Sandro's eyes blazed with red-hot fury as he observed the Etas(soldiers) rushing forward with him to capture Arabella and Blaze. Immediately, Arabella and Blaze assumed offensive stances, poised to attack if anyone drew near. However, just as they were about to reach their targets, they were violently repelled by an invisible wall.Sandro's eyes widened, and his mouth hung agape as he stared in disbelief at his helpless soldiers, who were now recovering from the shock of their sudden halt."What's happening? Why can't you move?" he barked, attempting to approach Arabella. He recognized that he couldn't move closer either.His gaze shifted to Arabella, who was staring back at him, her expression one of disbelief. "You little witch, what have you done to my soldiers?" he hissed, his voice dripping with anger. "It's best you undo whatever you did because I can't promise to be kind to you in the next moment that's about to unfold. I've had enough of your nonsense!"Arabella shook her head
Arabella's eyes slowly fluttered open, and she squinted against the blinding sun overhead. The heat bore down oppressively, causing sweat to pool immediately beneath her shirt.The air around her was dry, hot, and arid — all signs pointed to her being in a desert. Panic ignited within her like a fire, and she frantically surveyed her surroundings for any hint of civilization but encountered nothing but endless sand.Her throat felt parched; her saliva was beginning to thicken. Soon, it seemed there wouldn't be enough moisture left for her to swallow."Shit!" She gritted her teeth, tapping her pocket. She slipped her hand into it, searching for only God knows what.Yet, she found nothing that could aid her. Arabella considered walking yet remained uncertain about the right direction.It wasn't until she stood up that she noticed the peculiar figure in the distance, resembling the silhouette of a familiar figure — Blaze."Blaze!" Her heart surged with hope, and she sprinted toward him,
Sandro's narrowed his eyes as he recognized what had transpired. The dimensions had shifted once again. Why did this always occur when he was on the point of reaching Arabella? It seemed the moon goddess was playing games with him. While he had always acknowledged her fickleness and unpredictability, this was an excessive torment. He gazed up at the sky with a glare."Why are you doing this?" he bellowed, his voice reverberating across the desolate landscape. "Do you derive joy from thwarting my plans and reveling in my suffering? No, you undoubtedly do, so why am I even surprised!"Yet, despite his rant, he waited for a retort, but silence prevailed. Only the rhythm of his breath and the faint rustling of leaves in the breeze reached his ears.Sandro's fists clenched. He was tired of this ceaseless game, exhausted by how the moon goddess trifled with his existence."Answer me!" he growled.Even though he recognized deep down that no response would be forthcoming and understood that
Blaze's eyes shot open, his chest heaving as he gasped for air. His heart pounded so violently that he feared it might burst from his chest at any moment. His mind swirled in agitation as he struggled to comprehend the situation.Gradually, his eyes adapted to the dimly lit room, revealing Alessia and Janice standing a few feet away. Yet, upon closer inspection, he sensed an unsettling alteration about them. Something was off, but he struggled to identify precisely what.Janice's gaze sparkled with an intensity Blaze had never witnessed. Her features contorted into a fierce scowl as if regarding him with disdain, as if he were an enemy.Alessia, however, exuded an air of negativity and mistrust that prompted Blaze to retreat instinctively. It was as if she radiated hatred and anger directed squarely at him.Desperation compelled Blaze to approach the two women. However, before he could advance, Alessia's voice erupted—sharp and biting. "Don't you dare come any closer," she spat, her e
Alessia's words etched themselves deeply into Arabella's heart. Why would she wish for her death? They had just met for the first time; wasn't Alessia supposed to feel happiness upon seeing her? However, Arabella was abruptly pulled from her contemplations as she observed Alessia redirect her attention toward Blaze.Sporting a malicious grin, Alessia summoned one of her sinister dark wind balls and launched it at Blaze with all her might. The ball directly impacted, propelling him across the room and causing a violent collision with a nearby wall.Arabella let out a horrified gasp as Blaze's body met the wall with a sickening thud. Her heart shattered into countless fragments, mirroring the wreckage left in the wake of Blaze's impact."How could you, Alessia?!" Arabella's anguished cry resounded, tears streaming down her cheeks as she hastened to Blaze's lifeless form. A maelstrom of anger and sorrow swirled within her, grappling with the knowledge that the sister she had eagerly anti
"Blaze..." Arabella choked back a sob; her eyes fixated on Blaze's unmoving body. She didn't need words; the truth was discernable. Blaze lay dead before her, just as the prophecy had foretold.Consumed by overwhelming grief, Arabella let out an ear-splitting screech, her fingers clenching the bars of the now-visible cage. "Please, no," she whispered, shaking her head, tears streaming down her pale face. How could life continue without him? How could she possibly defeat Sandro without Blaze? How could she...?"You're cruel!" she yelled, her voice reverberating through the room. "So cruel for taking him away from me!" She cast her gaze around the dimly lit space, a desperate search for any god or goddess in charge of the phoenixes. Even for any of her predecessors but it was futile.They had witnessed Blaze's final moments as they had her father's. A fresh wave of grief coursed through her, and she shuddered, tears flowing until they couldn't anymore. Her sobs ebbed into quiet whimpers
Moments later, Arabella finally grasped the purpose behind the grueling flight training that Orga had imposed upon her. Striding toward Blaze, her magnificent red and golden wings beat powerfully behind her. As she lifted his lifeless body, a shiver ran through her; he felt cold, utterly still. The reality of his absence had yet to sink in fully.Tears streamed down Arabella's face as she cradled Blaze tenderly. Swiftly wiping them away, she sought to conceal any signs of vulnerability in front of Alessia. Her eyes smoldered with outrage and pain as she turned to confront Alessia."You will pay for this, Alessia," Arabella growled, her voice dripping with intensity. "I swear on my soul; I'll make you suffer for what you've done."With her wings fully spread behind her, Arabella's imposing presence intensified. Alessia tutted dismissively, refraining from the immediate response as Arabella continued her emotional tirade."Crossing me was a grave mistake, Alessia," Arabella snarled, her
"I won't let you have your way, Sandro," Orga snarled, his face contorted in anger as he glared at Sandro, whom he believed should have fled after their displacement.Aware that he was the one after Arabella, Orga tried to shield her, but Alessia's involvement was also a significant factor in his motivations. Surveying his surroundings, he realized Alessia was no longer amidst the ruins; she must have escaped.Sandro's scoff snapped Orga's attention back to him. His eyes glinted with amusement. "And just what are you planning to do about it? Star in a cosplay?" Sandro chuckled though irritation laced his voice.The air crackled with tension between the two men as Orga assumed an offensive stance. Before he could launch himself at Sandro, Arabella stepped forward, obstructing his path."My Queen, you need to step aside. This man must pay for what he's done to you," Orga growled, his fists still clenched.Arabella raised a brow, certain she hadn't disclosed much about herself except her
EPILOGUEFOUR MONTHS LATERSandro stretched his legs, shielding his eyes from the sun with sunglasses. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. Arabella had suggested a vacation by the beach, and they had been here for four months now. He still wanted to fulfill all her wishes, agreeing to everything she desired.Lately, it had been peaceful. Since the altercation with Paolo, there was no imminent threat to Arabella, though he couldn't say the same for himself, which he didn't mind. He didn't believe his enemies would ever cease, as wherever he went, he seemed to attract more.He didn't want to involve Arabella in his dangerous lifestyle, but he also doubted his ability to shield her completely.Alessia had disappeared. When Paolo had died, Sandro had taken the time to scour the building for her before leaving for the Villa, but he hadn't seen any trace of her."Why are you staring at her?"Sandro snapped his head at the sound of Arabella's voice. She stood above him, arms folded. H
Arabella wasn't as tired as she expected. She continued battling, and almost half of the members of the Salvatore house were already down. Although she couldn't unleash her powers to the fullest, she had imbued her knife with magic, enhancing its effectiveness even more.The enchanted blade caused immediate falls to anyone it touched, adding up to a high body count. Despite her victories, the number of foes she faced showed no signs of diminishing.Sandro, absent since his departure, left her uncertain about his fate. Paolo's absence suggested he wasn't defeated, as Paolo would have returned if he had been. Alessia was also nowhere to be found; Arabella wondered if Paolo had taken her with him.Yet, she was glad the merge hadn't happened.***Running after Paolo led Sandro to an unfamiliar location. Uncertain of his whereabouts, he felt a rush of anxiety as his gaze fixed on what appeared to be a full moon at the room's far end, shining brightly. Sandro, feeling a tingling sensation,
Paolo paced nervously, his gaze repeatedly drawn to Arabella, securely bound to the chair. At first glance, she seemed unconscious, her head hanging limply, but a closer look revealed that she was simply staring down."How much longer do we have to wait?" he inquired of Alessia, who had resumed her position inside the pentagram."A few more minutes or the ritual will be incomplete," Alessia replied.Despite the requirement for a special full moon, she had assured them of conjuring the moon to ensure the ritual's success. However, the actual full moon was still two weeks away, and Paolo couldn't afford to wait."Should I resort to force to speed things up?" Paolo clenched his teeth and advanced toward Arabella."I'll break ten fingers and ten toes if you lay a hand on her," Sandro declared, suddenly appearing in the doorway."Sandro," Arabella smiled, relief washing over her at the sight of him. Although she had never been particularly thrilled to see him before, his presence now offer
Goodness!Sandro pressed the gas pedal, driving over the speed limit. Relieved that the road was empty, he was aware that if someone had been there, a collision was inevitable, and he wouldn't have cared.His sole focus was reaching Arabella."Is she foolish enough to go to that guy without telling me?" Gritting his teeth, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel.He had only left to settle some business deal with another pack that he had an alliance with, and it was to get them to fight in the war with him.Of course, he had done all he needed to do, albeit too late.Arabella, that he was trying his best to protect, wasn't even in the villa anymore.His phone rang, and glancing at the screen, he swiped to answer. "If you harm her, Paolo, I'll make sure you regret it. I won't hesitate to take you down with me!""She's still alive, De Luca. Why not come see her condition for yourself?" Paolo replied.Just then, a scream erupted from Arabella, further unsettling Sandro. "Let her go,"
No sooner had Arabella left than a loud boom echoed through the air. Though Thalia wasn't sure if it was an actual cannon, it sure sounded like one."Ah, darn!" she exclaimed, gasping and huddling against the wall. The cannon seemed to have targeted the building, affecting all the rooms. The meeting structure teetered on the verge of collapsing, with the pillars bending sideways."Are you okay?" Elisha asked, pulling her towards a corner."I am. How about you?" Thalia replied, scanning the area to see if others were in the same predicament."What's happening? And where is Bella?" she inquired."The attackers are here," Janice explained. "I overheard their conversation earlier, and I think my father spoke to her. It's why she left.""Why would she do that? That's so foolish!" Thalia hissed."My father is sly, Thalia. I don't know what he must have said to Arabella, but he can kill anyone he wants if she disobeys. She probably left for everyone's safety," Janice reasoned."That doesn't
TWO DAYS LATERThinking all plans would come easily as they were all gathered together, however, the reverse was the case. It was even more difficult to agree with all that was said, especially since it was the last day.Still, there was no attacker in sight, and it didn't seem like anything was going to happen. It was almost noon, and Arabella, Thalia, Elisha, Janice, and Annalise were in the meeting room.Some members were on guard, watching for any activity to report to those inside. However, Sandro, Arabella didn't know where he had gone. He said nothing to her and left the house."He should be here; at least, he's the alpha, and many of these people can listen to him," Elisha said, eyeing the other members in the room, acting as if they were bothered by the current situation."They listen to Bella, too," Thalia said. "She should say something to them."Say something? Arabella didn't know exactly what she was going to say. They weren't the phoenixes, and even though Orga and the r
Sandro awoke the next morning, groaning and turning to his side. "Arabella," he murmured, breathing in her scent before slowly opening his eyes. Using the pad of his thumb, he gently rubbed her cheek to confirm she was really in bed with him. He wondered why she hadn't left after he fell asleep, maybe because she had dozed off too.Gripping a lock of her white hair, he swirled it in his fingers. His free hand moved down to her stomach, caressing it. Sandro grinned as he felt a kick as soon as he touched, retracting his hand as Arabella groaned and turned."Sandro," she murmured, gripping his shirt.Raising his brow, Sandro watched as she began to unbutton his shirt slowly. Her hands slipped into his shirt as soon as she finished unbuttoning."Arabella," Sandro groaned as her hands moved further downwards.He didn't know what she was doing, and the thought of stopping her crossed his mind, but he didn't want to startle her. She seemed deeply asleep, and he hoped she would stop on her o
Sandro's condition hadn't improved; if anything, it had worsened. Arabella doubted it was due to the injury, which had already closed up two days since it happened. She had returned only yesterday to the room and found him sprawled on the bathroom floor.Initially, she thought he had stopped breathing, given his lack of movement, until she checked his pulse. Though she wouldn't admit it, she felt relieved. As much as she detested his behavior towards her, she was relieved he wasn't dead."I hate this," Sandro groaned, snapping Arabella from her thoughts. His lashes fluttered against his cheeks, and he opened his eyes slowly.Frowning, he murmured, "Bella?""Yes," Arabella said, placing her palm on his forehead to check his temperature. "How do you feel today?""Worse," Sandro mumbled, attempting to sit up. His eyes stayed on hers for a long time, making Arabella conscious of what she was wearing. She had opted for one of Sandro's T-shirts as she hadn't had time to do laundry. Now, she
Entering Thalia's room, Arabella made her way to the couch where Thalia sat."Trouble in Paradise?" Thalia raised a brow, sniffing. "I can smell blood on you. Did something happen?""In short, we were attacked by rogues, and Sandro decided to fight them off.""Typical Sandro," Thalia smiled. "But why the blood? Did you both engage in some kind of blood play?""What?" Arabella scoffed, "Never. Just because Blaze is no more doesn't mean I'll forget our moments easily. Besides, Sandro got injured during the fight, and I'm here because he said some really insensitive things.""About you not being receptive to him as you were to Blaze?" Thalia questioned."How do you know? Did you eavesdrop on us?""I'm a werewolf, remember? I can hear things miles away. Plus, your attitude towards him says it all. I've been watching," she said.Arabella shrugged. "I don't think you'd want me to relate with him either. He's been cruel to me, tried to kill me, and took me against my wish.""I know he did aw