Ramon’s POVAs I lie beside Jasmine, the warmth radiating from her becomes almost otherworldly. It’s not just her presence that draws me in; it’s something deeper, an ancient pulse, like a heartbeat echoing through time. Before I realize it, my mind drifts, pulled back again into a vision unlike anything I’ve ever experienced.This is the second time and the experience is more intense than my first vision. I stand in a shimmering forest bathed in silvery light. The air hums with energy, each blade of grass and each leaf glowing faintly, as if alive with their spirit. And then I see her. Athiera.Her form is breathtaking, a massive feline figure with iridescent scales that catch the moonlight, eyes blazing with emerald fire. She regards me with an intensity that pierces through centuries of existence, making me feel both insignificant and chosen at once.“You are not what I expected,” her voice echoes, not with words but with a resonance that settles deep in my bones. I bow my head, a
Ramon’s POVAs I sit beside Jasmine, her eyes locking with mine, a shared understanding passes between us. The connection we felt was undeniable, as though Athiera’s presence had bridged a gap neither of us knew how to cross alone.“I saw her too,” I admit, my voice a soft rumble in the quiet room. Her expression shifts, a mix of wonder and vulnerability. “Then you know,” she whispers, her words laden with meaning, “what I am.”“You’re more than anything I could have imagined,” I reply, truth dripping from every word. “Athiera spoke of your strength, your purpose. She also spoke of us.” Her gaze falters for a moment, as though she’s afraid to hope. “Of us?”I take her hand gently in mine, my cold touch now warmed by her radiance. “She said our bond is unique, Jasmine. That together, we can become something neither of us could achieve alone. She chose to reveal herself to me because of what she saw in us.”Jasmine’s fingers curl slightly around mine, hesitant but seeking comfort. “She
Ramon’s POVJasmine’s small, shaky smile is more precious to me than any treasure I’ve amassed over my centuries of existence. Her hand resting on my chest feels like a lifeline tethering me to a world I’d long since abandoned, a world where hope, love, and redemption could exist.“I’ve waited lifetimes for you,” I murmur, my voice low but filled with conviction. “Even before I knew you existed, you were the reason I kept going.” Her eyes widen slightly, shimmering with unshed tears. “How can you say that? You’ve barely known me, and I’m... I’m so broken.”I place my hand over hers, holding it gently against my heart. “You’re not broken, Jasmine. You’ve been hurt, yes. But hurt can heal. Scars can fade. And you, you’re not defined by what’s been done to you. You’re stronger than you realize.” Her lip trembles, and she looks away, her voice barely above a whisper. “What if I’m not? What if I can’t be who you think I am?”“Then I’ll stand by you anyway,” I reply without hesitation. “Whe
Jasmine’s POVThe days after meeting Athiera feel different as if something deep within me has shifted. The air seems fresher, the sunlight warmer, and the weight on my chest lighter. It’s not that my fears have completely disappeared. No. They linger like shadows at the edges of my mind but they no longer consume me. Athiera’s words echo in my head constantly: You are not fragile. You are rare. And when I look at Ramon, I feel those words resonate even more strongly.His presence, once overwhelming, is now comforting. He doesn’t crowd me or demand anything. Instead, he waits, patient, steady, like a towering tree offering shade. And the more time I spend with him, the more I find myself drawn to that stability.I’ve noticed subtle changes in myself, little things that surprise me. My usual instinct to flinch when someone gets too close is fading. When Ramon brushes against me or rests a hand on my shoulder, I don’t feel the familiar spike of panic. Instead, I feel... warmth. More th
Ryker’s POVThe days blurred together, each one more infuriating than the last. Jasmine has been gone for nearly three months, and despite every effort I made, she is still out there, hiding like the disobedient little omega she is. My trackers combed every corner of the territory, every rogue hideout, every cave and forest but nothing.I slam my fist on the desk, the force splintering the wood beneath my hand. The trackers flinch but say nothing, their eyes cast downward. I hate their cowardice, their failure. Or is it my own failure I hate more?No. Jasmine is mine. My property, my possession. I am the Alpha. She has no right to run from me. "Try again," I growl, pacing behind the desk. "Check the borders again. Question every rogue you can find. Leave no stone unturned."The lead tracker, Garrett, nods stiffly. "We’ve been through the northern pack lands twice already, Alpha, but we’ll..." Before he finishes, I interrupt him. "Then check the southern ones!" I snap, my voice echoing
Jasmine's POVI'm not going to lie, being mated to a centuries-old vampire has its perks. Ramon is like a walking encyclopedia. He knows everything! From the intricacies of ancient history to the latest scientific discoveries, he's always got an answer. And the best part? He's always eager to share his knowledge with me.Lately, he's been teaching me how to play the piano. I know, I know, it sounds weird, a werewolf playing the piano? But Ramon insists I'm a natural. He's been teaching me this really difficult piece, and I picked it up in like, a few days. Ramon says I'm a genius, but I think he's just being nice. Still, it's pretty cool to be able to play something so beautiful.I love how Ramon gets all serious and focused when he's teaching me. He's always like, "Jasmine, you must feel the music," and "Let your emotions guide your fingers." And I'm just over here, trying not to giggle at how adorable he looks when he's being all intense. But despite the teasing, I have to admit -
Jasmine I may be young but I am not foolish. I know what is good for me and what isn't. Having spent most of my life where no one bothered about my existence and then mated to a scumbag egocentric alpha, I think I have learnt enough about life. Granted, I have been broken by Ryker so much that I even didn't have any hope for myself. However, in the third month of Ryker's continued torture, I started feeling a spark of defiance ignite deep within my soul. At that time, I thought it was my wolf, but I guess it was Athiera, my Ailuranthrope. I somehow got the courage to escape and fell straight into the arms of my second mate, Ramon. He is the sweetest and warmest, being I have ever known. Being a vampire does not thwart his humanity. Maybe it's just because I am his mate that he treats me so well. When I woke up to find myself in Ramon's mansion, I was mortified. But his tender care and understanding has made me feel more at home here than I ever felt in my pack. I do not know what
Ramon's POVI stand in the shadows of the garden, watching her. The moonlight spills over her delicate frame, making her look ethereal, almost fragile. Jasmine. My mate. My second chance.I have waited centuries for this, endured loneliness so profound it hollowed me out and the Goddess gifts me a mate who is broken in ways I can barely fathom. A mate who doesn’t even know what it means to be loved.She paces, her bare feet brushing against the grass. Every movement is a window into her thoughts, uncertainty, frustration, and anger. There’s a storm inside her, one that hasn’t calmed since I found her battered and bleeding on the borders of Eclipse Pack. And yet, beneath all that pain, I see a spark. It’s faint, but it’s there.That spark gives me hope. But Goddess, she tests me. Jasmine has a way of throwing herself at me, seeking comfort in my arms, curling against me like I’m her safe harbor. She’s so innocent in her trust, so unaware of the fire she stokes in me. Does she not real
RykerThe witches’ murmurs fade into the background as I pace the clearing. The scent of her lingers, a cruel reminder of what I’ve lost, or rather, what’s been stolen from me. My wolf, Red, prowls beneath my skin, snapping and snarling, his fury mirroring my own.She was mine. She is mine. No vampire lord, nor ancient bond, will change that. The witches’ leader dares to step closer, her calculating eyes meeting mine. “Alpha, your fury is justified, but rage alone won’t reclaim her. You need strategy and allies.”My lips curl into a mocking smile. “Allies?” I turn on her, my tone laced with venom. “You think I need your pitiful spells to take what’s mine?”She flinches but recovers quickly, her expression hardening. “We offer more than spells. We offer an opportunity to strike where the Vampire Lord is weakest. But only if you’re willing to do what is necessary.”I step closer, towering over her. “And what, exactly, do you think I’m unwilling to do?” The witch’s smile returns, sly and
Ryker’s POVThe scent hits me like a thunderclap. That unmistakable, maddeningly sweet scent that has haunted my darkest dreams. My muscles tense as my wolf surges forward, growling with primal need and rage. Jasmine.I stand in the clearing, surrounded by witches cloaked in dark robes, their murmured incantations barely registering over the pounding of my blood. The air is heavy with magic, but it does nothing to mask the scent of her. I haven’t smelled it in months, yet it still ignites a twisted combination of longing and fury deep within me.My lips curl into a snarl, but I quickly suppress it, keeping my expression neutral. No one here can know the chaos that scent has unleashed within me. My pride won’t allow it.“Alpha Ryker?” Malachai’s voice is cautious, his brow furrowed as he approaches me. “The wards are too strong. We cannot see past them. The vampire lord has shrouded the location entirely.” I wave him off impatiently, my mind racing. So this is where she’s been hiding.
Unknown POV The forest is quiet, save for the hurried whispers of the witches fleeing the wrath of the Vampire Lord. Their breaths come in shallow gasps as they dart through the shadowed woods, their dark cloaks snagging on branches. Fear hangs heavy in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on their every step. They know what they left behind, an ancient predator, seething with fury and power. But fate is a strange and twisted thing.Malachai watches them from the shadows, his sharp eyes gleaming with interest. The mage had been wandering these woods in search of components for his darker rituals when he caught sight of the witches. Their hasty retreat and panicked expressions pique his curiosity.“Fleeing, are we?” Malachai’s voice slithers through the silence, smooth and mocking. He steps into the moonlight, his tall frame cloaked in a robe adorned with strange symbols. His presence stops the witches in their tracks, their wide eyes darting to him with a mix of caution and reco
Ramon’s POVThe wind is heavy tonight, carrying a sense of foreboding that sets my every instinct on edge. I stand on the balcony of my private mansion, the sprawling forest below illuminated by the silvery light of the full moon. Jasmine is safe inside, her aura still masked by the ancient wards I reinforced this morning. But something about the night feels… wrong.It’s not the first time I’ve felt this unease since the witches began sniffing around my territory. The first coven came, trembling before me, and fled. The second dared to challenge me but learned why the Vampire Lord of the Crimson Clan is not a creature to provoke. Yet the whispers persist, spreading like wildfire through the supernatural underworld; an Ailuranthrope has awakened.Jasmine, my sweet Jasmine. I clench the railing, my grip denting the wrought iron. She’s the reason for this growing chaos. Not that she’s to blame, it’s the power she unknowingly wields, the untapped strength that sings to every supernatural
Ryker’s POVI sit in my private inner office, the heavy oak desk between me and Malachi, the mage who reeks of burnt herbs and decay. The flickering candles around the room cast long shadows on his gaunt face. He shifts nervously in his chair, bony fingers fidgeting with the hem of his robe.“You didn’t summon me here to waste my time, Malachai,” I growl, my patience dangerously thin. “Speak.”Malachai flinches but quickly composes himself. “Yes, Alpha. I bring news, news that could shift the balance of power entirely in your favor.” I lean back, feigning disinterest, though my pulse quickens. “Then stop stalling and get to the point.”He clears his throat, voice trembling with excitement. “There are whispers among the covens, Alpha. Rumors of a being thought to exist only in legends. An Ailuranthrope.”I narrow my eyes at the word, the weight of it hanging in the air like a thundercloud. “An Ailuranthrope?” I repeat slowly. “Those haven’t been seen in centuries. You’re telling me one
Ramon’s POVThe moment I step out of the library and into the dimly lit corridor, I sense it. A whisper of unease rippling through the wards around the mansion. The protective magic I wove into this place centuries ago is strong, but even the oldest spells are not invincible. The damned witches will not relent!As I descend the stairs, my thoughts drift to Jasmine. Her quiet strength surprises me daily, but I know the weight she carries. She hides it well, masking her fears behind determined eyes. Even now, she pushes herself to learn, to grow, to become the warrior she believes she must be. But time is against us.The mansion feels colder tonight, the shadows deeper. I move through the hallways with the ease of familiarity, my steps silent on the polished floors. In the great hall, the chandeliers cast a soft golden glow, but the air carries the scent of encroaching danger.The wards shudder again, and I stop abruptly. Someone, no, something, is testing them. I press my palm against
Ramon’s POVThe dawn breaks with an uneasy stillness. The forest surrounding the mansion seems quieter than usual, as though it, too, knows the storm that looms. Jasmine stands in the middle of the training courtyard, her posture stiff but determined. She looks at me with an intensity that reminds me of how fiercely she fought to convince me to train her.I study her for a moment. There’s no doubt she’s strong, her resilience, her heart, and her spirit all prove that. But strength of will is only half the battle. If she’s to survive what’s coming, she’ll need to learn discipline, strategy, and precision.“Before we start,” I say, breaking the silence, “you need to understand one thing. This isn’t about brute force or blind courage. It’s about control. If you let your emotions take over, you’ll lose.” Jasmine nods, her eyes blazing. “I’m ready.”I gesture for her to follow me. We begin with the basics, simple movements to assess her reflexes and coordination. I toss a small wooden staf
Jasmine’s POVThe mansion is quiet. Too quiet. Ramon left nearly an hour ago, his departure marked by a single command: “Stay inside.”But how am I supposed to stay calm when the air is heavy with tension, the kind that feels like the universe holding its breath? I pace the length of my room, my feet bare against the cool floor. The fire in the hearth does little to chase away the chill creeping into my bones.My mind races as I replay the conversation we had before he left, his words etched into my memory like stone. “This is something worse,” he had said. Worse than witches, worse than the dark magic Ryker used to manipulate me.I close my eyes, willing myself to find calm, to reach for the strength Ramon believes I have. But instead of stillness, a restless energy courses through me, making my skin prickle and my pulse quicken.I glance at the window, drawn to the moonlight spilling through the glass. The forest beyond the mansion is shrouded in shadows, the trees swaying gently in
Ramon’s POVThe night is unnervingly silent, the type of silence that hums with unspoken tension. I stand by the large bay window in my study, overlooking the moonlit expanse of the forest surrounding my mansion. Jasmine is resting in her chambers, exhausted from the day’s rigorous training. A part of me is relieved that she’s finally showing confidence, but the unease gnawing at my gut refuses to subside.The witches may be gone for now, but their presence lingers like a stain. Their audacity to trespass on my territory is more than a nuisance; it’s a warning. They are desperate, no doubt aware of what Jasmine represents. It won’t be long before other factions hear whispers of her existence.A soft knock pulls me from my thoughts. “Enter,” I say, my voice steady but cold.Jasmine steps into the room, her silhouette illuminated by the flickering light of the fireplace. Her expression is hesitant but resolute. “You’re brooding again,” she says, her tone light, trying to ease my tension