Nixon Blood. Thick, metallic, and warm, it dripped sluggishly from the deep gash on Mi'chi’s hand, pooling on the stone floor beneath him. The stale air in the dimly lit basement carried the coppery tang, mingling with the sharp stench of sweat and despair. Every breath Mi'chi took was a struggle, his chest rising and falling like a bellows as he wrestled against the pain. His wrist jerked involuntarily as Nixon's finger pressed mercilessly into the raw, ragged wound where Mi'chi’s pinky used to be. The Alpha’s movements were slow, deliberate, his face a mask of chilling detachment. Mi'chi’s scream split the silence, guttural and sharp, reverberating off the cold concrete walls. “You scream well,” Nixon said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. “The sooner you cooperate, the sooner your agony ends.” His golden eyes glimmered in the faint light, unblinking, predatory. Mi'chi spat, the glob landing near Nixon’s boots. “I’d rather die than betray my clan or the Luna,” he rasped, hi
ThaliaThe minutes stretched, blending into a quiet eternity as I sat in the stillness of the living room. The low hum of tension wrapped around me, until finally, the distant creak of the meeting room door echoed. Quick footsteps, firm and deliberate, retreated toward the front door. Agreement had been reached—on what, I had no idea. My thoughts swirled with questions: what had Zephry said to sway them? Or had he failed to convince them at all?Soft footsteps approached, stirring me from my musings. I glanced up to find Rosco standing before me, his mismatched eyes warm and glinting with familiarity. His gentle smile softened the sharp edges of my thoughts."Let me guess," I asked, quirking a brow, "Zephry screamed at everyone until they gave in?"Rosco chuckled, the sound low and soothing as he shook his head. "Not quite. He did try to convince them you were wrong, though." His hand raked through his hair, tousling the dark strands further. "But after hearing you speak as Luna, the
I stared at my reflection in the mirror, barely recognizing the girl looking back at me. The black lace dress hugged my curves in all the right places, but it felt more like a cage than an outfit. Every breath I took reminded me of how constricting it was, how it pinched and pulled at my skin. The choker around my neck felt tight, almost suffocating, and my feet were already aching from these ridiculous heels. Why did I have to dress up like this again? Oh right, the stupid ceremony.A shiver ran down my spine, and I wasn't sure if it was from the room's coolness against my bare shoulders or the dread pooling in my stomach. Who was I kidding? No wolf in their right mind would want me as a mate. I'm just Thalia, the pathetic Omega who can't even transform. The shame of it burned in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me.I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. The pack's rules echoed in my head, each one feeling like another nail in my coffin:Omegas are the lowest rank.T
The grand hall buzzed with excitement, a sea of unfamiliar faces surrounding me. I stood awkwardly by the refreshment table, feeling like a fish out of water. The air was thick with perfume, sweat, and anticipation, making it hard to breathe. I swirled my drink absent-mindedly, the coolness of the glass a stark contrast to the warmth of the crowded room.My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for Axel. He had promised to stay by my side, but he was nowhere to be seen. Typical. I sighed, resigned to weathering this storm alone. The faces around me blurred together - wolves from various packs, all dressed to the nines. And here I was, feeling like a reluctant observer in a world I didn't belong to.I picked at the thin sheet cake on my plate, having lost interest in actually eating it. The sweetness in the air mingled with the sharper scent of alcohol, making my head spin. Or maybe that was just the exhaustion setting in. Either way, I was ready for this night to be over."Did it hurt whe
The first rays of sunlight filtered through the heavy curtains, casting a dim glow across the unfamiliar room. I blinked, disoriented, as the events of the past twelve hours came crashing back. My body felt heavy, weighed down by exhaustion and an overwhelming sense of dread.I pushed myself up, the silken sheets sliding against my skin. The room was vast, easily three times the size of my old bedroom. Polished wooden floors stretched out before me, leading to a large bay window that overlooked a manicured garden. It was beautiful, but all I felt was a deep, gnawing anxiety."This can't be real," I whispered to myself, my voice sounding small in the cavernous room. "How did I end up here?"My mind raced, replaying the events of the night before. The Ceremony. The crowds. And then... him. Zephyr Dalton. My mate. The most feared Alpha in all the packs.I hugged my knees to my chest, trying to make sense of it all. Everything I'd learned at the Academy about The Raven Pack came flooding
The soft glow of the setting sun filtered through the sheer curtains, casting long shadows across my bedroom. I sat on the edge of the plush bed, my fingers absently tracing the intricate patterns on the silk duvet. The room smelled faintly of lavender, a scent I'd come to associate with this strange new home. It was meant to be calming, I supposed, but nothing could truly soothe the storm of emotions raging inside me.I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. For a moment, I allowed myself to pretend that this was all a dream—that I'd wake up back in my old room, in my old life, where I was just Thalia. Not a Luna. Not the mate of the most feared Alpha in all the packs.A soft knock shattered my illusion."Thalia?" Billie's warm voice called from the other side of the door. "Are you decent?"I sighed, straightening my posture. "Come in, Billie."The door opened, and Billie stepped inside. I blinked in surprise. Gone was the casual, friendly girl I'd spent the day with. In her place sto
He crouched low, hidden in the shrubs along the front garden, eyes locked on her through the dim, filtered moonlight. Thalia Redfield, the Omega of the Nightshades Pack, was standing inside the mansion, visible just past the wide, glass doors. She was ethereal, almost otherworldly, her long brown hair falling softly past her shoulders, framing a delicate, slender frame. A beauty laced with sorrow and strength; anyone could see she’d lived through storms. She carried the grace of someone who had seen too much, and yet, here she was, holding herself with quiet dignity. It was infuriating to think of how Zephry Dalton, her mate, treated her. An Alpha of the Raven Pack, Zephry used her presence as a showpiece, a trophy, not the resilient, powerful soul he had at his side. To him, she was a possession, like a priceless artifact in a grand hall — something beautiful to look at, but not worth knowing. The man in the garden knew more about her than Zephry likely ever would. He saw past the q
ZephryThe council room felt like a cage. A cage filled with bickering alphas who couldn’t understand the word *no* if it hit them square in the face. “Let us reconsider, Alpha Zephry!” The Alpha of the Western Sea Pack's voice rang out, trying to pull me back to the table. But I’d had enough.I rose to my feet, towering over the assembled alphas for just a moment, letting them feel the weight of my silence before turning my back on them and striding toward the door. Behind me, I heard my second-in-command, Kobee, scrambling to follow. As soon as we reached the hallway, I slammed the door shut with a force that rattled the windows.The rage simmered inside me like a fire that wouldn’t die down. My hands were clenched tight as I raked them through my hair, trying to shake off the boil in my blood. My fingers gripped the edge of my desk, and in a swift, unthinking motion, I swept everything off it—papers, clipboards, the damn lamp. All of it clattered to the floor in a chaotic mess. I f
ThaliaThe minutes stretched, blending into a quiet eternity as I sat in the stillness of the living room. The low hum of tension wrapped around me, until finally, the distant creak of the meeting room door echoed. Quick footsteps, firm and deliberate, retreated toward the front door. Agreement had been reached—on what, I had no idea. My thoughts swirled with questions: what had Zephry said to sway them? Or had he failed to convince them at all?Soft footsteps approached, stirring me from my musings. I glanced up to find Rosco standing before me, his mismatched eyes warm and glinting with familiarity. His gentle smile softened the sharp edges of my thoughts."Let me guess," I asked, quirking a brow, "Zephry screamed at everyone until they gave in?"Rosco chuckled, the sound low and soothing as he shook his head. "Not quite. He did try to convince them you were wrong, though." His hand raked through his hair, tousling the dark strands further. "But after hearing you speak as Luna, the
Nixon Blood. Thick, metallic, and warm, it dripped sluggishly from the deep gash on Mi'chi’s hand, pooling on the stone floor beneath him. The stale air in the dimly lit basement carried the coppery tang, mingling with the sharp stench of sweat and despair. Every breath Mi'chi took was a struggle, his chest rising and falling like a bellows as he wrestled against the pain. His wrist jerked involuntarily as Nixon's finger pressed mercilessly into the raw, ragged wound where Mi'chi’s pinky used to be. The Alpha’s movements were slow, deliberate, his face a mask of chilling detachment. Mi'chi’s scream split the silence, guttural and sharp, reverberating off the cold concrete walls. “You scream well,” Nixon said, his voice smooth but devoid of warmth. “The sooner you cooperate, the sooner your agony ends.” His golden eyes glimmered in the faint light, unblinking, predatory. Mi'chi spat, the glob landing near Nixon’s boots. “I’d rather die than betray my clan or the Luna,” he rasped, hi
Thalia The tension in the boardroom was suffocating, a thick, unyielding presence that pressed against my chest like a vice. Zephry sat at the head of the long mahogany table, his presence dominating the room as his golden eyes blazed with barely restrained fury. I felt the weight of his gaze on me, lingering far too long for comfort, stripping away any illusion of power I might have had in this space. The outfit he had forced me to wear—a fitted black dress that clung uncomfortably to my skin—left me feeling exposed, every glance from the Alphas around the table like a dagger slicing through my resolve. I sat rigid, my hands clasped tightly in my lap, trying to ignore the whispers and stray looks. This wasn’t the first time Zephry had paraded me like some kind of prize. Rosco’s quiet smile from across the table was the only kindness I could grasp onto. It was fleeting, but it steadied me, grounding me in this hostile space. Rosco had been a rare ally in this mess, a beacon of decen
The heavy wooden door of the mansion creaked open, and as I stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted. Whispers ceased, and all heads turned toward me. My boots echoed on the marble floor, a deliberate reminder of my authority. A figure approached, bowing deeply as I entered the grand foyer."You've finally returned, Alpha," the man greeted, his voice reverent but tinged with unease. His posture was stiff as he glanced upward, his smile tight. "I assume you’ve tracked the Luna?"I let out a short, humorless laugh, my lips curving into a smirk. "You ask me as if I would fail." My voice carried a sharp edge, a warning to anyone who dared doubt me. "She won’t see it coming when things escalate. The clock is ticking, and soon, Thalia will have no place to run."The man nodded quickly, relief flickering across his features as he avoided my piercing gaze. "Alpha, there's a... guest waiting for you. In the basement."I arched a brow, feigning curiosity, though I already suspected what awaited m
ThaliaZephry’s gaze locked onto mine, unwavering, sharp, and intense. It made my stomach churn uneasily, but thankfully, Billie was there. If Zephry had any intentions that spelled trouble, I was confident Billie would intervene. Still, my muscles tensed under his stare. I dared a quick smile in Billie’s direction, relieved to see her returning it as she rounded Zephry and made her way toward me.Even as Billie approached, I couldn’t peel my eyes away from Zephry. The usual guarded layers of his clothing were stripped away, replaced by a simple tank top that left little to the imagination. His long, muscled arms, hairless and faintly glowing in the light, looked like they belonged to a sculpted statue. A faint webbing of veins curved along his forearms, each one a testament to his strength. Despite the intimidating display, a sprinkling of freckles—like those scattered across his face—softened the harshness of his form, creating a maddening contradiction of beauty and power.“Morning
BillieHumming was one of the few things that kept me calm, especially when I was either working in the kitchen or with Zephry during one of his daily temper tantrums. As I chopped chives and fruits to prepare Thalia’s favorite dish, my thoughts drifted to her and Zephry as a whole. The sunlight streamed through the trees, dappling the room with golden light, while the gentle wind danced with the leaves outside. It was a scene meant for serenity, but my mind betrayed me, pulling me back to him.The memories were relentless, dark and unyielding. All the terrible things that happened years ago rose to the surface like jagged shards of glass, cutting through my peace. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t recall anything good about Zephry—or him—since then. But a stubborn hope lingered. If Zephry could just see Thalia for who she truly was, maybe, just maybe, we’d finally get a glimpse of the real Zephry we’d begged for all these years."Thinking about me like that won’t work, Billie,"
As I slipped through the front door, the creak of the hinges sent a shiver down my spine. I barely had time to shut it quietly before a voice sliced through the silence."Glad to see you again, Thalia."I flinched, my heart leaping into my throat. Spinning around, I saw Billie leaning casually against the staircase, arms crossed and a sly grin curling her lips. Even in the dim light, her resemblance to Zephry was uncanny—the same sharpness in her gaze, the same air of authority."Where have you been?" she asked, her tone deceptively light. "I didn’t realize Lunas had free passes to come and go as they pleased."The knot in my stomach tightened. "Billie, please don’t tell Zephry," I whispered, tiptoeing closer, my hands clasped as if in prayer. My whole body was tense, every muscle screaming at me to flee, but I knew better. Running wouldn’t save me—not from Billie and certainly not from Zephry.She tilted her head, her dark eyes catching the faint glimmer of light from the hallway. Th
The rain poured harder with every step I took deeper into the forest. The steady rhythm of water striking leaves and pooling in the soil created a natural symphony, a melody both soothing and unsettling. My clothes clung to my skin, heavy with the downpour, and I abandoned my hood, letting the rain saturate my hair and stream down my face. The sensation was a mixture of freedom and surrender, the cool droplets a stark contrast to the warmth of my flushed cheeks. I had always loved the rain—its soothing cadence on long, quiet nights—but tonight, it felt different. As if it carried the weight of my guilt, distorting the world around me.Each step forward seemed to stretch the path infinitely, making me question if the forest had always been this vast or if my mind was playing tricks on me. Crickets chirped and insects buzzed in the underbrush, their tiny voices muffled by the storm. The earthy smell of rain-soaked moss and bark filled my lungs, grounding me, yet I couldn’t shake the fee
The familiar roads stretched out before me, winding between shrubs heavy with rain and memories I thought I had buried. Each step brought the scent of damp earth and pine—an aroma I had longed for, even in my dreams. The homes, small and quaint, stood like sentinels of a past I couldn’t quite escape, their weathered facades whispering of old wounds and fonder times. And then there were the people—faces I once knew so well, now blurred by time and distance. They walked with laughter on their lips, umbrellas forgotten as they pulled their coats tighter against the relentless downpour. I watched from my hiding spot, my hood pulled low, feeling like a ghost among the living. There he was—the Beta who had tormented me endlessly in my youth. Even in the rain, his posture was sharp, his gait as confident as ever. My chest tightened as I remembered his sneer at the Mating Ceremony, the disbelief in his eyes when my mate turned out to be an Alpha from another pack. A cruel twist of fate, or