Rayne's POVBy now, I could already tell that the people of Mysticrock were in no way like the people I had spent two decades of my life with. They lived life to the fullest, embracing every moment that came with tight hands, and choosing to hold on as long as they could. It was an admirable way to live, and I saw more of it as I helped them continue setting up the venue for the festival.By the time we were done, the sun had descended lower in the sky, and its rays had gone from bright yellow to deep orange, indicating that evening waited not too far off. After giving my greetings to the other youths I'd worked with, I met up once again with Sal, who was also on her way to leave.Working that afternoon had given me the chance to really, really think deep about the things she had said. I couldn't help but agree that trauma had a way of tightening bonds. When in doubt and times of incredible despair, people latched onto anything that they felt would ease the pain, even if it meant feed
Rayne's POVOn getting to my room, I discovered that someone had already been there, and left something on my bed. I picked up the rectangle parcel, testing the feel and weight of it to get an idea of what it could be. Atop the box, was a rose and a small white card folded in two taped to it. Carefully, I took them off, and opened the card to read. All it had was one sentence.“An emerald dress for a precious lady,” it read. The symmetrical cursive writing on it gave little clues as to who could have written it, but I already suspected someone. All I had to do was wear the dress and see what he had to say about it.I opened up the box and took out the dress. Spun with fine silk and tailored with definitely experienced hands, the dress clearly screamed class and elegance. It wasn't anything too over the top, and had a design that was both simplistic and artistic. On seeing it, I became eager to wear it.The one thing I loved most about it, had to be the striking green colour. Not wan
Kaiden's POVI would have preferred to do the opposite of helping her close up her dress. On more than one occasion, my fingers brushed the smooth skin of her back, and I would hear her nearly gasp from the contact. It didn't help that my wolf just couldn't get enough of her and kept trying to get a lot closer to her than I felt she would be comfortable with.I finished tying the ‘lace’ of her dress, securing it with a right knot. I had seen too much of her skin to let her risk exposing it to anyone else. Was it a childish notion? Yes.Did I care? No.Rayne turned around to face me, testing out the dress. She resembled a doll in it. Pride welled up inside of me. I had made the right choice by picking this outfit for her. Earlier, when I had been driving through the town at the other edge of our pack borders, I had caught sight of it in a dress shop. The moment I had seen it, Rayne had come to mind. With her beautiful green eyes, the color would have suited her perfectly.“You're th
Rayne's POVWild hunger razed through me, fanned into existence by his kiss. Like fire, it coursed through my veins, setting every single part of me ablaze. I wanted more, no, needed more. I didn't know how much I had been craving a taste of his lips until I felt them against mine.With a small moan I didn't even think myself capable of releasing, I pressed myself up against him even more tightly, bringing my arms up around his neck.The intensity of his crushing kiss had me pressed up against the door, but it was fine, since I no longer thought of leaving. The feeling of his skin sent delightful shivers up my spine. I used the opportunity to trace the muscles of his back. Indeed, he was clearly a powerful man that made his enemies shiver and yet, right here, he had reduced himself to a simple man just to kiss me. His true power sat underneath his skin, just waiting and flexing with his muscles. His hands went down to my waist, and then lower, until I practically sat on his hands. H
Rayne's POVThe festival got off to an exciting start.First off, the people didn't come to mess around. They dressed in beautiful clothes, wearing smiles on their faces and holding tightly to friends and family with an eagerness that had neither a beginning or an end. Fabrics or reds, blues, yellows and greens swirled all round, blessing the world with the magic of colors and celebration. Children ran about, chasing themselves while excited squeals flew out of their mouths. Overhead, the small tents had been set up perfectly, with waterproof material draped over them so that people could sit underneath, although most people preferred to sit outside them on the mats and watch the stars.At the center of it all rose a dancing fire that some people danced around. They changed a song as they all moved in sync, waving their hands and swinging their bodies in tune with the beating drums and harmonious flutes. I watched in blatant awe of their splendor, wanting nothing more than to kick o
Rayne's POVI placed my hands over my mouth, not wanting to believe the news I just heard. No. They couldn't have taken Sal. Why would they? “Rogues don't take people,” Savannah said, looking at both men. “Right? That's not what they do.”“Bradford,” Kaiden started calmly, “I need you to give me details of what happened. We're wasting time by just standing here doing nothing.”Bradford shook his head. “There's nothing to do right now, apart from tracking them down. They came upon us so quietly. I'd never known rogues to be able to do that. It's like they're evolving.” He sighed. “Sal and I were in the woods at the moment, and the next three of them came out of nowhere, attacked me, and just . . . took her.” He punched the ground. “I couldn't stop them. They were far more organized than I had anticipated.”Someone screamed again, this time much closer than the previous screams we had been hearing. Kaiden hastily pulled Bradford up and towards him until their foreheads touched. “Loo
Rayne's POVThe loud silence nearly deafened me. Save for the sounds of my foot trampling leaves underfoot, I couldn't hear much. The eerie atmosphere sent shivers up my spine, eliciting goosebumps along my skin.I hadn't noticed the light chill in the air that evening earlier, but now that there was no longer a large roaring fire to keep me warm, the chill no longer had any barriers. Nevertheless, I had a job to do, and I wouldn't leave until I at least found that boy's sister.I sniffed the air, not quite sure what to expect. Tinges of grass, wet earth, and leaves permeated my senses, and somehow they beckoned me closer, like invisible fingers pointing me to the way. I followed them, still cautious, but knowing that since I had taken the initial risk, I couldn't turn around and give up now.The path I followed took me further into the quiet woods with every step I took. Occasionally I would hear a sound afar off, like someone shouting or loud thudding, but it never came close enough
Kaiden's POVLuckily, from what I had seen so far, not a lot of people had been hurt this time around compared to rogue attacks in the past. Thankfully we had gotten to the scene before things got even more worse.From the look of things, they really had another target, because if they didn't, things would have been more terrible. Rogues were ruthless creatures, treating their kin like mere prey for feasting. When they struck, they didn't even care if you were once from the same pack as they were. While some rogues could still remember certain things about their past for a little while after becoming rogue, turning wild slowly made those memories degenerate, until they couldn't even remember who they once were before. At this point, it usually became increasingly difficult for them to transform into their human form, so they remained in wolf form.I didn't know how Rayne expected to catch one of them and test out her theories, no matter how smart she was. I just hoped that she hadn't
Author’s POVYears had passed since the great war that signaled the end of an era for the Mysticrock pack and its allies. That singular moment that had seemed miniscule in the eyes of many ended up being a memorable turning point in the treaty between humans and werewolves all over the world. The scars of the terrible times had healed, though the memories of struggle and loss remained etched in the hearts of those who survived. Life, however, had a way of moving forward, and in the years since Dr. Cedric’s imprisonment, the werewolf community had continued to thrive. Mysticrock pack had expanded even further since Rayne’s rescue of the imprisoned werewolves. Many of them chose to remain in service to her, preferring to stay within reach of the Lycan Queen, than even in their own home packs. The pack now stretched across more miles of dense forest, now basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun. The land had increased in vibrancy, and anyone who saw it wouldn’t have been able to tell
Rayne's POVKaiden.I smiled at the thought of him, my heart swelling with warmth. He had been there all along, quietly watching, waiting, and never pushing. Even when I had been mated to an Alpha, our fates intertwined in ways I hadn’t understood. Kaiden had been my constant, my true north, even when I didn’t realize it. And now, here we were, fated to be together, just as it was always meant to be. Even the years apart did nothing to dampen the flames of our passion. Many times, thinking about him was what kept me moving during the most terrible of days—the hope that eventually, once I got free, I would be back by his side, where I was truly meant to be. The place where I truly belonged.A soft rustle of leaves pulled me from my thoughts, and I opened my eyes to see Sal approaching. Her twin daughters, Ivy and Isla, followed closely behind, their identical faces full of curiosity and energy. Seeing them filled me with a burst of joy, because I could still vividly remember when she a
RAYNE'S POVIt’s strange when I look back at everything now. All that chaos, the pain, the heartbreak—it all seems like a lifetime ago, though it’s only been months since my world changed for the better once again. I sat at the edge of the pack grounds, watching the late afternoon sun stretch its golden light across the treetops. A soft breeze played with the locks of my hair, pushing the strands against my face in a tickling manner. The wind carried the familiar scent of pine and earth, but it also brought memories, tugging at my mind until I could no longer push them aside.Eighteen years. That’s how long I had been trapped, held captive by Dr. Cedric, who cared for nothing else but his own twisted ideals—only what my blood could do for him. I used to wonder how I survived all those years, locked away, forgotten by the world I had once known, and separated from my family. The nights that I had screamed myself to sleep because I couldn’t stand the silence of those human-sized pods o
Kairen's POVI couldn’t help but let out a little surprised laugh as he took my hand and led me away from the crowd. Roman, who was talking to a group of his classmates, momentarily paised to give us a knowing look as we passed, but he didn’t say anything. He simply gave a small wave before turning back to the group of friends he was with. Todd didn’t say much as we walked, his hand warm and steady in mine as we made our way through the campus and out into the surrounding woods. It wasn’t until we reached the all too familiar clearing—the place where we had first crossed paths—that I realized where he was taking me.The memories flooded back the moment we stepped into the familiar space. The trees were just as tall, their branches swaying gently in the wind, and the soft sound of the nearby stream filled the air. It was peaceful here, just like it had been that day so long ago, when our lives had first intertwined. Who would have ever thought that I would have fallen in love with a g
Kairen's POVMonths had passed since the chaos surrounding Dr. Cedric had finally come to a fruitful demise. Life had slowly begun to find its beat once again, though the scars of what we’d been through still lingered in small, subtle ways. The pack had recovered from most of the damage done in those crucial 18 years, the tension, fear and anxiety giving way to a renewed sense of strength and hope. But more than anything, the peace allowed us to move forward—each of us in our own way.Today, we were gathered for something far different than the clashing of claws and roaring. The university campus buzzed with excitement and celebration as students in their robes moved through the courtyard, their faces lit up with the glow of glorious achievement. They were celebrating the years they had gone through the halls of this school, studying to become people of influence in the nearest future. Todd and Roman were among them, their final year completed, and now they were finally graduating. T
Kairen's POVI stood next to Todd, the silence between us heavy with everything left unsaid. His face was drawn, shadows clinging beneath his eyes, and I wondered how much longer he could keep this up—this weight he carried, the war within him.“Todd...” I began, unsure of what to say. What could I say? His father was a monster, and though I had known Dr. Cedric’s cruelty, I couldn’t pretend to understand what it meant to Todd. It wasn’t just about stopping a villain; it was personal, wrapped in all the twisted layers of family, duty, and a lot of shame.He probably didn't feel like he was supposed to be by my side.Todd shook his head, as if to stop me from saying whatever was on my mind. “Don’t, Kairen,” he said softly, his voice hoarse. “Don’t say anything. You don't have to try to make me feel better about this.”I hesitated, but I couldn’t let it go. “It’s not your fault,” I said, my words firmer than I felt. “It's not your fault at all.”His lips twitched, but it was far from a
Kairen's POVThe air I breathed in that evening remained thick with dampness, and the stench of blood and fear still lingered, though the fighting had long since ended. Even though the manor was now pristine and devoid of any evidence of the terrible fight that occurred, the memories still lingered in my brain, and I didn't think that anything would have been able to change that anytime soon. Todd had been quiet for most of the evening, focused on freeing the last of the prisoners trapped in the underground cells beneath the manor. Mom had said that even though she had managed to rescue some of them, she had the feeling that there were more of our kind still stuck in the manor—but she couldn't find out where for some reason.Todd had volunteered to go in search of the other prisoners and I had decided to go along with him for two reasons. One, I actually wanted to get some alone time with him and iron out some loose ends concerning his father's imprisonment. I could tell that he wasn
Kairen's POV“Your mother's healing capabilities is probably the major reason she was kept here,” said Dad. “I suspected that one of you might have inherited her abilities, but I didn't know who would.”By this time, Roman's wound had already healed halfway, and color had started to seep back into his face. He hadn't spoken yet, but the look on his face was one of pure relief.I didn't even know what to feel at that point. I had gone from shocked, to grieved, and back to shocked. All I could do was watch him, knowing fully well that I was completely dumbfounded to say or do anything else until I was sure of what was happening.“I guess Roman took my healing, and you,” Mom turned to me, smiling for the first time since she saw her son's supposedly dead body, “and you took my gift of sight.”“Sight?” I asked quietly, pressing a shaking hand to my chest. “What do you mean by sight?”“It's what we call being able to see beyond the physical. I discovered mine late, but my mom was supposedl
Kairen's POVTo my surprise, Dad only walked over to me and ran his hand through my hair. “My daughter has found a mate. Which I find to be a very wonderful thing. She is an excellent judge of character, so I have no doubt that she wouldn't have picked this young man if she didn't see him as worthy.”The man who had spoken up earlier frowned, his face showing disgust. “You would allow your child to be with the son of the one who had tormented your kind? The one who even kept your own mate away from you?” The man's eyes trembled as he stared at Dad. As long as Dad remained the Lycan King, no one actually had the guts to be disrespectful towards him.“I would allow my child the freedom to choose.”The man sneered. “And that is why we all decided that you weren't the best choice to lead us as a society any longer. The years must have changed you . . . Made you more of a spineless diplomat than the warrior you showed us years ago when you were going after this position.”Dad didn't respo