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Apphia A couple of days pass, but I'm still in the hospital. I don't like it. It's starting to suffocate me. I want to leave this place already. However, I don't know how to start my life once I'm out. With Lily's help, I could get a job and rent a place in the city. I've mentioned leaving the hospital and getting a job to support myself to Lily several times, but she dismissed it in a Lily-fashion way. " Apphia, you're not ready yet, and my brother is searching for the man who got away. You have to stay here for your safety, sweetie," she said with a smile. It's like they don't want me leaving, but I'm so done with the hospital already. ... Dr. Hudson and I are on the rooftop. I convinced her to have our usual sessions here today. She insisted on calling Nicholas, and luckily for me, he agreed. I don't understand why they have to ask him for permission. "Apphia, what do you think about the Alpha Prince?" Her question catches me off guard. She's never brought him up in one of
ApphiaI love trains—I've loved them since I was a little girl! They are so intentional and different from life. I used to watch them in my pack every day after school. They were there at the exact time, and it was... settling. And the lycan city has one of the best trains. " You want to ride a train...?" Knox asks, tilting his head to one side. "Yes, and then we can go back," He seems content with that. I follow him quietly to the station, a ten-minute walk from the general hospital. - The large station has a high ceiling and over three nice lounges. It is neat. We head to the booking clerk to get our tickets. When it's our turn, Knox reaches into his pocket to grab a credit card and puts it on the reception desk. " She wants a train ride to nowhere in particular, maybe around the pack?" he says, bored. The clerk behind the desk sees the golden card, and his bored face lights up immediately. " O—Okay, Mr. Lavista..." he types on his computer and then looks up, beaming.
ApphiaNicholas is here. It isn't planned, but Knox and I get up simultaneously, our eyes glued to the door. We hear steps outside the door. My heart is pounding in my chest. I'm anxious and apprehensive, but something within me sings joyfully—my subconscience. . The double door quickly opens, and the chattering in the office ceases as everyone gets to their feet, their heads bowed low in submission. Nicholas stands at the entrance, and Blade and Lily stand slightly behind him. The Alpha is looking right at me with his sapphire blue eyes. He is mad yet breathtaking with his tousled hair and undone in a white shirt, collar, and cuffs. I can't tear my gaze away from his beauty. His eyes go from me to his young brother. Seeing them face each other, I see the resemblance between them. They are almost identical, except Knox's skin is fairer, probably getting it from one of his parents. Other than that, Knox is a few years younger. I take a deep breath and slowly walk up to him. His
Apphia. Once we leave the station, two black cars are waiting for us on the street, and two men in black suites are standing beside them. I glance at the others. Lily is not too happy and is scolding Knox. "You are such a brat; what were you thinking, Knox? Helping Apphia leave the hospital!" "She was safe. I was with her, and Apphia had a wonderful time. Didn't you?" he grins at me. I smile and nod. "Oh, Apphia, you had me worried," Lily says, stroking my hair gently. "I'm sorry," I say again. "You'll ride with me," Nicholas says. I hesitate. Should we ride in the same car after our heated exchange earlier? I glance at Lily, and she nods with a comforting smile. Nicholas holds open the door, and I enter the back passenger seat. Nicholas gets in, sitting beside me, and my breath gets caught in my throat. The driver starts the engine, and we head back to the city. The car ride is silent. It is heavy, so I speak, "I'm sorry for worrying you," I murmur. Nicholas turns his
ApphiaI can't feel Ziora anymore. She's gone, leaving me desolate. As we walk upstairs, I realize how grand the castle is with its tall ceiling and wide white marbled hallways. There are paintings on the walls, all expensive-looking. Everything is antique but modern, too. It also has a homey feeling to it that I like. Just what am I doing here? I'm out of my league here. Lily talks about the room she chose for me, but I'm struggling to comprehend anything momentarily. She takes me to a private wing on the west side and stops before a white door. She pushes it open, and Vicky rushes in, spreading her hands in a dramatic gesture. "Tada! Welcome aboard!" I step inside and look around with my eyes. No. It can't be mine. The room is enormous, with two large windows from the floor to the ceiling. In the middle of the room is a large queen-sized bed with white sheets and many fluffy pillows. There is a long cream couch facing the TV on the wall. "Check it out," Lily says with a s
ApphiaI wake up slowly, feeling refreshed and rested. I feel sunshine on my skin, too. I groan in delight. It feels amazing. I open my eyes, realizing I'm not in the bed at the hospital. I panic and sit up, analyzing the room. But yesterday's events hit me hard. I exhale. I stretch and get up, approaching the glass spiral table that catches my eye near the window. There is a white lotus and a note. A smile stretches on my face, knowing exactly who it's from. The note reads. " Good morning. I hope you had a fantastic night in your new room. Take a deep breath, smile, and start the day with positive energy. Have a lovely day ahead. Nicholas. I pick up the lotus, holding it to my nose. It smelled fresh and fabulous, but there was something else: an intoxicating scent. I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, and then shower. When I finish, I get dressed in jeans and a black top. I grab a cardigan and put on black Vans. I leave the bedroom and wander for a moment before me
Nicholas " You think Apphia is a marked wolf?" I repeat.“ We don't think. We are sure,” mom says. I need help understanding. I look at them for elaboration. " A marked wolf is a shifter with divine powers. They possess powers that transcend human understanding," Dad says. My mother sighs and relaxes in the chair as she begins to explain. " After discovering that Apphia is immune to all our powers, your grandfather, Mike, and the elder council were intrigued was this information, as this was the first anyone wasn't affected by our powers. While searching an ancient library, they discovered a chronicle text. The chronicle details more of royal abilities and, surprisingly, one immune to them," " How does a marked wolf come to be?" i ask. " By being submerged in the holy golden lake in the beyond after a sacred ritual during an auspicious day and time chosen by the moon goddess," she answers. I frown. Sacred lake? I've been to the beyond yet had not seen such a lake. "
ApphiaI've been awake but don't open my eyes or move. My first thought when I woke up was Nicholas. He comforted me when I was crying after the nightmare i had. I dreamed that Rory was assaulting me again, but this time, it was way worse. I was scared but thankful Nicholas heard me and came in. For some reason, I trust him. I know he'd never hurt me. I finally get up, and my gaze instinctively goes to the glass table. Like the other mornings, there is a note and a flower. I read the note; ' Good morning, beautiful. You had a nightmare last night, and I stayed with you. Thank you for trusting me. May your day be as lovely as you,' Nicholas. I bring the pink lotus to my nose and put it in a large drawer. I go to the bathroom and look at my reflection in the mirror. My eyes are red and sunken, indicating how much I cried. I quickly shower and change into a black long-sleeved dress just above my knees, paired with black tights, and wear black suede ankle boots. Lily said I should t
Apphia The pain is transient, but it leaves goosebumps on my skin. I look up at the woman who bumped into me. She's tall, with long ginger hair and dark, dark eyes. She bows to me low in apology. " I'm sorry, I didn't see you there," her voice is raspy but high pitch. My mate is by my side, asking if I'm alright. I nod to him. " I'm sorry for bumping into you, my Luna. " The woman bows again and walks off before I ask how she knows I'm Luna. " How did she know I'm the Luna?" I murmur. " Everyone knows you're the Luna," he says, kissing my temple. I look back in the direction the woman has gone but don't see her anymore. " That woman made me feel odd, Nick," I tell him. " What do you mean?" " I felt pain in my chest and on my scalp when she bumped into me," I explain. " I'll look for her. Stay here," he says, ready to leave, but I grab his arm, " No, It's okay. Maybe I'm just tired and need some rest," " I can find her, and you can read her aura, her mind," he insis
" Allies?" he breathes, eyes on me. I only nod with a slight smile. He is not happy. Maximus is watching us, interested. " Leave," Nicholas orders my alpha guest__ my ally. " No, he's not leaving," I firmly say. " Apphia," he warns. " Nicholas," I retort. " I don't want you associating with this man," he says. " Well, there is nothing to be done now, is there? We have been allies for the longest time," I inform him. " How long exactly," my mate grits." seven- eight months," Maximus answers, glancing at me momentarily. Nicholas growls at him, " Apphia is just using you for your position. This man doesn't care about you and has nothing to offer," " I ensured her reputation wasn't tarnished in the eyes of your people and other packs because of your ex-girlfriend. I identified and dealt with entitled alphas and lunas who were pissed that she came into the picture and ' stole' their daughters' prospects to become Luna Queen; I mitigated for the Luna in her projects, and I made su
I had dozed off in the bath. After drying myself with a towel and entering the bedroom, my mate walks in with a plate of muffins. " Did you get the recipe from Duncan?" I ask. He nods, frowning a bit, though. They vex each other. I drop the towel on the floor and pick one muffin to taste. He's watching, waiting anxiously. I nod slowly after I swallow, " Not bad, babe. Keep practicing, and you'll get it right." I take another bite and give him a thumbs up. He is relieved and kisses me. " Yes!" I giggle at his enthusiasm. " Yes!" I shout, too. He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck over and over. I'm giggling and trying to get out of his grip to wear my pajamas. " It's cold, I want to wear my pajamas, Nick," " I can make you warm," he husks in my ear, licking it. " Really," " Yes," Before I know it, we are on the bed, face to face. I'm straddling him. We kiss passionately, our tongues fighting for dominance. His hands go up to touch my breasts. My br
ApphiaGavin is standing before me, looking sheepish. I stand, too, and wait for him to speak even though I know exactly what he wants to say. " Apphia," he breathes. We are silent, and he speaks," I'm sorry for how badly I treated you. You didn't deserve any of it," I didn't deserve it. " You are very beautiful, Apphia. So beautiful inside and out. I wish I could turn back time. I wish I accepted the bond when it clicked into place, but I didn't. I'll regret that for the rest of my life and be sorry for it," tears mist his eyes. He smiles slightly and wipes a stray tear from his eye. " Apphia, I wish you the best. You deserve everything you have now and more. I wish you all the happiness in the world. That's all I wanted to say," I only manage a nod, unable to utter another word, " Thank you for hearing me out, Luna Queen Apphia," He's looking at me as if committing me to memory. His eyes flash, and his lycan comes forth, but only momentarily. He bows low to me and turns to le
ApphiaI feel him—deep within me. It is him_ the seeker. He doesn't wear a cloak. The seeker is of average height, with very short hair and dark eyes that glint red. He approaches but stops, smiling like a cat and displaying his sharp fangs. He looks back at his escort. His entourage are all old and strong, yet their bodies are those of men no older than fifty. "The marked wolf with divine powers," his voice is like a sharp knife through me, yet it is low. "You've come to me," 'Where are you,' Nicholas mind-links me. Before I can respond to him, I feel a forced shield between us. I try to slam against it, trying to lower the shield to let my mate in, but I can't. I can feel him, too, tugging on my mind. The seeker must have done something to stop us from communicating. I try to sneak past his own mental shield, but it is tight. From the look on his face, he knows. "I've had hundreds of years to train against your kind of powers. You won't be able to get in," he says. "Why do y
ApphiaThere are thousands of warriors. We didn't know how many our enemy had, so we had to prepare as many so we couldn't be outnumbered. The lycans and wolves are getting ready to eradicate the vampires attacking them. We have formed five groups, each with a leader. I will lead group E in rescuing the humans used as blood bags as I know exactly where they are keeping them while others fight. We are standing atop a mountain, secretly watching the vast estate. I'm wearing tight leather pants, a black tank top, and boots, and my hair is pulled in a tight ponytail. My mate snakes an arm around my waist and kisses my temple. "Please be safe. Don't hesitate to strike, and be quick on your feet," he says. "You too," He scoffs. I grin at him, knowing no one can come close to him in battle. His face is stern again. "Maybe I should go with you," he says."No, you're helping the warriors get rid of the vampires. Don't worry about me, Chelsea and Chase will be with me," "But_" "I'll be fi
Duncan After receiving my sister's forgiveness, I feel the pain I'd carried in my chest for ten years slowly dissipate. We are sitting on the kitchen island, all four of us, now eating the horrible pasta Nalani had made us for dinner. She seemed so impressed with her cooking skills that we could not tell her how awful the food was. My relationship with Nalani has improved so much, and I'm happy about that; we go on dates, and she joins me for pack duties; she makes a fine Luna. However, she hasn't let me mark her yet and refuses to sleep in my bed. It bothers my lycan and whines about it, but I'm patient; after my history with women, it's a given that she'd be reserved to give her all to me. But I let her mark me, to show her how much I'm committed to this relationship. " No, I can't have more without my stomach exploding; thank you, Nala," Apphia shakes her head, pushing her plate away. Her mate, too, refuses Nalani's offer to give them more food. The two exchange glances and ex
Apphia. After I told them everything that had happened to me and all I had learned about my new powers, my brother hurriedly left the dungeons. I glance at my mate, and he nods. I go after Duncan. He's sitting on the ground, back against the wall. I swallow and approach him."Duncan," he looks up at me, eyes red. His face a picture of devastation. He gets to his feet and tells me it's not my fault that any of that happened to Mom and me and that he's sorry for abandoning me. He did abandon me, but I didn't hate him for it. I've always loved Duncan. I was just hurt and disappointed that he treated me like I was no one to him, even after promising to look after me. I try to tell him that, but words fail me. Unable to produce a word, I turn and walk away. He's two steps behind me, silent. I go to the lake where I used to go. It is as lovely as ever; the air is crisp cold here, yet bearable. The lake I loved so much was now tainted with the night Rory assaulted me. Every place I look, I
Duncan Flashback'Duncan, i told you to take care of your sister,' Mom scolds gently after I tell her Apphia has run away after I refused to share my new toys with her. I would give her, but she destroys them, and when I scold her, she cries and runs into the forest. Mom scolds me… Even though she says she doesn't have favorites and loves us equally, I know Apphia is her favorite. However, it's alright because Apphia is a girl and needs Mommy more than I do. I'm a big boy. I just turned ten!"I went looking for her, but I got hungry and came back. I'm sorry, Mom," I tell her. She smiles__ my mom is the most beautiful mommy ever, but I love her smile more. She holds my hand; her hand is very soft. We go in search of my sister. We find little Apphia soon; she is playing alone at the lake. Her skin seems to glow more than ever in the afternoon sun. "Apphia," Mom calls, but my baby sister doesn't turn to look at us. However, the glow around her dims a little. "Baby, let's