My eyes flicked to the sides, seeing if the grey werewolf was around and still keeping an eye on me. I could feel eyes on me from time to time but for some reason, the rogue was neither attacking me nor showing himself.
It was as if a shadow that was cast far away from me was silently observing me and it made me feel weird. Though, I couldn’t do anything as I was in an unknown territory.
At least, the presence of this grey werewolf confirmed one of my suspicion- they had kept Raine somewhere in the forest, deep inside where I had never stepped in and they wanted me to approach their lair.
Though, why would they want me to find out about their secret hideout was beyond me. But, I would solve this mystery soon and just save my sister and kill whoever came in my way.
While I advanced through the forest, I saw that the surroundings were not as simple as I had thought them to be.
There was an eeriness that I felt crawl up my skin and try to get ho
HaydenBut I could not turn as my feet were stuck so I turned around and craned my neck to see a log of wood being dropped in the muddy swamp.It was heavy and the muddy water splashed all over, making it difficult for me to see who had dropped it.Of course, I knew it was the same grey rogue but so far I had not even been able to catch a glimpse of its full body.Even this time, the water splashing all over had made it difficult for me to see.But, I was thankful nonetheless.The water carried the log towards me and I used my weight to throw myself on it.Thankfully, it was just the right weight to not let me drown and I could finally lift my legs a little without the fear of not being able to move.When I touched the log, I also saw that a rope was tied to it. That meant I could use the rope to pull myself out of the swamp. It was probably tied to one of the many trees as a tether.Why was this rogue helping me?
Madeleine‘Child?’ I thought in my head as the wisp didn’t look very old to me. But again, I had not even seen it properly to understand or guess its true age.Yet the most interesting revelation was that there was a shrine of the Moon Goddess in the forest, and somehow I had never heard of it.I knew I had lived a sheltered life but if there was one, either of the werewolves would have mentioned it at least once.That meant two things: either the wisp was lying to me for some reason or there truly was a shrine that none of the werewolves were aware of.For a second, I just kept peering at the wisp intently, not knowing what to say to it.Of all the alphas out there, why would I be the one to receive information about the shrine? I was wolfless and I was not even some reputable warrior such as Charlie or Ben or even Kyle’s brother, Jack.Recalling the two brothers made me feel a pang of guilt. I had just up and
How would I do anything that he was telling me to do?I let out a wry chuckle and answered sarcastically, “I am not a wisp nor am I a werewolf…I am just…me.”Onigfer reached for my head and patted it, caressing my hair as he replied, “Yes…you are you…and that is more than enough. Try talking to the light and see if you can communicate with it.”It felt ridiculous that I had to talk to a stump but then everything I had done ever since entering the forest was nothing short of ridiculous.I had never known that the deeper areas of the forest were magical and I was sure that none of the other werewolves knew that as well.Or I would have surely heard of it before. Maybe, our ancestors had hidden this little secret from us because they wanted us to keep away from the treasures for our own good.But I couldn’t really understand who would demolish a shrine…that too of the Moon G
The runes and symbols began to glow in a brighter light and he replied,“You are truly gifted and your prayers reached the Moon Goddess. She had cursed this forest and this place in particular and disappeared from her after a certain werewolf had irked her.She had cursed him to be tied to this place and wait for someone worthy who would please her with his sincerity and efforts and only then was she going to free him.”My brain began to theorize something but I didn’t want to jump to conclusions not before I knew everything.Thus, I simply looked at him, indicating him to go on, and he let out a sigh.He could see the twinkle in my eyes and the confusion so he began,“Many many years ago, there was a werewolf born on a blue moon that was confident, a good warrior, and a true alpha. He was not only someone who would care about his pack but also about the others.He was loved by anyone and everyone, making
MadeleineThe blue balls of light had now ascended from the center of the tree stumps and were hovering above it.I could see two black dots for eyes on each of their tiny faces but apart from the excited chittering, for that was what it sounded like, I had no idea what was going on.“Onigfer, this was a curse befallen on you and your pack. So why did the Moon Goddess chose me to be the one to free you? I have not even heard of you or your pack earlier and neither do I recall of my parents telling me of it…”I trailed off, trying to put the puzzle pieces together. Upon hearing my voice and my doubt, which I realized might come off as a little bit rude, I quickly corrected myself,“....no offense”He seemed to take none or if he did, he did a good job of hiding it from me.“You are at the very center of this, my child.”HaydenI felt twigs and thorns poke in my back
HaydenThe two guards who were stationed outside the entrance looked at me warily but let Jax pass without a moment of hesitation.On my left, I saw a little boy trying to perfect his aim by throwing a ball made of socks or something. He was trying to hit a pile of rocks kept around 15 feet from him and he was missing it every single time.His little face grew frustrated every time he missed it but he kept going. While I watched his attempts fail for the 5th time, his little face grew sorrowful.The other kids around him were staring at him with a mixture of doubt and worry. Though not a single one of them was mocking him. They all seemed to be waiting for him to achieve his goal and a few even started cheering him.This piqued my interest so while Jax was away talking to his Boss, I decided to watch the little one’s sixth or seventh attempt.The crowd of spectators around him started to cheer him though he was beginning to sob.
Hayden“What?”It seemed like that was the only doubt that was coming out of my mouth ever since I had stepped here. She gave me a look as if to say I know you have doubts and I will answer them if I feel like it.“Look, Garcia…boss…I don’t mind killing your intended target if that is the same person or werewolf who dared touch my sister. Where is she? And where do I find this person?”Hope rose in my heart that after all everything had not been in vain and that I had come to the right place to seek more information about my sister.Garcia dusted her hands together and simply turned away, not caring to answer my doubts as I ran behind her.She walked a few steps and seemed to head towards an open field. I had thought that she would take me to her office where she was probably conducting her meeting while I had waited outside.But she seemed to ignore the meeting venue and headed in the direc
Madeleine“You are at the very center of this, my child.”Onigfer said this and I couldn’t be more surprised. I threw him another confused look as he kept mum letting me try to piece everything he had told me so far together.Meanwhile, the little balls of light or his pack members were all pulsating wildly as if trying to say something.Onigfer smiled at them and then at the sky above and pointed to look at it.The moon was not its usual bright white in color but sky blue. It was a blue moon today.I looked at it in fascination. A blue moon occurred once in a century or probably two centuries. I don’t think anyone I know had ever seen one.My eyes were bewitched as I kept looking at it awestruck.The balls of light looked above with the same transfixed look before they began floating upwards a little as if praying to the Moon Goddess and thanking her for relieving them of their misery.All of the
Hello, all my lovely readers, The last epilogue marks the end of the story of Hayden and Madeleine. Writing this book has been a roller coaster of emotions for me and I hope I was able to do justice to the characters and to all of you who read the story, felt what the characters felt, rooted for some of them, and hated a few. I am still a novice writer and there is a lot for me to learn and improve. In these past few months, I have received a lot of love from you all which was my biggest dream; to be recognized as a writer. Putting my story out there was like putting my bare self out in the open for everyone to judge. I know I might have made mistakes, and that there is a lot of scope for improvement. I want to thank every single one of you for giving me and my story a chance, for giving me hope that I can write captivating stories that make you forget the real world and your worries, if only for those few minutes in which you read it. Reading your comments and reviews is the bigge
Epilogue (A month after the gruesome battle) Soft afternoon light spilled into the room where Madeleine was sleeping. The curtains rustled in the soft wind as she turned from side to side on the bed. For a month after the epic battle between her and the demon, she had been having nightmares. Pack doctors, herbologists, occultists and everyone who her family felt would be able to help her were called to her aid but their efforts bore little to no fruit. She was tossing and turning in her bed as Raine worried at her lip outside the room. She was carrying a tray in her hand that had a lot of different potions and medicines along with a cloth and a bowl of water. She quickly dabbed her eye and was about to reach for the door to open it when a hand stopped her. She looked at the man nervously and asked, “Are you sure, you want to do this?” He nodded his head gently and took the tray from her. “But the doctors say that it might shock her even more…” She said in the same nervous voi
Epilogue IISelene smiled at Madeleine, teasing her, “You really love him”Madeleine merely studied her body lying on the ground and thought of a remark but could not come up with anything.Selene spoke, “It is your wish, you have to ask for it”“I want Hayden” Madeleine spoke in a low voice.“Sorry? I can’t quite hear you,” Selene acted as if she had not heard a word.Madeleine opened her mouth and closed it again. She realized that the Goddess was making fun of her but then how long would they cry and mourn over the lives they had lost?“Please give Hayden back to me”Madeleine repeated herself and Selene said, “Louder please”“Give me Hayden!!!!”Madeleine screamed and immediately clasped her hands over her mouth. She was horrified that she had almost yelled at the Goddess but Selene did not mind.“Somebody found their voice it seems”Madeleine smiled and turned to look at him.“Come”The Goddess said and Madeleine’s soul drifted towards her. Slowly, they both neared Hayden and Mad
(All the epilogues are in 3rd POV instead of 1st POV)It was dark and gloomy while the pungent smell of smoke, charred flesh, and death hung heavily in the air.A silhouette of a woman was sadly walking through the ground, as silent drops of tears flowed down her cheeks. She was in pain; she was grieving and her ethereal form was blipping in and out of existence just like a candle’s flame that would fight against a breeze of wind to stay alive.She was Selene and she looked around at the wreck of a forest that she had lovingly and painstakingly nurtured. Her feet slowly took her to the demon’s corpse and she studied it impassively to see if there were any signs of the wretched demon left in that hollow vessel that he called his body.Then her eyes flicked to the severed head that lay not too far from the corpse. She picked it up and looked at it, dead in the eye.The demon’s eyes were thrown wide open, probably in shock and surprise at the way the dagger had cut through his neck. Sh
“Noooooooo”I let out a shriek. My eyes could suddenly see well beyond my limited vision and I saw that the crack fell just short of affecting the tree, the giver of life of the forest.The cracks stopped just a few meters away from the tree that shuddered from the impact of the demon's fist that cracked open the ground.It sobbed and gave out a terrifying cry that I had never heard before. I did not even know that it could cry but maybe it was the Goddess who could hear it and not me.I looked around wildly, wanting to find something that could stop him...something, anything...My eyes spotted the very same dagger that Valrok had hurled at me to make me cut myself and give my blood.I got up and swayed a bit but made my way towards the dagger. He saw me get up and let out a mirthless laugh.“Running away from me? That is what you should have done earlier, Selene”He taunted and looked back at the tree that was far away from both of us. And, I knew what he was going to do next.“You a
MadeleineAs I turned to the side, I saw Hayden looking at me, holding a long pole. I stared at him in shock as he raised his hands with the pole and brought it down upon me, smacking my back hard.I was so taken aback by his act that I was flung away from him and the demon. I crashed to the ground as the demon’s laughter reached me.“Fight your children, Selene”He mocked and I could feel the Goddess fuming inside me. She had been calm and composed all this while despite the demon taunting and jeering her but even a Goddess has a limit to her patience.I got up from the ground as I felt the anger wafting off me as it reached its peak. My hands shot to either side of me as I felt an uncontainable energy surge through me.The demon shot his hand forward in response as a ring of white light began to form around me. The ground below me began to crack as hellfire shot up from every possible opening, shooting straight up.The small crowd of onlookers who had dared stay back to witness our
MadeleineI took a step forward and I saw him curl his fingers into fists.“Hello my old friend Selene, took you long enough”He greeted me and I looked at myself in confusion. It was then that I realized that I had turned into a living, breathing halo. All of my body was glowing brightly as if I was made of nothing but pure, white light.The words that left my mouth were not necessarily mine but it did not matter. The Goddess had chosen me as her vessel and I would gladly let her.“I thought you had learned your lesson last time, Valrok.”'Valrok? That must be the name of the demon', I thought.The Goddess or rather I continued speaking, “I gave you enough chances to stop this madness, to not let innocent lives suffer because of your selfish goals but you leave me no choice.”Valrok snarled, “You gave me chances? You are the one who reduced me to this state! It is because of you that I had to rely on puny humans and werewolves until I grew strong enough”“There is still time, stop th
MadeleineEverything happened so fast but it was as if I was seeing it in slow motion. As I watched in a daze, the white beam hummed with a vibrant and restless energy. It was so bright that I had to shield my eyes for a while. I believed it must be so bright and big that almost the entire forest must have witnessed the spectacle. The entire dark night that was filled with terror and gloominess and all the negativity surrounding the demon was suddenly punctured with that beam of light. Even the demon stopped chanting for a while and looked up at the sky.His expressions, at first, were of confusion but quickly it was replaced by rage. He had left the cave and came up on the land, left his stronghold, and decided to walk on the surface thinking that he was now undefeatable.Looked like he had gotten it all wrong.A smile appeared on my face as I looked at him for a brief moment and he grimaced. I did not say anything but my expressions were more than enough for him to understand what
MadeleineI opened my eyes and felt that my face was wet. I touched my cheek and realized that tears had trickled down my eyes. However, what I had seen was just a memory but a powerful one. My mind began to come up with various theories as I replayed them in my head. The runes, the chants with me in the centre…that had to mean something.I was not sure why the memory had been hidden from me all this while or why it had resurfaced only now but my guess would be that the similarity of my current situation with the past memory might have brought it up in vivid clarity.The words of the old man and his conversation with my parents told me once again that the lich wanted to use me not harm me.I recalled everything that had happened in the cave and realized that it had been true. Whenever Amanda tried to hurt me, the lich shunned her. My blood had been too precious for him and now I knew why.Somehow, the wizard, which was what I called him in my head because of his appearance, had combi