"What do you mean?" Ashford asked. "You saw her naked?" Neon gulped audibly. "I wanted to tell you slowly." "You wanted to tell me that you saw my mother naked and in bed with a man?" Neon nodded. "Not just any man; Diana’s father." Ashford paced to and fro. His mother had always wanted him to marry Diana, and now she was caught having sex with Diana’s father without even attempting to hide it. She was courageously asking him if they could have a trio with his best friend. A frown creased his forehead. There was more to the story, and he knew it. His mother had taken Diana in after her mother's death. Evelyn had taken perfect care of Diana, treating her like her own daughter the same way she treated him. When Diana's mother died, he took her in as his sister. He had taken great care of her until he discovered she was in love with him. He wasn't sure if it was love or a craving for power, but she had manipulated his mother into arranging her marriage to him. Now that he had found h
"No Ashford, stop! What has he done to you?" Evelyn asked coming in between them. "What is wrong with you?"Ashford turned around and glared at her. "I see what is happening here."Evelyn glared back at him and rushed over to help Rowan up. Ashford glared at her, angry at the fact that his mother was showing concern for someone when she clearly didn’t do any of that to him. He watched in irritation as his mother helped Rowan up and started to lead him towards a chair."Where are you taking him? I am not done with him." Ashford roared.Evelyn glanced back at him. "He is going to be your father soon when you get married to Diana.""No, he won’t be my father because I can’t marry his daughter and you also can’t marry him."At the mention of Evelyn getting married to Rowan, she dropped him to the floor and rushed towards her son. They were standing nose to nose, even though Ashford was taller than his mother, he bent to her height."I told you not to speak to me that way!" She yelled."An
When Luna woke up, the room was shrouded in darkness. The lights were off, and someone's firm grip held onto her hand. She sat up, her hand still clasped in someone else's. Wondering how long she had been asleep and who the person was, Luna took in her surroundings. She had fallen asleep in Merlion's hands and now found herself on a bed. The person holding her hand tightened their grip. Luna tugged gently, trying to free her hand. Suddenly, the lights flickered on, revealing Phoebe's tired smile. Luna straightened up. "You startled me." "Startled? How?" Phoebe asked. "I thought you were someone else, holding my hand like that." Phoebe's gaze softened. "I just wanted you to feel secure. Merlion wouldn't tell me anything about the test. You passed, didn't you?" she inquired. "Yes, I did," Luna replied with a slow nod. Memories of the searing pain from the fire element test flashed through her mind. The agonizing screams as her skin felt scorched. Shaking her head, Luna dismissed t
"The person came in through here and then left a bloodied note on the front door," Adrian said. He stood over the lifeless body of a man he barely recognized. Beta Alex was also present, holding a flashlight over his body. The deceased man’s neck was twisted, and his face was etched with a look of terror. It was as though he had witnessed something truly horrifying just before his heart was ripped from his chest. Adrian turned the body over, revealing a mark on his neck with something moving within it. "We saw similar bloody notes on the doors of almost every house," Beta Alex replied. "I wonder what this guy really wants," Adrian pondered. "He killed a man to show us he was serious about finding a mysterious girl." "Even when we don’t have one in our pack." "Think this through—he drops notes all over the front doors of all the houses and left a message in-between Lunar Crest and Cruster Toon. He is certain the girl comes from one of these packs." Beta Alex nodded. "True, he also
Phoebe and Luna arrived at the pack house; Luna stopped and glanced back. Phoebe kept on running but stopped when she could not find Luna beside her. She turned back, ran back to Luna, and tried to pull her hand away. Luna resisted her hold, her eyes focused on the darkness in front of them. "We have to leave," Phoebe said. Instead of looking at Phoebe, she pushed her behind her. "Stay behind me," Luna ordered. Phoebe pushed herself forward, trying to push her head forward to see what Luna was looking at. "What are you doing? We have to go," Phoebe said. Luna stood still, her eyes trailing in the darkness. Her great silver pupil stretched far enough that it could see a figure looming in the distance. Her eyes followed each of its movements. The figure was all black, and she could not see it properly. If she could try to look further, she was sure she was going to see his face. Her eyes were going to glow if she did that if he was the man looking for her. He was going to know she
Bartram reacted immediately when he saw the fangs; he pulled off his shirt and placed it over her head. "What are you doing?" Luna asked. Bartram glanced back at Adrian; he was still having a discussion with Phoebe. Bartram carried Luna on his arm in a bridal style and hurriedly took her out of the environment. Luna struggled and kept on questioning him about what he was doing, but he ignored her. She tried to kick her legs but gave up in the end. When they got home, he hurried up the stairs to her room. He dropped her on the bed, making her land with a thud. With a yelp, she instinctively tore his shirt from her face, her gaze then shifting to him. One by one, he yanked down the curtains in her room, his movements urgent and focused. A mixture of curiosity and bewilderment crossed her features as she followed his actions, unsure of his intent. "What are you doing?" she questioned. He ignored her and continued drawing down the curtains. Luna sprang to her feet and rushed to him in
Earlier, "What happened to her?" Ashford asked as they laid Diana on the bed. Her head was staggering to the side, and her eyes and lips were flushed white and pale. Her long eyelashes twirled around each other. Her eyes bulged out and swelled as if she had been crying for a very long time. She was putting on a matching gown to his red outfit. There was a red necklace on her neck. Evelyn was holding her hand, and there was this sad look on her face. Then she raised her head and glared at Ashford. "Why are you asking that? We should be asking you. You should know everything about your bride and stop asking stupid questions." She snarled. "You have only one responsibility, and you failed at that." "She is not my responsibility, and I have a bride; it is high time you let her know that I am not interested in her at all," Ashford yelled back. Neon took a deep breath. "Now is not the time to fight. We have to help her." Evelyn turned her glare towards Neon, and he bit his lips, stari
"There was someone out there that tried to harm you, Phoebe. I will tell Alpha Dean about it; first I have to find Alexa. Beta Alex said Adrian nodded in agreement. "Be careful, Beta." Alex shrugged. "I will go with a gamma; don’t worry about me." He turned around and left. Adrian watched him until he was out of sight before turning to Phoebe. He suddenly felt like a jerk for not going after Luna or thanking her for saving his sister. She had taken the hit for his sister, and that meant a lot to him. "Phoebe, go to your room and don’t come out until it is morning, and I don’t want to see you anywhere near the center of both packs. Do you understand me?" Phoebe's brows furrowed. "That means I can’t go to Cruster Toon?" "Yes." He said. He held her shoulder and stared down at her when he saw the sad look on her face. "It's for the better; you must be safe for us and me. Now let me walk you home." "Can’t I check up on Luna before going to my room?" Adrian sighed. "Fine, let’s go."
Alpha Dean's stern voice echoed through the clearing, his words laced with authority. "Your matebrought at threat to our pack, even though she fixed everything. She can't change the fact that she is still a danger to this pack. Hybrids are forbidden, and I am already doing her a favor by sparing her the dungeon," he declared.Ashford instinctively pulled Luna closer, shielding her with his protective embrace. "No one is taking her to the dungeon. If you all don't want her, I can take her," he asserted, his voice firm with conviction."Fine," Alpha Dean conceded, his tone relenting slightly. "As long as she is far away from this pack, I have no problem with it."Luna's eyes welled with tears, her vision blurring as Alpha Dean's harsh words pierced her heart. The possibility of leaving her father and venturing into the unknown was daunting."Dean, let's think this through. You can't send her to the dungeon, and you also can't cast her away," Bartram pleaded, his voice trembling with desp
Monsell peered at her. "Do we have a deal?""Luna glanced at the staff and then looked at Adrian, who was shaking his head and asking her not to hand the staff over to him. Luna stared at Monsell; if she refused to give him the staff, he was going to keep on using Ashford's body.Giving him the staff was going to be a waste; Ashford won't want her handing the staff to him."We have no deal; I am not giving you the staff, but you are letting go of him."Monsell's lips curled up into a sinister smile. ",Already making the wrong decision?"Luna's brows furrowed at him, and she gripped tightly to the staff until her knuckles turned white."I have always made the right decision; you are going to let go of him."Luna lunged at Monsell, attacking him with a kick. He dove away with a wide grin on his face. Luna realized that if she fought Monsell, she was only hurting Ashford's body.She paused, looking at Monsell as he stood next to her. An idea popped into her head."You want the staff, don'
Ashford led the way towards the pack; Luna was by his side while Bartram and Ashford were walking behind them. Luna clutched tightly to her staff, even though they were heading to the pack to stop Monsell. Luna felt uneasy; the man was out there using her powers, and he even shifted his shape to look like her.She promised herself to get rid of him as soon as possible. Soon they were standing in between the borders. The border between Cruster Toon and Lunar Crest There were several dead bodies laying on the floor. Guilt gnawed at Luna's conscience as she stared at the lifeless bodies. The weight of responsibility hung heavy on her shoulders, her heart burdened by the knowledge that their deaths were a consequence of her existence. If she hadn't been born or if she had been killed alongside her mother, Everyone would be safe; no one would be dead.The snarling of the creatures could be heard, followed by the growling of a wolf. The battle seems hard, and Luna couldn't wait for it to sto
"What do we do?" Luna questioned. "We have to find something that could harm Monsell. The last time I tried to hurt him, I couldn't hurt him. He placed a metal bar in my arm, and I am sure he might have something hidden on me."Ashford glanced at her, and he placed a hand on her hand. "Calm down; we will be fine, I promise."She offered him a warm smile, even though her smile was shaking. She placed her head on his; they were taking a ride to the pack. It was far away, and they didn't want to run all the way. The Monsells had horses, and when they found the horses, the horses were terrified. Thanks to Luna, the horses were able to let them take them.They were sitting in the carriage, and Neon and Bartarm were sitting on a horse outside the carriage. Luna and Bartram were left to stay inside, Luna's hands trembling as she clutched the edges of her seat during the ride and her eyes darting anxiously over the passing scenery. Ashford wondered what was going on in her mind."What if I can
Ashford stared at her as she raised the sword to slit his head with it. Just when he thought she was going to kill him with her sword, she paused and bent to his height. Ashford stared at her weakly, and he placed his hand on the injury. He had to heal, think of something else to do to her, and save himself from her."You tried to kill yourself just to talk to me?" Luna muttered. "I guess I will have to listen to you."Ashford's eyes lit up amidst the pain he felt around his body. He nodded his head at her and coughed out, placing his hand on his mouth. He wiped blood off his face."Thank you, Luna," he replied."Why do you call me Luna?""That's your name; don't tell me you forgot."Luna's hands tightened around the sword's hilt, and her eyes narrowed into slits. 'Are you ready to go straight to the point?' she hissed, her voice laced with barely contained fury."I am." He answered. "I'm Ashford, your first mate.""Go on, what made you think I would believe that you are not Monsell bu
Monsell took a step forward, with Luna holding his hand."We will throw them in the dungeon; that is exactly what we would do." Monsell said.Luna's lips curled up into an evil smile. "Let's get them!"Monsell grinned and removed her hands from his; he broke the metal he had placed on her wrist. He stepped backward."I would handle the rest of the stuff; get rid of them." He ordered.Luna nodded. "Sure."Monsell turned around and began walking away. Ashford couldn't let him leave like that. Ashford hurried after him, catching him by the hand and throwing a punch at his face. Just as Ashford was about to throw another punch, a hand held his wrist. He raised his head to look at who was holding him; it was Luna.There was no way Ashford was going to hurt Luna; she had no idea what she was doing. She pulled Ashford's hand away and kicked him in the stomach. The impact hit him, making him fall to his knees. Monsell chuckled and walked away, leaving Luna with them.Ashford scrambled to his f
"Now, start the initiation." Monsell repeated. "We have to get her on our side before anyone comes for her.""You are going to regret this!" Luna yelled.Monsell smirked at her. "Not really; you will belong to the Hybire soon."Everyone in the room stood to their feet, reciting a quote. The quote was so old that it was affecting Luna's ears. She covered her ears and began screaming; her ears began bleeding, and blood began streaming down her face. She screamed in pain as memories filled her head, starting from the time that he met her father to the time that she was growing up.Soon, the memories of when she met her mother began to fade away. She tried to grab hold of her mother, but everything disappeared. The only thing she could see was Monsell; he was smiling at her and taking her hand.The memories of when she was with Assy all faded away. Assy became Monsell, and he was in every scene that he was in. He was smiling at her and taking her hand, helping her with everything.Luna's e
"Whatever you want to do to me would never work." Luna snarled at the man in front of her. "You think taking my blood and using it to your own benefit is going to work as you thought? My mate is going to find you! And end you!"A slap hit her face, and the impact made her face move to the side. The chain gripped her hand tightly as she fell to her knees. Liquid filled her mouth, and when she spit it out, it was blood.Monsell bent to her height and cupped her face in her hands. His lips curled into a smile, and he pulled off his coat hat, revealing his face. Luna's eyes widened; his face wasn't what she thought it was going to be. His eyes were bright green, his hair was long and curly, and his jaw was chiseled. He was handsome, and Luna hated to admit it. He had a scar in between his eye sockets."You should learn to speak to me politely; do I look like a monster?" Monsell asked. "Your mate didn't try to save you the last time I took his sister, but your best friend appeared. He tried
Luna's eyes opened in the dim, dark room; she was chained to a wall. She glanced around the room, trying to check where she was. She tried to get away from the wall, but it was impossible. She tried to use her power, but it was of no use. She glanced around the room, trying to remember where she was and why she was in the cell.She had been with Ashford and the rest outside, and she had killed all the creatures. Someone had knocked her out and brought her here; she couldn't remember anyone's face. There was a black smoke around them when she was knocked out."Ashford?" She called out. "Are you there?"There was no response.She tried to free herself again, but she suddenly felt weak. Weaker than she had ever felt, her body hurt as she tried again."Ashford?" She called again.She slapped herself for thinking that Ashford was near her. If he were, he wouldn't let her be chained to the wall like a slave. He couldn't do it, and then it hit her. She had been kidnapped by someone, and the o