curse me and condemn me and try to kill me with their own hands. And I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready t
Evergreen Pack. I never thought I would return to this place again when I rejected Saira Malivik. “You’re Idris Raed, right? The Lycan Heir of the Pacific Sea and our Saira’s husband?” “Yes, I’m Saira’s husband.” My jaw clenched and I had no idea why Idris’s claim irritated me. Trying to ignore him and the pack members treating him like a celebrity, I returned my attention to the Alpha of the Evergreen Pack and brought up the concerns the Lycan Leader had regarding the latest movements of the Dark Forces in the Northwest. It was anything but good news. The corpses floating ashore on the Pacific Sea and the recent ones discovered in the Evergreen Pack hinted at a threat far greater than any the Lycan and werewolf community faced in history. As the Lycan Commander of the Pacific Sea, I had my work cut out for me preparing for the worse. “Young Lycan, you’re a lucky man. Not just anyone can become our Alpha Heir’s husband. From the Canadian Border to the City of New York, from New
“I really don’t know what’s wrong with him.” I said. I didn’t. Idris Raed was proving himself to be a mystery, and a clingy pest. I thought I made myself clear enough that I wanted nothing to do with him when I left the Pacific Sea. So what was he doing here? Why did he come to the Evergreen Pack barely 4 hours after my departure? Did I need to write a divorce letter to make him understand it was over? “Oh, come on Sai. I think it’s kinda cute that he came all the way here for you.” Sofia giggled. I made a ‘you better not go there’ face at her and moved around her. Before I could leave the room, she grabbed my hand and said, “actually, his being here isn’t all that bad. I mean, think about it. That Lycan Commander isn’t looking your way no matter what you do. Instead of pursuing him, I think you should change your tactic to luring. Flirt with your husband, get intimate with him. Make him so jealous he loses his sanity. If the bond between you still exists, then let him come to you
I jumped off the Lycan’s lap, but before I could voice my objection, the elders of the pack, the ranked members of my grandfather’s generation strode into the living room. “Oh, Saira, you’re back?” I crossed my arms and scrutinized the three men. “Yes. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.” I said, giving them a sweet smile that had them chuckling and slowly backing away. The elders never liked me, and for viable reasons. From the day my father made me join in pack discussions, I did everything I could to shut down their suggestions and ignored their advice on running the pack. Some days, if I wasn’t arguing with them on how to divide the pack resources, I was pressuring them to include females in the pack training. And with my father’s support, I always came out the victor in our confrontations. It was no secret in the pack that they preferred to confront my father, who tolerated their criticisms and treated them with respect due to their seniority and their past relationshi
"Vile thing, you can't escape today!" "We'll burn you to death!" "Everyone, surround her!" Covered in sweat and bleeding from numerous cuts and wounds, I limped through the woods in desperation. It was cold, the dark night made even more terrifying by the thousands of torches flaring around me. In my haste to get away from the malicious faces of the pack members, I stumbled on a rock and fell flat on my face. At this moment, I knew my efforts were futile. There was no escaping the nightmare about to descend. For as long as I could remember, my parents had been trying to kill me. Everyone hated me. Abhorred my very existence. When death eluded me, the torture began. I was thrown in an underground cell, starved for years in another attempt to kill me. After years of loneliness and starvation, I still ended up surviving. Then the day came when I was dragged out. To be experimented on, paraded around like a pariah, before the Alpha, my father, decided to tie me to a pillar to be
~PART 2: THE LYCAN~Smoldering flames set ablaze a canopy of ancient trees. Fangs and claws glinted sharply under the crescent moon.Screams and shrieks sliced through the frigid night, hurling in writhing silhouettes shrouded in shadow and smoke, unbridled rage burning fiercely in crimson orbs.The vivid images raced through my mind, tightening my ribcage, and squeezing my lungs as the lifeless body of my best friend and confidant slumped at my feet in a splutter of blood and gore.“Idris, when a time comes where a woman enters your heart, you’ll understand what it means to be anxious and restless.”My eyes snapped open, jerked into consciousness by a jarring creak. “What?” I mumbled and rubbed away the sleepy haze blurring my vision. My manager’s worried face greeted me.“The client is here, Lycan Heir,” he said, and hesitantly asked, “would you like me to invite him in or have him wait?” No doubt detecting the fatigue I’ve been fighting to conceal for the past 24 hours.I glanced a
I jumped off the Lycan’s lap, but before I could voice my objection, the elders of the pack, the ranked members of my grandfather’s generation strode into the living room. “Oh, Saira, you’re back?” I crossed my arms and scrutinized the three men. “Yes. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.” I said, giving them a sweet smile that had them chuckling and slowly backing away. The elders never liked me, and for viable reasons. From the day my father made me join in pack discussions, I did everything I could to shut down their suggestions and ignored their advice on running the pack. Some days, if I wasn’t arguing with them on how to divide the pack resources, I was pressuring them to include females in the pack training. And with my father’s support, I always came out the victor in our confrontations. It was no secret in the pack that they preferred to confront my father, who tolerated their criticisms and treated them with respect due to their seniority and their past relationshi
“I really don’t know what’s wrong with him.” I said. I didn’t. Idris Raed was proving himself to be a mystery, and a clingy pest. I thought I made myself clear enough that I wanted nothing to do with him when I left the Pacific Sea. So what was he doing here? Why did he come to the Evergreen Pack barely 4 hours after my departure? Did I need to write a divorce letter to make him understand it was over? “Oh, come on Sai. I think it’s kinda cute that he came all the way here for you.” Sofia giggled. I made a ‘you better not go there’ face at her and moved around her. Before I could leave the room, she grabbed my hand and said, “actually, his being here isn’t all that bad. I mean, think about it. That Lycan Commander isn’t looking your way no matter what you do. Instead of pursuing him, I think you should change your tactic to luring. Flirt with your husband, get intimate with him. Make him so jealous he loses his sanity. If the bond between you still exists, then let him come to you
Evergreen Pack. I never thought I would return to this place again when I rejected Saira Malivik. “You’re Idris Raed, right? The Lycan Heir of the Pacific Sea and our Saira’s husband?” “Yes, I’m Saira’s husband.” My jaw clenched and I had no idea why Idris’s claim irritated me. Trying to ignore him and the pack members treating him like a celebrity, I returned my attention to the Alpha of the Evergreen Pack and brought up the concerns the Lycan Leader had regarding the latest movements of the Dark Forces in the Northwest. It was anything but good news. The corpses floating ashore on the Pacific Sea and the recent ones discovered in the Evergreen Pack hinted at a threat far greater than any the Lycan and werewolf community faced in history. As the Lycan Commander of the Pacific Sea, I had my work cut out for me preparing for the worse. “Young Lycan, you’re a lucky man. Not just anyone can become our Alpha Heir’s husband. From the Canadian Border to the City of New York, from New
Well, that was easy. “Because you didn’t tell them the whole truth.” Zaria said, “Saira, tell them. They need to know if they’re going to support you. They need to know…” “Like hell I will!” I snapped and cut off the link between us. Sofia and the gang were understanding and supportive of me and my decisions now, yes, but only because they didn’t have a reason to shun me. They believed in me and were willing to trust me because they didn't know the full story, I didn’t harm anyone in the pack, and because my actions were only in the best interests of the werewolf community. But if I told them the forces hunting the unmated she-wolves were not only sucking out their wolf spirits, but also stealing their appearances, their scent, and ultimately their identities, what would they think of me when my truth came to light? They would group me with those creatures, that’s what. They would curse me and condemn me and try to kill me with their own hands. And I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t ready t
I couldn’t believe what Saira was saying. Vampires couldn’t have offspring. They didn’t have that reproduction ability. As creatures of the night and dead souls brought back to life, they were corpses walking. The sperm and eggs in their bodies had gone bad due to their cold constitution. It was impossible, no, absolutely ridiculous for them to breed with any creature let alone werewolves. “Of course, it would be impossible for them to breed with other creatures if they were to go about it the natural way. But what if they snatched the wolf-spirits of unmated she-wolves and transferred it into their females?” Saira asked. I gaped at her in disbelief. Did she hear what she was saying? How was it even possible for something like that to happen? The wolf part of werewolves was a part of them. Though the wolf didn’t awaken until the age of 18, all weres lived with the knowledge that their animal side grew up with them and experienced everything they went through from the moment of their
I rested, as my father commended, but only for two hours. At 10pm sharp, I threw back the covers and unpacked my luggage. Changing into black clothes, I coiled my ember locks into a tight bun and pulled on a mask. With the backpack containing the vials of the D15 strapped to my back, I jumped out of the second-floor window and landed on the lawn overlooking the pack houses with an inaudible thud. It was a perfect Rainer night in Washinton State, chilly with a hint of sprinkles foreshadowing a light shower. Just the cover I needed to get done what needed to be done. Rising to my feet, I clutched my backpack strap and trudged out of the Alpha Mansion. My boots squelched in the mud as I went from one cabin to another, infecting the pathogen with unmated female pack members who were at the fertile age. I wasn’t as worried and anxious about my actions this time as I was back at the Pacific Sea. The successful recovery of the she-Lycans proved the cure was safe to use. But just in case,
24 hours, 30 minutes, and 5 seconds since Saira’s departure. Time didn’t only seem to crawl. It was crawling. Every second, every minute, every hour Saira was away from me my wolf grew more restless and agitated. Malko stopped talking to me, and no matter how hard I tried to reach out to him, he didn’t respond. It was as if a barrier had fallen between us. An invisible, impenetrable barrier that refused to budge. “Mal, what the hell’s the matter with you?” I called out for the umpteenth time, and just like before, I received no answer but a savage growl. Something was awfully wrong. Malko never behaved this way before, not even when we’d almost lost Saira to the fire. He ignored my calls, and when I reached out to him through our link, nothing but darkness greeted me. I didn’t know what to do. Asking my father or mother for help was out of the question, as neither cared for me or my well-being. My brother…it might be better to turn to a rogue for help. The bastard was connecte
The first thing that hit me was the stench. Rotten. Putrid. And utterly dead. I wasn’t surprised by the vampires’ scent. I’d anticipated as much to happen after the encounter with the coven in the Pacific Sea. If anything, I was caught off guard by the milder stench I detected. Ashes and blood, smoke and magic. The horrid scent of rogues and witches. What the hell were they doing at the Evergreen Pack? Or were they… My heart skipped a beat. I left Sof behind as I raced through the trees and skirted around bushes and puddles before stopping at the cemetery of the pack. The pack members were gathered in a huddle, some weeping, some comforting, and others staring blankly at the faceless corpses of their kin. “It’s them.” Zaria hissed, somber and more serious than she’d ever sounded before. “They’re finally making their move.” Yes. After 7 years of hiding in the shadows, they were finally making their move. “Good Goddess, are they…are they?” Sofia, finally catching up, stuttered
The fly back to the Evergreen Pack felt longer than it should’ve been. For one, I couldn’t stop thinking about what problem the pack ran into that they needed me to solve it. And for another, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling things were about to get serious. Serious and dangerous. As our plane landed and we got in the car the pack sent to pick us up, Sofia went on and on about her mate, how amazing he was in bed, what they did together and some other nonsense I wasn’t in the mood to listen to. Chugging up my annoyance, I focused on the scenery outside the window. Washington wasn’t nicknamed the Evergreen State for nothing. Trees of all nature crowded on either side of the highway, stretching so tall, they blocked out the sky. The sound of thunder rang out intermittently, hinting at the coming of an evening shower. Shifting in my seat, I ignored the feeling of eyes on me and scrolled through the latest messages on my phone. There was nothing from the pack. No update or de