“Cassidy…” He stroked my cheeks as if he never touched them before.“I do trust you, Zarion. But... it's just that. I still feel so insecure. She's your mate. Hestia is your sacred mate. Why would Hestia, the reputable Hestia, announce and do that to the whole world? She doesn't have control, of course, because it's the mating bond. No one has control over that treacherous thing—”Zarion's strong hand gently covered my mouth, silencing my worried ramblings. His eyes bore into mine with unwavering intensity, and I could see the sincerity in his gaze. “Hush, babe. We don't know her ulterior motive. She's not my fucking mate. She will never be. She will never be you, Cassidy.”His vehement denial surprised me, and I couldn't help but question further, still trying to grasp the truth. “But...why would she say that she's your mate? Why would she kneel in front of you and do those things that clearly signal that she is mated with you?” I asked, my thoughts still clouded with confusion.“She
It was done in a heartbeat. The pain it caused didn’t even linger for long. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it in front of the mirror—the mark of the Alpha. On my neck.It was surreal. I touched my neck and there it was, a shimmering testament to the bond that had formed between Alpha Zarion and me.My heart swelled with joy, this pure emotion washing over me. I remember every bit of the memories we shared this night.“You are the only person whom I will spend the rest of my life with, Cassidy. I couldn't wait for that to happen. We have so much time in the world. I will give you everything that you want and need. Just please fucking stay by my side because I can't live without you. Damn. I don't even know what I'll do if you leave me…” His words still ring in my ear even when he’s already snoring beside me. He had made it clear that I was the only one, and that meant everything to me.“I will never leave you, Zarion.” I kissed his temple as I buried myself under the blanket,
It was quick, yet not so painful. I think so.Alpha Brandon took a step forward, his eyes filled with remorse. I don’t know if it’s real. It seems it's not. “I have seen the error of my ways, Zarion.” He turned to me. Where Zarion did not notice that I was already beside him, Brandon did. “Cassidy, my former mate…” I swallowed a lump in my throat to what he just called me. “Please forgive me.”Zarion did not utter a single word. Instead, he just glares at Brandon.His brother sighed heavily as he looked at me. “Cassidy, I am truly sorry for how I treated you. I let my ambition blinded me, my hatred consumed me and it cost me dearly. I regret my actions, and I have come to make amends.”I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The once cocky and arrogant Alpha Brandon was now standing before us, admitting his mistakes and seeking forgiveness. It was a surprising revelation, one that left me uncertain about how to feel.I still have my doubts obviously. Zarion regarded him carefully, stud
It was an intense moment. Zarion promised me peace. And yet…”He allowed himself to be persuaded by Brandon’s offer of war.” I felt betrayed, my legs felt weak from running.As I ran away from Zarion and Brandon, I found myself in the foggy embrace of the Misty Forest. Rage consumed me like wildfire. It was my reason to take a backseat to the fury burning in my veins.Someone graced through the thick fog like a Queen walking the red carpet to her palace. The sight of Hestia now leading a group of Rogues as if they are her pack and they are their Alpha and showing signs of madness was enough to push me over the edge. No blood flowed from her. No wounds marred her skin. She was as clean as one just went for a quick bath, still sane and smiling.Except this bitch is a psycho too like Brandon.Was she driven mad or had she turned against Brandon of her own volition? Beta Bridgette, who was immediately beside me even before I could draw my next breath, grabbed my wrist when I t
“Cassidy…” Zarion's voice softened. Seeing the distress in my eyes, he held me gently, his concern evident. “Bridgette will be okay. She’s stronger than you think.”I didn’t budge. Zarion placed a soft kiss on my forehead. “Who did this to you? To Bridgette?”I took a nice deep breath. Told myself to be steady enough to share the horrifying encounter. Truth. “Zarion, my Grandmama…” I managed to say, my voice trembling with grief. His face contorted with shock and anger as he urged me to continue. Sensing the gravity of the situation, he kissed my hand. A sign for me to take everything slowly. “What about your grandmother?”Struggling to hold back my tears that just let its presence known in front of Zarion, I whispered, “My grandmother's dead. They killed her. Valerie and Aneliesse Cavitt confirmed it. Hestia confirmed it.” As the words escaped my lips, a single tear rolled down my cheek. Zarion's anger seemed to escalate, reflecting my own feelings. He cursed under his breath, t
“You’re a thief, Cassidy!”“I’m a what?” I snorted.Hestia's hands clutched the cold metal railing of the cell, her eyes burning with anger as she snarled at me. “You're a fucking stealer. You stole Zarion away from me!” She pointed accusingly at my boyfriend, who remained composed, unaffected by her outburst.‘She’s just a whining child,’ he mind-linked me.I shrugged, and couldn't help but chuckle at her accusation. “I'm a... what? A stealer? A thief? Aren't you talking about yourself?” I shot back, finding amusement in her desperate attempts to provoke me.Her snarls only intensified. Pounding her fists against the railing in frustration.“Not that I want your husband anyway,” I continued, not allowing her to get a word inside my heart again. Their trickery about my Mamita being dead is enough. “Now that he finds you useless, you're trying to leech off my husband by pulling some stunt? You're a fucking whore, Hestia!”“Fuck you!” she shrieked, her eyes narrowed into slits.My grin
I was dumbfounded, my breath catching in my throat as I stood before the Moon Goddess Temple.Its ancient stones seemed to hold the weight of centuries of whispered prayers and quiet hopes. The air around me felt charged, as if the temple itself held some mystical power. I could feel the rapid, erratic beating of my heart. Its rhythm echoed in my ears, a testament to the mixture of anticipation and anxiety that churned within my soul.I knew what I was here to do.I want to know if Hestia's really Zarion's mate. But now, faced with the reality of it all, a flurry of doubt swept over me. Could this truly work? Was it possible that it could hold the key to knowing one's true mate?Probably not. Probably I’m just being crazy. But then…all is just a maybe until we’ve proven it as true.I had not painstakingly prepared for this moment. No one is. While I meticulously followed the instructions I had discovered in the dusty tomes of our family library, a single tear began to crawl its way fr
“Cassidy?” His fingers brushed my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze once more. “Are you still the woman I love? The woman I still kiss every night?”“I am still me, love. I am still Cassidy Salem Bentley.” I waited for him. I waited five seconds to pass. Ten. Thirty. Sixty.A minute has gone between us, and finally, his expression softened. The anger momentarily subsided as he searched my eyes. “Then what is it about, Cassidy? What aren't you telling me?”The vulnerability in his voice caught me off guard. For a moment, the walls I had built to shield my truths began to crumble, threatening to expose the tangled mess beneath.But I couldn't. Not yet. There was too much at stake, too much that he couldn't understand. I pulled away gently, creating a small distance between me and him. “I... I need time, Zarion. Just give me some time.”He studied me for a lingering moment, his gaze both gilded in frustration and something deeper. Something I couldn't quite decipher.He did not
Cassidy’s POVSnowflakes danced through the frigid air, the world around me becoming a beautiful paradise of white. Again.Instinct and adrenaline fueled my every move as I transformed, my body morphing into delicate crystalline forms.It feels so good to be back, to feel the excitement of shifting into my wolf form.The rival Rogue lunged, teeth bared. But in that pivotal moment, my body dispersed into a whirlwind of snowflakes. I felt a surreal rush as I swirled around him, avoiding his deadly jaws by the narrowest of margins.There was an odd sensation, like a shiver down my spine, as if the transformation itself was more than just a physical change. But my focus remained unwavering. As the snowflakes began to reform, I solidified just behind the Rogue, my werewolf instincts guiding my swift and precise strike. Fangs sank into his flank, and he yelped in pain and surprise.The scent of iron filled the air as I tore myself away, leaving the Rogue injured but not fatally so.My grand
“We'll do the vow in front of the Moon Goddess's temple,” I stopped by the iron gates when Achilles’ spoke, his words echoing with a sense of finality.I nodded once more, his jaw set. I know he doesn't want to do this, but he has no choice left.And there, beneath the moon's shimmering light, we sealed our pact. Two figures, one burdened by shadows and the other ready to step into the light. The wind carried our oath, the words whispered into the night like a sacred secret between us.As I turned away from Achilles, my heart’s heavy with a mixture of hope and trepidation. I felt a glimmer of something I hadn't felt in a long time—purpose. The journey ahead would not be easy, and the path to find the witch might be fraught with danger. But it was a path I had to take.For my pack, for Achilles, and most importantly, for myself.The Moon Goddess's statue watched over us, her radiant presence a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is a guiding light. And so, with my destin
I came back running towards Cassidy's body lying on the ground. “No...” I whispered, trying to regain my composure as I lay her head on my arms. “NO!!!”But despite my cry, the air was thick with a somber weight like the skies themselves had donned a shroud of mourning. It was a blow that echoed through the heart of the Volatile Hounds Pack, some are howling in their wolf forms, leaving an ache that seemed unbearable.I stood at the edge of the gathering, my eyes fixed on the scene before me. Luna Cassidy's body lay before us, her once-vibrant form now stilled, as if she had merely drifted into a deep slumber. I could hardly believe that the force of nature we had all revered—that we had all treasured, vanity consuming us—had been reduced to this fragile vessel.The wind’s whistling carried with a sense of finality that clenched at my heart. In a hushed voice, I stepped forward, the damp earth cool beneath my feet.My gaze swept across the gathered wolves, each one bearing the weight
In that moment, I felt something. I feel scared for the first time since facing so many battles and wars.“Fuck it,” I cursed to myself and run to find Cassidy. Brandon can go and shit himself.The stench of sweat and blood hung thick in my body as that colossal Rogue squared off against Cassidy, the clash of their weapons echoing through the abandoned icy ruins.My heart raced as I watched the battle unfold before me, the desperate struggle between my Luna and a Rogue playing out in a deadly dance of steel and fury.Cassidy moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, her every step calculated. I’ve thought her well, of course. Her sword is a natural extension of her being. But the Rogue was no ordinary adversary: it was a behemoth, its muscles rippling with raw power as it swung its massive twin daggers with brutal force.Each collision of metal against metal sent shockwaves through the ground, rattling the wintry debris beneath my feet. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my
Zarion's POVThe icy winds howled through the night as the waves crashed against the rocky shores, creating a picturesque atmosphere with its chilly battlegrounds. The waters here are barely frozen as if they manage to battle the winter coldness by themselves.It's finally the date of the war we anticipated and prepared for a long time. As I stood at the edge of the cliff, my breath misting in the frigid air as I gazed out at the tumultuous sea beckoning me.“Where are they?” Luna Cassidy asked beside me. She held my hand and l looked down at her. “They will be here soon,” I whispered. The bitter winds of the Turquoise Ocean swept across the icy expanse, carrying with them an air of foreboding that matched the tension in my chest. As I stood at the edge of the half-frozen shore, my breath crystallized in the frigid air. A clear reminder of the war that will be unfolding.The setting sun cast a reddish hue over the ice. My pack was assembled behind me, their eyes reflecting the same f
Heavy is the crown who wears the tiara as they say.The weight of the responsibility was so heavy atop my shoulders, but I pushed it aside. I pushed the doubts of my capability as a Luna aside. I couldn't afford to let doubt or fear creep in. Not now.Jemenei finished his preparations and stood before me, a determined look on his face that reflected my own. We were a team, a two-man team, united by purpose and the need to protect our pack and save other packs from the dangers brought by Hestia and Aneliesse. There was no turning back now. “Let's move,” I spoke, my voice low but resolute. With a nod, we headed out into the night, the moon casting long shadows on the forest floor.The Misty Forest, courtesy of its name, boasted thick fogs and mist that could blind. But now, the mist is thin and the fog has dissipated. It's still winter yet it's colder than usual. I shifted into my fight mode. Gamma Jemenei was behind me when I immediately noticed a shadow using my shadow manipulation
A day later, we returned to our pack’s fortress. The travel was swift and quick, especially when Zarion held my hand throughout the journey.“Just put our briefcases there,” Zarion commanded Beta Achilles. He was grinning from ear to ear when he glanced at the mark on my neck. “Congratulations, Alpha Zarion and Luna Cassidy.”“Uhm, thank you?” I chuckled shyly, quickly covering the mark with my ponytail. Alpha Zarion’s hand snaked around my waist and kissed the top of my forehead. “Thank you, Beta. My wife’s kind of tired,” he winked. I smiled. “Please let her rest.”Beta Achilles nodded and gestured with his hand toward the castle's rooms. “And you?” my brows furrowed as I looked at Zarion, “Where are you going?”“I have to attend something important.”“Something important?” My voice was laced with concern. “Is it urgent?”He nodded. “Yes. It’s for the sake of the pack. Our pack.”“But we just arrived—”“I’m going to be okay, Cassidy. Relax.”“Be careful on your way,” I t
“Zarion!” I shouted in frustration for a moment, but it disappeared when I felt his warm hand on me. I closed my eyes and lost myself once again.I heard a few more curses from him before he removed my underwear. The first touch of his tongue made me moan so loud. I felt like I had reached the heavens. Entered the heavens with Zarion’s lustful worshiping. The second flick of his tongue sent fire inside my core. I think I'm done for tonight. Alpha Zarion will claim me. That’s for sure.He held my thighs apart, preventing them from meeting. I savored the sensation that only he could give me, nearly biting my lip as he caressed my soft femininity. I saw him lick his middle finger. My cheeks burned at what he did.He crawled back towards me, leaning against the sofa. “You're so sweet, love,” he whispered as he began kissing my neck once again.I tilted my head to the side, unsure if I wanted him to continue or not because I kept on tickling. His hand traveled to my exposed breasts, toyin
The grandeur of the moment enveloped me wholly, filling my heart with an overwhelming blend of excitement and nervousness.Today was the day I’ve only dreamed of: the day I’m about to become a part of something bigger than myself. Someone stronger than myself. Today, I am Cassidy, the Alpha’s bride.My heart raced like a wild stallion in my chest. But I disregard it. The most important thing today is I will finally become one with Zarion.The sun is now descending low in the sky, casting a warm, golden glow across the cliffside where the ceremony would take place. The waves below crashed against the rocks in a rhythmic symphony, providing a soothing backdrop to the buzzing anticipation that hung in the air. I’ve never been here before. This is my first time being here. And it brings a different joy knowing that Zarion took me to a place I’ve never been to on our wedding day.As I stood near the edge, my ivory gown billowing gently in the breeze, my fingers trembling as they clutched