CatrinaAs I walked out of the hospital, I spotted a sleek luxury sedan already parked by the curb. The driver stepped out and graciously opened the door for me and Carissa, Alpha Henry's daughter who came along with me today to leave White Tower and head to the hospital as instructed by Alpha Nox and the rest of the Alphas. I hopped into the passenger seat without much fuss, even though I would have preferred to walk back to White Tower if I could. This car belongs to the Forstfire Pack, and the driver is one of Alpha Nox's men. He's been constantly monitoring me since I left the ball's venue, and now I feel no different than a dog as if my owner is worried I might lose control and harm someone else. I swear that he would never allow me to have my personal space. "How was it?" Carissa asked, I turned to her.So a few days ago the Alphas had decided to test how far my blessing could go, and they decided to send me to the hospital. Not a hospital owned by a specific pack, but a publ
Catrina.He got up from the couch and walked over to me right as I was about to come closer. Carlo stared at me as if he'd never laid eyes on me before. I briefly thought he might've forgotten what I looked like, but then I realized it was because of the coat I had on over my linen dress. This coat is only worn by top doctors and healers from various packs who dedicate their lives to treating those who need help. In the hospital I visited today, the healers and doctors who wore this coat were either veterans or those with rare skills that set them apart from the rest."You here?" I asked, still kind of skeptical. I glanced at Edna, who stood next to the couch; she was holding Lacie. "I already said I'd come back; have you forgotten?" He replied with a touch of annoyance in his voice to my question. "I also brought our daughter along; she wants to see you. I didn't mean to make you feel bothered or anything-""I don't feel that way at all."As soon as he mentioned our daughter, Alp
CarloMy words brought back all the pain from being betrayed. But I realized there was no use in keeping this from Catrina. When she returned with me and didn't see Zeke, she would inevitably ask about it. I didn't want her to find out from someone else.You could tell she was disappointed just by looking into her eyes. He holds significance for her; even when I mistreat her, my Beta is the one who reaches out to her. Zeke genuinely cares about her, even though I hate to admit it, but I acknowledge that he treats her better than I do. But I was too selfish to allow them to be together."He chose her," Catrina muttered when she finally concluded. "So he helped her to escape?""Yes." I won't ever reveal the truth to the Alpha and the other packs. If the news spread, Zeke would be on trial in front of everyone in Dakota. He'd be labeled a traitor, even worse than Celeste. Catrina didn't say anything else, but I could tell she had a lot of questions she wanted to ask. I can sense her an
Zeke.I disregarded the intense pain in my chest and just continued walking.My wounds are healed, but not fully yet, and they still limit my movement. Besides the werewolf healing faster, the potions Jane Irish gave me sped up the healing process for my wounds. She told me that my injury was dangerously close to my heart, and if it had been slightly more to the left, I would have died. No healers or potions can heal. The only way is to bring me back using some dark magic that will transform me into one of those monsters. Damn it. I feel like ripping my head off because every time I think of those damn monsters, the thought of Celeste's conditions pops into my head. I was so overwhelmed by fear that they might hurt her.I convinced myself that I could trust what they were saying—that my mate had left the place where they found me dying.But she's a fragile flower. Somehow, her power fades after that grand ball night. And she can't summon her spell the moment I take her out of the inn
Catrina.I could sense Edna giving me a piercing gaze. She also heard exactly what Carissa said, and besides this increasing feeling of dread, a surge of warmth filled my heart. I've heard someone say that before, but I didn't take it too seriously. Lacie is still young, and all I hope for her is to grow up healthy and happy, just like other pups. I suppose I simply wasn't prepared to learn about my daughter's potential as the first daughter of an Alpha.And I guess I had forgotten that my daughter's father was an Alpha who led a pack, like the Blackthorn Pack. The Donovan family hails from a very powerful Alpha lineage. But will I ever be prepared if someday I confront this reality?Lacie held a doll tightly in her hands; her hair looked just like mine, and I couldn't help but notice that her eyes were an exact match to her father's. I couldn't help but picture a young girl with hair like mine and Carlo's stunning blue eyes, and she was born with an incredibly unique blessing. Af
Morea. I shifted back into my human form to save some energy that had been slightly drained from keeping up with Zeke all this way. He never even budged or took a break, and even though his injuries weren't completely healed, he didn't show even the slightest sign of being tired. Damn, I should remember how strong he is, and I was such a dummy for thinking I could keep pace with him. Meanwhile, each breath I took now felt like I was going to die. Goddess, we were already so far away from Blackthorn Pack and Carlo's territory. Now the ground beneath our feet transformed into a lush forest, adorned with towering pines that stood sentinel on either side. I can detect the scent of moss and herbs, along with a hint of spells. I could tell that there must be a solitary witch who had established a community nearby. Zeke stopped, crouched down, and put his hand over the moist ground. As if sensing something present. "Can you feel her presence through the vibrations in the ground?" I
Morea.The warrior, who was helpless just a few moments ago, has now transformed into something I didn't recognize. As those bloodshot eyes locked onto us, all I could sense was a deep hunger. I was so scared that I transformed into a statue, my limbs locked in place, until a realization struck me that the creature was about to take both of our lives. I was already exhausted, and Zeke hadn't fully healed from his injuries. We're very easy targets for it.I was caught off guard when Zeke forcefully shoved me aside, causing me to lose my balance and fall.He's keeping me out of the monster's range. He charged forward, shifted midair, and collided with the monster.He wasn't completely healed, but he pushed himself to let his inner wolf take control. That could put him at risk! I need to put a stop to him right away. I immediately got back on my feet, and I had to tell him to make a quick escape. But as soon as their bodies hit the ground, it made a huge thud. Zeke's wolf, which was si
Catrina.I can't calm down; my heart is racing even more, knowing that this is only going to escalate things. I want to say something that can calm everyone down; however, I don't have any proof because even the incident a few days ago was out of my common sense. It happened right before Sheerin even touched Lacie. It felt like some unseen power just whisked her away, keeping her far from my daughter. We couldn't see anything that went down in the room; it all went down in a flash.Sheerin growled in pain, her head and spine smacking against the floor with a resounding thud. Her eyes widened in pure shock as she stared at a point that was none other than where my daughter sat. My gut told me to assist her right away, so I hurried over to where she was lying. I helped her to her feet just as the door to the room swung open. Carlo and Alpha Nox entered the room."Get your hands off me," Sheerin snarls at me.Alpha Nox witnessed Sheerin writhing in agony and looked in pain, his expressi
Carlo.I inhaled from my cigarette, watching the smoke float into the air. I've been attempting to rid myself of this anger that's been consuming me, but unfortunately, my efforts have been in vain. All of Zeke's words, his act of betrayal, and the secrets he kept—I never expected him to do something like this.I would have killed him yesterday if Catrina's screams hadn't alerted the others to come. It took Jonah, Alex, and two other warriors to separate me from Zeke.I had already injured Zeke when they finally succeeded in separating us. As blood trickled from the deep gash I inflicted on his neck, dangerously close to his veins, I almost killed him..."Let me kill him," I growled, giving a warning that if they interfered, I might not hesitate to kill them too."What happened? Alpha, we didn't mean to interrupt or interfere, but...you could have killed him!""Just let it be. He deserved it," I answered.My gaze was sharp at Zeke. He didn't say anything. Of course, he had no explanat
Catrina."Is everything alright? I saw two wolves jump to you from the direction of the forest." Zeke and Carissa hurriedly approached us, catching our attention. "Yes. There's nothing to worry about." Carlo answered. "They're just rogues and their pups around here, but Catrina senses that the female is pregnant. So, it seems like we'll be welcoming a new member to our pack soon." Carlo's sentence brought a comforting feeling to my chest, as he genuinely considered my suggestion, which I truly appreciated.'Thank you so much,' I smiled and said through our link.'Anything for you.'Carissa grinned, mirroring Zeke's proud expression. He turned to me and exclaimed, "Cat, you're a true Luna that any pack would be lucky to have! Not only are you powerful, but your attention to detail like this will provide them with a feeling of safety.""Thanks, that was so kind," I said to him.I noticed Zeke and Carlo exchange glances, and I realized that they were communicating through the link. Ze
CatrinaI sensed Carlo's presence in the dining room without even glancing at the door, as his intoxicating smell wafted towards me. I immediately rushed towards him, and he pulled me closer by my waist. We kissed, savoring the moment without any sense of urgency. The way he kisses me and expresses his emotions always brings me so much joy and makes me feel incredibly loved. He didn't just kiss me when he wanted sex."The food is ready..." Mathilda announced, capturing the attention of the men.There are also some warriors, Carlo's closest confidant, who brought along their mate. Fortunately, we prepared a generous amount of food, so it seems we'll be able to enjoy a delightful meal this morning. "Come one, come on.""I'm already so peckish," Jonah murmured.Carlo invited the others to take a seat. They promptly made their way to the dining table and began helping themselves to the delicious spread of food."Invite Edna to join too." Carlo said to an Omega, then asked me, "Is Lacie aw
Catrina.Three days later...After freshening up and changing my outfit, I made my way to the kitchen, drawn by the joyful sounds of laughter and conversation. Today was a vibrant morning, with the sun shining brightly. From the open window, the air carried the delightful fragrance of flowers from the garden and the mouthwatering aroma of cooking from the stove.Carissa stood next to the stove and seemed to be stirring something in a pot. It must be a soup—a flavorful and aromatic soup that is full of richness..."I already have a feeling it will be really good." I walked over.Edna looks after Lacie in the living room. Morea glanced at the oven, noticing the cake batter she had recently placed inside. It seemed she had planned to bake a cake this morning. Meanwhile, Mathilda set up multiple utensils and placed them neatly on the dining table."Let me help," I offered, retrieving a sleek bowl from the cupboard and placing it on the dining table."Didn't I mention that you could come
ZekeThat's how it all unfolded, like in a whirlwind. I took a few steps back. As I shifted back into my human self, my mouth was moist, and the metallic tang of blood remained. I'm feeling queasy. I shifted my gaze elsewhere, avoiding the sight of what I had just done.Celeste remained still. Indeed, I have just ended her life.Catrina sprinted towards me, her voice lost in the wind as she appeared before me in an instant. She violently shook my shoulder and said, "Zeke! You hear me?"Carlo came closer. His face was filled with so much emotion that I couldn't explain what it was, but it was clear that there was anger. He ordered me not to kill Celeste because we promised her death in front of all Dakota.But I didn't listen to what he ordered. So it's understandable that he's angry. Carlo assisted Catrina in getting to her feet. I saw how she was shocked and shaking, and I felt guilty. Alex, Jonah, and the others are showing similar expressions.They looked like they couldn't believ
Catrina After providing Luna and her puppies with some comforting words and assuring them that we would soon locate Celeste and ensure her safety, I made my way back to Carlo. The Lunas and pups have been returned to their respective packs, while the Alphas remain here. They had a meeting at the manor, and afterward, the tasks were divided. To ensure that we would find her as soon as possible, they dispersed to every corner of Dakota until she was discovered. When I came back and make my way to the meeting room only Damien remained. He and Carlo appeared to be engaged in a heated discussion until the entire room was enveloped by their intense aura. "Your mate freed that witch; now I want to hear what you will do to account for this?" Damien growled; his face looked annoyed and angry when Carlo said that Amora was his mate. "I've rejected her; she's no longer my mate. But I'll make sure to kill her as soon as I find her." "Regardless of whether she is your mate or not, you are w
Celeste"Is something wrong?"Amora's voice made me turn to her. I just shook my head. She's come this far; she must have had a hard time getting past all of the guards and security that Carlo set. To finally be able to free myself from the prison that locked me up, so I wouldn't worry about her just because of this silly little thought.But somehow it was hard not to look back when I could feel Zeke approaching.'Just keep moving. If he finds out you escaped, what will he take other than ending your life?' I reminded myself to take a step forward and face the facts.Just like Carlo Zeke, he wouldn't forgive me if he found out I escaped, especially what I did to him. I've betrayed him so badly that he would kill me at any chance he had.If I had to answer what I felt at the moment, I decided to betray him and make all the help he gave seem meaningless. The pain I felt was indescribable. If it's possible, I'd prefer not to do all of that."Sister," Amora said, gently placing her hand o
ZekeAfter they successfully marked each other, I observed Catrina leading Carlo toward the exit, and they eventually departed from the venue. Several eyes checked them out, and several let out whistles. There's no one stopping them, as we all know they deserve their privacy tonight.Well, finally. I convinced myself that I was happy for both of them. Carlo finally realized his feelings for her all this time, yeah, even though it was a bit late, and Catrina finally got what she deserved all along.They will be together forever, as Luna and Alpha rule this pack. And their descendants will continue their legacy. I know this pack will be even better knowing it is in the right hands.I shifted my attention to a few couples moving on the dance floor. Morea joined them with a man from another pack. A voice called out from behind me,"Do you think he could be the right person for her?" Carissa asked. With a smile on her face, she brought over two glasses of wine and kindly offered one to me
Carlo.Even though I had already made sure that there would be a high level of security at our marking ceremony tonight, how can I still detect their presence nearby? That should be impossible.I know that Catrina also noticed the same thing since, the very next second, she allowed her power to make a shield that encircled us. It formed a barrier of protection in the same way that those monsters emerge from the shadows. Their appearance is exactly the same as it was before, with unsightly scars covering their entire body in every spot.They must have sensed our aura, so they followed us here. I remember that some of our prisoners are in the state of dying; they might die in the dungeon, but there's no way they can transform into these creatures without Celeste's magic.Celeste is locked up in a specially designed, isolated prison, which, as Catrina claims, has sealed her powers. Celeste shouldn't be able to do this.Has she managed to escape? But how is that possible?Catrina summons