Sleep paralysis: when you cannot move or speak while waking up or falling asleep. It can be scary but harmless and also be accompanied by a sleep-related hallucination, which can be simple images or more complex.-VALEN’S POV-“Oh my God….someone…..help me!” The girl ran through the nicotine-brown forest screaming.Even though the charring autumn sun was beating her down, she appeared to have an exceptionally porcelain white complexion, and her multi-toned beach wave hair of deep grey to teal blue was tied in a delicate knot at the nape of her neck, giving the impression of being very long.A ferocious pride of lions relentlessly chased her as she tried her best to get away from them and jumped into a yucky algae-covered pond. Swimming a few meters to provide space between her and the hunters, she re-emerged on the muddy banks. Footprints carved their memoirs as her black high-top sneakers walked on. She fell twice in the slippery dampness, resulting in her hands, knees, and feet bein
-VALEN’S POV-Music.The alluring symphony of the sea invaded my ears like a nightingale's tale; gentle and pleasant on the eardrums and similar to a music box. Sung at a deliberate tempo, the chorus went on and on. Its musical chord lured me into an awakening light.Dudump. Dudump. Dudump.Suddenly, my heart pulsed back to life as the softest lips touched mine, parting them. They did not move until air entered my system. Somehow, I was alive and breathing again. Perplexed, spiritless, and paralyzed in the deepest parts of the frigid sea.My black lids fluttered open. The stinging sea water blurred my vision. I felt this slippery person pressing against me even though I could not see. A hand was knotted in my black dancing strands and the other rested on the broadness of my right shoulder.When my lips got their freedom, I thought this person would help me get to the surface. Instead, my drenched brain realized I was being guided lower to the bottom of the chilling sea.Why am I here?
-VALEN’S POV -"Argh!"Releasing a discordantly frightening shout that disturbed the quietness of the night, I jolted up in bed, shuddering, terrified, and in a cold sweat.Clutching at my heart where the mermaid had clawed the life out of me, I was wrestling with the other hand, the void of impassive air.Staring wide-eyed in the darkness, a gentle palm cradled my cheeks. As my chest erratically heaved, I saw nothing until the hallucinations wilted.Goosebumps rose all over my body from the overwhelming arctic chill that loitered. My head ached and my hand moved to my forehead to wipe the beads of perspiration that tarried.I wasn’t aware that someone had rushed into my large bedroom to be at my side. My thoughts were jumbled. I could not tell whether I was alive and in the pitch darkness of my bedroom or had I died and crossed into the gloomy blackness of death.I blinked a few times before being certain that this was real.“Valen!” Her forehead pressed on mine and warmth embraced m
-VANCE’S POV-The partially dead man only gave a manic laugh, “Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!” while his weak red eyes stared at me. No fear was detected. I pursed my lips as the rage in me escalated.Duke, Blayne, and Raj were defensively positioned at attacking points while Marlena rushed to my side.She strived to break through the walls of his mind before he descended to the hell where he emerged from. He squirmed on the floor, resisting her magic. Marlena persisted by creating a green pentagram beneath him. Each green point released a shackle of neon chains that tethered him.“Grrrrrroik!” He shrieked as Marlena’s superior magic bore into his skin."Alpha, this man is a barakian kripling," Marlena whispered after her discovery.A barakian kripling is a warlock who was brought back from the hollows of hell after already dying by a necromancer, which signified that he had a master. Now turned into an unholy pawn. Someone must have summoned this diabolic creature for this fucking mission, but who
-THIRD PERSON’S POV-Valen followed the barakian kripling into the dark Lifeless Ebonvale dimension. He hovered in the air looking for the kripling that had taken his younger sibling. His hazy vision experienced difficulties through the unusually scalding atmosphere of the dark-red misty realm with canyons of ocean-deep silty valleys.The volcanic mount spewed boiling lava in various areas, and the canyons trembled. Several ruby boulders with wavy patterns and dazzling minerals eroded into the hollow. No civilization was evident.Cough!The toxic atmosphere began to affect Valen. He placed his right index finger under his nostrils to reduce his intake of the alien air. Zuzu plunged into the abyss of the canyon to chase after the monster. The bald eagle guardian shared the vision with her master as she latched on the kripling’s worm-like smoky tail.Venus screamed incessantly, thrashing and violently fighting a futile battle. She could not connect a blow. Luckily, Valen teleported in f
-VANCE’S POV-“What’s this?” I growled, walking into my office at the pack house with Blayne setting up his laptop on my desk.Duke averted his gaze from the large luminous moon through the window to look at me while he leaned against the wall. Fatigue adorned each of us and we wanted to crawl back into bed with our mates. Unfortunately, pack safety came first. The hunt for the enemy brought long days and reoccurring migraines.Sianna and I were just about to go to bed when my Gamma urgently linked me about an imperative matter for my immediate attention. My wolf grumbled and was pissed that we were dragged from canoodling our mate.It’s been one week since we battled the barakian kriplings. The attack and the importance of preparations for any other attempt had us all working overtime. Therefore, Sianna had no time to dwell on the Esme situation. Thank goddess!Apparently, Bette Clarkson had warned Esme not to approach me. She would have done it subtly with Sianna. Esme was very impa
-SIANNA’S POV-“Baby, why aren’t you home?”The mind-link came through and to provoke him, I ignored it.I slinked through the moonlight, pursuing the critters of the night, and enjoying the freedom that came with morphing into my silver wolf form. The woodland was strangely peaceful at this hour. With patrols tightened, a curfew on forest grounds was stipulated. Nevertheless, my wolf wanted out tonight. So as soon as Vance left to meet with Duke and Blayne, I came out for a night’s run.Whenever I shift, I am fond of the tingling sensation on my silver fur. Around me, the tree-filtered air was like a pool of liquid metal. The earth beneath my paws as I ran with agility through the cool breeze was soothing to the mind despite the troubles of the pack. It was exhilarating being in the calm of nature.For the fun of it, I tracked a set of coyote prints on the ground, wanting a good chase. Or maybe I was looking for a ferocious fight. Something to release the rage I had felt when those k
-VALEN'S POV-"Valen, where are you going?" Devin stalked me out of the classroom to catch me heading to the large football field.It was almost lunchtime and I didn't want him involved. He's my best friend, so I hesitantly replied, "I'll be back before dismissal."I turned around and jogged away only to hear a second set of footsteps behind me. Halting, I swung around in annoyance. "Devin, I'm not taking you with me.""Why the hell not?" He caught me up, standing at my side. His Prussian blue eyes questioned me with unyielding perseverance. He could be a stubborn bull at times."I'm teleporting somewhere." I tried to hold some of my agenda back. "You hate it, remember?"He was wasting my time and I had to be quick. Once the teacher realized I missed a session, they were bound to give Mom a call. He would get into trouble too."Yeah, but we made a pack. So when you get back and your father's killing you for going out of territory, aren't we supposed to die together?" He insisted, with
-VANCE’S POV-Looking up from the laptop with concern, I found Sianna sultrily shimmying out of her dress. My lips parted to the slightest bit and my cock hardened. Our wanton eyes clashed. She raised a brow at me and sashayed her sexy body towards me.The conference was still going on and I couldn’t let them see her in that incredibly salacious lingerie, but I couldn’t take my heated eyes off her.“I came to join the meeting.” She teased in such a sexy way that made a growl slip from me.The soft lines of her hips and thighs had my cock stiffening in my pants. Her hips swayed in that sheer lingerie set in black lace with a crotchless G-string. The rosy nipples of her round breasts peeked through the matching bralette and a choker adorned her neck.The culmination of all my impulses was the need to latch onto those nipples with my lips, suck on them, and bite them down until she released that startled, demanding moan. My cock desired mainly one thing.Her.My addiction. I need to touc
-SIANNA’S POV-“Can we go home now,” Venus hoarsely pleaded with harlequin eyes, sitting up in the hospital bed of the bright sun-filled room. “I could eat some burgers, fries, and a coke.” Her gaze flickered from me to her Dad. “I’m starving.”Miriam, Marlena, Vance, Hailey, Mom, and I laughed as she said that. A sigh of relief left me as I looked at my daughter who was back to her old self after receiving the antidote. A lot of love flowed through the room.It’s been two weeks since she has been comatose. Can you imagine how thrilled I was when my mate told me about the antidote to get all of the kripling’s blood out of her system? We arranged everything for the next day.Just the sight of my daughter was enough to clog my throat with tears. Mom’s slender hand was warmly in mine as Marlena and Miriam helped Venus awaken from her coma. Vance held my shoulders, standing behind me. Hailey chewed her nails, ruining her manicured fingers.“We’re almost done, princess,” Vance stated, nonc
-VANCE’S POV-A thin smile curled my lips to see him being the usual hot-blooded Gamma that he was. Instead of thinking of himself, Blayne was coercing me into another battle. Contrarily, I preferred to fix the rift between me and my Luna. There was no anger or burning sensation in the link of the mate bond, but it did not mean that she was not still upset with me.“No.” I finally answered him. “We killed their king and generals. The Supernatural Triad Council’s gatekeepers are searching for Squiggles.” I deciphered. “The werelions will be humbled by their loss and the drastic reduction in their population. It will take years before they wage war against us. It is at that time that my generation will eliminate them.”“All planned out, huh?” Blayne scowled with disappointment. Even with his limp, he managed to keep up with me.“Yep.” I dictated as we made it to the top and sniffed the air. My eyes narrowed slightly as my face wrinkled up. “You smell cheesy, Blayne. Take a few days off.
-VANCE’S POV-Approximately one hundred of our warriors lined the gray plateau at the summit of the cliff, southwest of the territory. Awe-inspiring scenery can be seen here thanks to the panoramic view of the horizon and the thundering waterfall to the right which plummets directly into the ocean.Given its natural beauty and the absence of unpleasant recollections of bloodshed, it would be a pity to tarnish the region's unblemished history today.It was the Black Ops Patrol Station at the end of Beacanview Forest that alerted Raj of our visitors. Undoubtedly, he must have gotten the word to Blayne, or maybe Blayne beat it out of him. Either way, he was not supposed to be working.“Oh damn!” I inspected my battered Gamma up and down before we went down the granite cliffside trail. “You look worse than Freddy Krueger.”My heart went out to him and, oh boy, I was thrilled that he was alive. Although, he was disobeying my orders.Blayne was in black gym shorts with his blistered top shi
-THIRD PERSON’S POV-Venus and Vaheed sat around the breakfast nook. Vaheed was busy on his phone while Venus was reading the Brew'n Herald Newspaper. The paper was previously brought in by Zuzu and she flew away to have her morning flight in the forest.“The investigation update was posted on the front page. Turns out that the kriplings only attacked us. The vampires and witches were not attacked.” Venus highlighted with her harlequin-green eyes fastened to the paper.“Who cares? Dad’s dealing with it.” Vaheed shrugged, finding his phone more entertaining.Venus was disturbed by his uncaring attitude. “Those things were pretty powerful and they hurt me. How can you say that?”Understanding that his words hurt his twin sister’s feelings, Vaheed put his phone on the table and patted her on the shoulder. “Vee, you are safe now. Dad will make sure that they don’t hurt us again.”Venus sighed, gulped down her dose of halo-moon serum from the vial on the table, and went back to flipping th
-SIANNA’S POV-“I wanted to know what my punishment is.” Valen petulantly said as he continued descending the stairs, freshly showered.“Not a good time, Valen,” Vance told him without looking behind. I turned around and picked up a magazine from the center table, blindly flipping over pages.“Well, aren’t you going to give it to me tonight?” Valen pressed with hands in his jeans pockets.“Why are you so eager?” I continued scrolling the page with brewing agitation. “Do you think we’ll go easy on you?”“It’s not that, Mom.” Valen approached the couch, sheepishly. “I just wanted to start it right now.”“Why?” I flipped my head around and turned my body on the couch to scrutinize his face properly.“My punishment will end on Friday and there’s a party at Benji’s house on Saturday,” Valen dared to mention, battling an inner monologue.I glared at him. “You have the gall to tell me that you intend to go to a party when your father has just brought you back from an unapproved outing.”“Go
-SIANNA’S POV-“I’m sorry, Mom.” Valen expressed his regret as he entered the foyer of our home with Vance. He did not let me lash out at him for his recklessness.Automatically, I placed my hand over my heart. My entire body slumped in relief as I exhaled heavily. Still, he was going to get the hot seat.I sat in the living room on the long U-shape black leather couch with my head turned in his direction. “Valen, I can’t accept that apology until you explain to me what the hell was going through your head.”Vance stood by the Faux Marble White console table with a gold base, allowing me to handle our son's latest escapade. He would also feel the scourge of my tongue later.It was a little before sunset that Vance and the team went back to the aircraft carrier ship. The journey to Dark Wolverson was long from Oscianever Loch of the Pacific Ocean and so it was the next day in the afternoon when they arrived home. I fretted the entire sleepless night, watching the hours and praying that
-VANCE’S POV-My razor-sharp teeth flashed through the cold smile that I sent to Assad when Raj kneed Tygart into his crotch. Tygart’s eyes went as round as saucers as he dropped his knife, protectively clutched both hands before his family jewels, and fell to his knees. He was as vulnerable as a newly hatched chick coming out of its shell.In a rapid dash, Raj picked up the weapon and slit his neck. Tygart fell on his side and clutched his blood-leaking throat as his life slipped away right before his king and brother.Assad wrestled like crazy to be freed from my grip to no avail. He was powerless and helpless. The defeat eliminated any spark in his orange eyes. “We surrender,” his voice was a hoarse croak.“It doesn’t work like that, trog.” I gritted to Assad as fury rose, burning through my veins.In the meantime, muscles bulged in Kodjo's pallid neck as he ground his teeth in frustration, refusing to relent. As the tenuous seconds ticked by, his breathing labored during the kickb
-VANCE'S POV-Nyx returned in an ethereal white glow and spat out a dead fizzing repulsive form of a kripling and laid it down on the deck of the only ship left intact. He shook his large white head, flashing out his tongue at the distaste of the creature.Nyx set afire the dead kripling that burns into cinders. One down. Two to go. Next, Zuzu, materialized on the deck with the necromancer in one claw and a flailing Assad in the other."Tell her to take them to the shoreline of the first island," I told Valen, and he directed his guardians to do so.With that, all the jets altered their destination to Holmeva Ferney Islands. We found a clearing and managed to land.Alongside five elite warriors, Duke, Raj, Marlena, Valen, Devin and I trotted through a scanty area of bayberry and beach plum trees to the beach. My elites stood behind the criminals with their artillery leveled at them while we stood in front of them.The sea air arrived with a lofty nostalgic draft as blood, death, and s