Ryder"What do we do now?" Ivy whispers to me.I look at her and then at Kaelan. The boy looks devastated as he watches Alice being taken away. But who can blame him?"Kaelan, you belong in a pack, and you are more than welcome to join ours," I tell him.Kaelan's eyes flicker with a mix of surprise and uncertainty as he absorbs my words. He glances back at Alice, who is being led away, and then back at me."I... I don't know," he says softly. "Everything is so confusing right now."I place a reassuring hand on Kaelan's shoulder. "I understand that it's a lot to take in, and you need time to process everything. But know that you don't have to face this alone. Our pack is a family, and we will support you through this journey."Ivy steps forward, her voice filled with warmth and reassurance. "Kaelan, I may not be Esther, but her spirit is inside me. I will make sure you always feel loved."Kaelan's gaze lingers on Alice once more before he finally nods, a glimmer of hope shining in his
IvyMy voice trembles with a mixture of shock and confusion. I look at Ryder and then at the shaman, searching for clarity in his eyes. "Are you saying I'm pregnant?"The shaman nods, still smiling. "Yes, Ivy. Congratulations!"My mind races, trying to process the overwhelming revelation. "I... I don't understand. How did this happen? Ryder and I...""We mated and I put a baby in you!" Ryder chimes, his eyes sparkling with joy."That means I will have to raise a baby and take care of a teenager," I murmur.Oh my moon goddess. This is happening all too fast!The shaman's smile falters slightly, sensing my mixed emotions. "Ivy, I understand that this news may feel overwhelming and unexpected. The path of motherhood is a journey filled with challenges and joys. You have the strength to navigate this new chapter of your life."He is talking, but I am not listening. A thousand thoughts running through my mind. I never gave too much thought to being a mother. My whole life, I'd been focused
Ivy"Your mate is out of control!" the shaman cries out as Ryder steps in.Jeez...old man, calm down, I think to myself. But I can't really blame him for freaking out as vines keep shooting out of the ground and wrapping around everything in sight."Ryder! I can't stop this. I am trying!" I scream through the rustling of the leaves and branches as my power spirals out of control.Ryder stares at me as if he doesn't know what to do. "Get this demon out of my house!" The shaman screams.Excuse me...Demon? That's so rude, I think to myself. Just because I don't know how to operate my powers properly doesn't mean this man gets to insult me."Don't talk about her like that!" Ryder roared. His voice resonates with anger and protectiveness. His eyes lock onto the shaman, a fierce determination burning within them."I've never seen someone so out of control with their powers. This nymph is going to be trouble!" the old man cried.Something stirred inside me as I felt my anger rising.And as
Ivy"Ryder, I am serious! Someone keeps talking. Don't you hear it?" I say. I want to grab his shoulder and shake him because he is just looking at me and grinning like I am crazy."Ivy, just calm down," Ryder says."Don't tell me to calm down!" I roar."Jeez...sorry. Don't bite my head off. But let's just be quiet and listen. Maybe you can tell me what the voice sounds like?" Ryder suggests.Ryder's tone finally registers, and I take a deep breath, attempting to regain control of my emotions. He's right; I shouldn't let frustration get the best of me. Maybe he can help me figure out what's going on."Okay," I say, my voice steadier now. "I'll try to focus and describe the voice to you."I close my eyes, shutting out the distractions around me, and listen intently. Amidst the sounds of nature, I can faintly hear a soft, melodic whisper, like a gentle breeze rustling through leaves."It's a soft voice," I begin. "Almost like a whisper. It sounds...familiar, but I can't quite place it."
IvyI should be happy that I finally found my wolf, Athena, but I am not.Because one, she is loud and obnoxious.Two, she enjoys insulting me and calling me fat. I mean, of course, I am gaining weight. I am pregnant!And three, I keep getting weird cravings since she appeared.No, I know what you are thinking. The cravings are not normal pregnancy cravings. They are extremely weird.I try to ignore Athena's insults and focus on the fact that I finally found my other half, but it is becoming increasingly difficult with each passing day. Sometimes I wonder if I made a mistake when I made that wish upon a star. But it's too late now, there is no going back.One day, while sitting alone in the park, staring at the stars in the sky, I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. Suddenly, I have this overwhelming craving for the seagull's brain.What in the heck?"I want seagull brain," I tell Ryder.Ryder stares blankly at me as if he can't comprehend what I am saying. "You want what?""Seagull brai
IvyIt's nighttime. The stars and the moon are silent witnesses to the strange and mystic transformations that are about to take place inside me.Okay, maybe I am exaggerating a bit. I am not about to be transformed. All I am doing is learning how to control my powers with the help of Phoenix.Phoenix is leading me toward a temple-looking house while Ryder follows us closely. He has a grumpy expression on his face as he doesn't like this arrangement."What is this place?" I ask as I stare at the gold-plated ceilings in amazement. "My house," Phoenix says."Wow, it's gorgeous!"Ryder scoffs behind me. "I've seen better."Phoenix ignores him and gives me a knowing look. He motions me to walk toward an altar. He opens a small box and takes out a crystal necklace, and hands it to me.I nervously take the necklace from Phoenix, my hands trembling as I hold it. "What do I do with this?""Put it on, it will help," Phoenix says.I slowly put on the necklace, then look up into Phoenix's eyes.
Ryder"I can't believe we are actually doing this," I roll my eyes. "You are really going to help that loser with his date?""What else do you suggest we do? I need that crystal necklace," Ivy says irritably."I could rip it out of that bastard's hand," I suggest.Ivy groans. "Ryder, please...""Okay, fine. We will help Phoenix have a date with Eve again," I relent begrudgingly. "But if he fails again...""I won't fail again!"I turn to Phoenix, who once again appeared out of nowhere."So, do you have any plan for the date?" Ivy asks, her brows furrowed and her arms crossed. "Where will you take her? What will you do?"Phoenix shrugs. "I want to take her somewhere special," Phoenix says slowly. "But she didn't like the last place I chose.""That's because you took her to the world of pains and suffering, you moron," I say irritably.Phoenix holds up his hands defensively. "I thought it was romantic!""How is a world full of scary monsters romantic?" I bark.Ivy shakes her head. "We ne
IvyI start getting ready for the party. I pick out the perfect dress and slip it on, feeling the soft fabric hug my body in all the right places. It's a sleek green cocktail dress that oozes elegance and confidence. I glance at myself in the mirror."You look gorgeous. Everyone at the party will be jealous," Ryder comments from the side.I turn to him and laugh. "Are you being sarcastic?"He shakes his head. "Heck no, I am dead serious," he says and kisses me on the forehead. "Did you invite everyone?" I ask."Yes.""Even Mindy? I really wanted her to come," I said.Ryder narrows his eyes. "What are you scheming, Ivy?"I feign shock. "Scheming? Why would you think I am scheming!?"I playfully bat my eyelashes at Ryder, trying to maintain my innocent facade. "I just thought it would be nice to have Mindy there. It's not like I have any ulterior motives or anything," I say with a mischievous grin.Ryder chuckles, seeing through my act. "Ivy, you always have something up your sleeve. J
The next few days went by fast. I didn't stick around to find out how Eloise's date went with that jerk Calvin. All I did was stay in the woods and mope. "What is wrong with you?" Kaelan asked as he couldn't take my sour mood anymore. "None of your business," I bark. "It is my business when you can't even help me with this simple task," he says irritably. I glare at him and reluctantly agree to help. We walked through the woods, looking for whatever Kaelan thought we needed to find. Suddenly, I heard a sound that made me jump, and I spun around to see what it was. A group of hunters with guns were coming our way. I quickly grabbed Kaelan's arm and pulled him behind a large tree. We wait there, trying to keep quiet, but it doesn't seem to be enough. One of the hunters calls out, asking if anyone is there. We stay motionless. "Why can't we fight them?" I whisper. "We are outnumbered," he says. "But those look like humans, and we are werewolves. Surely, we are stronger than them!"
As the day unfolds, I find myself caught up in helping Eloise choose an outfit for her date with Calvin. Eloise drags me from store to store, trying on various outfits while seeking my input.This is the worst thing that has happened to me!"Lucian, what do you think of this dress?" she asks, holding up a flowy, black dress against herself.I study it for a moment. "It's nice, I guess. But isn't it a bit too..."Eloise arches her brows. "A bit too...what?""A bit like you are going to a funeral wearing that. Also, it seems like the wrong size for you," I say.Eloise bursts into laughter at my blunt response. "Wow, Lucian, you sure know how to be brutally honest."I shrug, feeling a bit uncomfortable being dragged into this situation. "Hey, you asked for my opinion.""What do you mean it's the wrong size? It feels perfectly fine to me," she says as she tugs at the fabric."It's too big for your body. You look like you are wearing a potato sack," I declare.Eloise winces. "I hate tight
"Hah, what? Are you asking me out?" Eloise exclaims, her eyes glinting with amusement."Yes. You are cute and just my type, so why not?" he smirks slyly.Wow, this boy works fast."Um...yeah, okay, but no thanks. I don't date wolves," Eloise says and pulls on my sleeve, motioning me to follow her."No, wait. Can I speak to you in private?" Calvin pleads.Eloise looks at me as if she is unsure about this. "You don't have to go with him if you don't want to, Eloise," I say quickly. Not like I want this loser to go out with Eloise, anyway.But she shrugs and nods in agreement. "Yeah, sure. Let's go talk in private," she says to Calvin, then walks out with him.I stand there, feeling confused. I wonder what Calvin would tell her to convince her to date him. Even I couldn't convince this girl, and we actually mated!As I watch Eloise and Calvin walk away to have their private conversation, I can't help but feel a mix of emotions. Confusion, concern, and even a tinge of jealousy all swirl w
I will be forever alone, won't I?"You won't be forever alone. Stop being so dramatic," Eloise scoffs at me.How does she know what I'm thinking? Did I say it out loud?"Did you just hear my inner monologue?" I snarl.Eloise looks startled. "What? No way. Maybe we share a special connection because of our bond now.""Whatever. But I am telling you. Scarlett despises me," I grumble as the conversation with her reruns through my mind."Despise is a strong word, pal. She doesn't feel that way about you!" Eloise assures me."How can you be sure?" I challenge her.She suddenly grabs my chin and forces my gaze to hers. "How can anyone not love you? You are downright adorable!""I am not fucking adorable, woman," I snapped back, my alpha instincts clashing with the unexpected compliment. "I'm an alpha wolf with extraordinary power!" I reminded her, my tone a mixture of defiance and self-assertion."Hurr derr. Well, you should try to talk to her again. Bring out the charm," she says.I groan.
'Are you going to just sit here and mope all day?' my wolf scolds me."She rejected me. I can't believe it," I reply, shaking my head. The first time I mate with someone, and she rejects me? What kind of a game is moon goddess playing right now?'Oh, get over it, Lucian. It's not the end of the world. She wasn't even your real mate, so forget her,' he says.But I can't. I can't just forget her. Her scent is still lingering on my skin after we made love. I need to find her again tomorrow!I decide to sleep off my misery for the night and start fresh in the morning. I plan to hunt her down and claim her back again. She can't just use my body and then dismiss me!The next morning, I set off to find Eloise. I know that foxes usually live near water sources, so I start my search there. As I walk through the forest, I look for any signs of her presence. Her scent is still strongly ingrained in my memory, and it helps guide me in the right direction. Eventually, I find a huge fox den by th
"I will mate with you just this once," I say softly, brushing my fingers against her cheek.A smile spread across her face, but I can tell she is hesitating. "You will? Really?""Yes," I say, my voice shaking. "But I have to tell you something. I've never done this before." My teeth bite into my lip as the fear of the unknown creeps up inside me."Me too. This is my first time too," she whispers.I can feel the heat radiating from her body as she presses her wet body against me.I reach out to hold her close. Then the reality of my situation hits me like a freight train. What exactly am I supposed to do now?I roll her onto her back and lock my gaze on her wide brown eyes. She gasps in shock as I hover above her, my intensity radiating through me like a burning wildfire."I need to touch you more," I husk."What do you mean? Just get in there," she responds, her eyes smoky and distant.'Just get in there? She is quite the romantic,' my wolf teases me.I roll my eyes. This girl is som
What the heck is going on?I grumble as I attempt to shove Eloise away from me. "Get off of me! What are you thinking, vixen?" I screech."You smell...heavenly. I need you so badly," she purrs in a sultry voice.Huh?"What are you on?" I ask as I stare into her glassy eyes. They are cloudy, as if she is on drugs.She claws at my chest. "You are so beautiful. Take me now, wolfboy," she says."Is this a joke? You are not funny," I say irritably.She takes her blanket off and tosses it away.Whoa...I stare at her naked body as she straddles me. I was right about her having a boyish figure, but there is a certain allure to it.Her small, perky breasts contrast with the rest of her boyish shape, yet it only adds to her sultry appeal. I shake my head, trying to snap out of it. I can't get distracted by her body while she is assaulting me!She grinds against me and I feel myself getting hard. Oh, no, my body is betraying me. "Yo...stop this now," I bark."Ohh… is that the legendary Alpha di
The motherfucking fox won't stop peeing on me! I watch in horror as he relieves himself on my bark for the second time and then kicks some dirt.I have had it!I seriously have had it!I need to shift back before he runs away and I get the chance to kick this fox's ass!I concentrate hard, drawing on the inner strength that I have cultivated over the years. Sometimes I am able to shift back faster if I really concentrate."You can do this, Lucian. You have the power to shift back to human. You don't want to be a stupid tree anymore, so shift!" I give myself a pep talk with my conscious. Come on, work!As I close my eyes to focus, I feel a strange energy rising within me. It's as if the whole forest is responding to my call. Suddenly, I am engulfed in a warm glow that spreads throughout my entire being. I can feel the bark on my skin begin to soften and crackle as I shrink down to my human size.When I open my eyes, I am no longer a tree, but my human self. The fox looks at me in shock
Okay, it's time for attempt number two. I had the chance to inhale the girl's scent more, so now I can trace her back to her packhouse. And that is exactly what I intend to do.She called me weird and ran away from me, but that doesn't mean I should give up on her entirely!I trace her scent all the way to a territory that belongs to the Silverwood Pack. I heard the Alpha of this pack is friendly, so I wasn't too worried. I walked inside the gate with my shoulders straight, and head held high.The security guard there looks at me suspiciously. "Who are you?" he asks before letting me in."I am Lucian. I belong to Ashwood pack," I tell him."What brings you here, Lucian of the Ashwood pack?" he asks."I am looking for a lovely girl. She has long brown hair and beautiful green eyes," I say enthusiastically."Ah, you are looking for Scarlett, the Beta's daughter," he says.Scarlett...even her name is sexy. "Yes. Do you know where I can find her?" I ask.The security guard eyes me warily,