I stood there, frozen. Never mind that the beautiful view of the sprawling frozen lake is at my side.Beta Elise's eyes are on me as she deepened the kiss. Kallias didn't seem to budge and I can't tell if he's just allowing her or he's waiting for the right moment to snap her neck.I blinked several times, hoping it was just an illusion. But my heart, my wolf, knew it wasn't. This was real. Ice seemed to form at the bottom of my feet as if the Alpha King, my mate—my fucking mate—willed his magic to keep me rooted in place. I narrowed my eyes at them, but then quickly schooled my features into neutrality. I’m just his mate. I am just a banished Alpha daughter while he’s the current reigning Alpha of all Alphas, ruler of all packs, and the king of winter. I shouldn’t be bothered if he’s kissing Elise or any females at this point. No love binds us anyway. No mutual feelings stretch between us other than the sole respect for the mating bond
“You crazy bitch—how dare you do that to an Alpha’s daughter?!” Elodie whined as she stood up and straightened her dress. She made sure everyone heard her.I held my chin high. “You may be the Alpha’s favorite daughter but I’m an Alpha’s daughter nonetheless—even when that said Alpha also despises me.” I threw my father a knowing glance. He narrowed his eyes at me.“ENOUGH!” A voice that rattled the glasses entered our arising drama.I almost forgot the fact that wherever Elodie is, Alpha Gregor is always there. Of course, he’ll be in the Alpha ball; he’s the Alpha of the Fireheart Pack, not to mention he’s Elodie’s fiancé.“Oh hi, Alpha Gregor. Or should I say, good evening to you 'my mate who rejected me'.” I fluttered my eyelashes at him and paired it with a sickly sweet smile.“You’ve been stalking me, aren’t you?” The Alpha clicked his tongue and crossed his arms. “That's why you're here, Evadne. You're obsessed with me. The likes of you never understand that no one in this world
Eighteenth birthdays aren’t supposed to be a shitshow. But in my case, it fucking was. In our werewolf country, it has always been winter. But somehow, we learned to live with the cold. It started ever since the Alpha King sat on his throne. Every Alpha King in every generation, they are free to choose which season will rule for the rest of their reign. Winter was what the current Alpha King chose. Cold, lifeless, pale. I’m not surprised. Today, I just met my wolf, Mara. She’s a fierce white wolf with turquoise eyes ringed with gold. Though I’m happy I met her, I cannot feel any more than this feeling of happiness other than an obligation as an Alpha’s youngest daughter.“Give a round of applause to my little princess, everyone!” Everybody in the pack looked up at me with smiles and awe as soon as my father brought me to his little stage. “Happy eighteenth birthday, Evadne!” Every single one of them hurled their birthday greetings at me. I should fe
“You must be Evadne, Alpha Marcus’s younger daughter.”“Alpha Greg,” I curtsied with a graceful bow and a warmer smile as I uttered the nickname that everyone calls him. “I’ve never thought you’d be my mate, although I heard a lot about you.”“I could say the same to you,” he reached for my hand and kissed it.Though he lowered both of our hands, Alpha Greg didn’t let go of mine.I stroked the back of his hand with my thumb. “I’ll be the best mate and best Luna to you, Alpha Gregor.”“I know you will...” Then swept me in a romantic dance. Alpha Greg was holding my waist tightly and I held my grip on his shoulder and other hand. The music was so mesmerizing like I was dancing to the melody of my dreams. Finally, I can escape and breathe and live with the love of my life.Mara is rejoicing inside me too. She was howling with joy. I bet my Alpha mate’s wolf is feeling the same.“You’re so much more beautiful up close, Eva...” my mate placed a couple of strands of hair behind my ear. “I t
Alpha Gregor remained standing. Though he was clutching his chest, his screams were far softer and less gut-wrenching compared to mine. Just as how fast I found my mate, it’s also how fast I lost him. With that mere rejection, Alpha Greg burned down the bridge that could have connected us. He burned down that bond that could have spelled a better future for us, considering that Elodie easily grows bored of a male. The rumor that my sister had twenty-five boyfriends even before the age of nineteen is no rumor. I kept the pain of rejection within myself. Wiping my tears with the back of my hand, I remained on the ground, cowering like a dog when it heard the sound of thunder. I sliced a glare in Elodie’s direction. She just shrugged it off. She even brushed off my threat earlier, mind-linking me that I was too weak to kill someone. That I wouldn’t even hurt a fly.Maybe I won’t. But when it comes to her, she’ll probably be going to be my first kill.“
“Where the fuck have you been, Evadne?”Alpha Marcus of the Moonflame Pack, my father, immediately greeted my morning with his old-fashioned slap and hot-as-coffee scolding.I lifted a hand to my face and rubbed my cheek. “I fell asleep in the forest.”“You fell asleep?” he scoffed. “You ran away, Eva! You ran away from your own party and humiliated your own sister in front of the entire Moonflame Pack!”“Elodie deserves it! She took my mate away from me and begged him to reject me. She even burned down my cottage—she tried to kill me last night, Father!” I didn’t hesitate to answer back to my father. Even when I know what will become of me, what it will result in.Indeed, Alpha Marcus grabbed me by the hair and forced my head out the window, where it overlooked the entire packgrounds. The snow was no longer falling but the morning cold lingered. “You’re lucky the Alpha King didn’t show up and witnessed your fucking attitude last night!” A chuckle invaded the r
I shifted and let Mara take control of my form as soon as we’re in the vastness of the White Woods.She’s going faster day by day. That’s what my father and sister don’t know. They keep saying I am weak and slow, they don’t know that Mara has talents of her own.With Mara running, we continued to channel all my anger and hatred and disdain by turning them into the strength we spent running through the snowy forest. It was a labyrinth of frost-covered foliage and frozen trees, but Mara’s icy breath didn’t stop her.Now that I’m away from my so-called family, now that I’m as far from the Moonflame Pack as possible...I feel a little bit of a sense of relief. Not a little bit, but an absolute sense of relief. It was as if a large thorn that had been embedded in my side for years had finally been removed.Mara ran and ran, letting the morning winter breeze caress our moon-white fur. It was also our companion as we traversed the white forest.After hours of running, we heard the sound of fl
“Shit!” I cursed under my breath. I shouldn’t have lingered longer than ten minutes in that river.“Go send a mind-link to your father and sister. They probably heard you’re captured now considering it’s already sundown,” Mara said to me.“They will not answer,” I sucked a sharp breath between my teeth. “They never answer.”“You haven’t even yet tried. Perhaps they will this time.” I groaned but Mara was right. There’s no harm in trying.“Fine,” I stomped my foot.I looked up at the little cut in the wall opposite me. The light from the sun has now turned orange hues into the shades of twilight. Minutes from now, the night will awaken. And winters are harsher when darkness descends.I just hope there will be no storm tonight, or I’ll definitely sleep while battling one.***It seems my fear attracted the storm since the cool wind suddenly changed. On the horizon, in the last ray of the setting sun, I spotted a storm brewing. Approaching this pack, approaching me.I closed my eyes and
I stood there, frozen. Never mind that the beautiful view of the sprawling frozen lake is at my side.Beta Elise's eyes are on me as she deepened the kiss. Kallias didn't seem to budge and I can't tell if he's just allowing her or he's waiting for the right moment to snap her neck.I blinked several times, hoping it was just an illusion. But my heart, my wolf, knew it wasn't. This was real. Ice seemed to form at the bottom of my feet as if the Alpha King, my mate—my fucking mate—willed his magic to keep me rooted in place. I narrowed my eyes at them, but then quickly schooled my features into neutrality. I’m just his mate. I am just a banished Alpha daughter while he’s the current reigning Alpha of all Alphas, ruler of all packs, and the king of winter. I shouldn’t be bothered if he’s kissing Elise or any females at this point. No love binds us anyway. No mutual feelings stretch between us other than the sole respect for the mating bond
“Now that’s how you fight, Luna Evadne.” Beta Caesar praised as soon as I held my ground, my breath caught.“That sparring fucking warmed my bones!” I replied, laughing like I hadn’t almost broken my arm.A female laugh echoed from behind me, accompanied by a series of clapping. “So glad you’re now confident with your strength, Luna.” Beta Geneva also winked.My cheeks heated, not because of the two Betas' compliments but because I am now content in my stay here in the Night Blood Pack that my body now adjusts to the cold and relishes it.That's my routine every morning since then: I train with Beta Caesar, the pups joining me. I don't know if it's because of their interest in learning physical combat as early as now or if they just want to see me fight and train against the harsh weather.I wiped the cold sweat on my brow, continuing to punch the dummy made from dried hay. I imagine it as my enemies—or perhaps a deeper part of me has imagined it as my father—as I pour out my anger wi
“What?” I swallowed. I only compelled myself to let my throat bobbed as a sign of reaction. It was a mere whisper of demanding him to ‘what the fuck does that mean’. He shrugged. “Just in case. For future uses,” and then he winked at me. The Alpha King found himself sitting near the fireplace, chilling. As if the whole weather outside is burning cold. The Omega seamstress and I just talked about the dress: how long I want it, the color, would I like them elegant and sensual or sexy and provoking. All throughout, Kal just looked at us—looked at me. Studying me, drinking in every inch of me and the way I stand or speak to the Omega and how I slouch and straighten my back. Kal is so...complicated. So complex for an Alpha King.Or perhaps all Alpha Kings have complex personalities. I do not know what he wants from me or what I want from him— Well, I do want him to protect me from my father and sister and
Eating dessert was at least not a burden for my stomach. The rest of the meal hadn’t been that bad. Thankfully, I somehow warmed towards my mate—if his secret glances in my direction weren’t warming enough. I cleared my throat. “Beta Geneva told me of the upcoming Alpha Winter Ball. Am I required to be there as your Lu—I mean as your mate?” I looked away briefly before sighing, “Look. It’s fine for me if you want me there out of courtesy but it’s also okay for me if you just want me to stay here. After all, my father hasn’t yet known of my fate.” The last world felt like ash in my tongue. True, what Kallias and I had was fate. Destiny. But I don’t know if my father and sister know of those words when it comes to me. Kallias just listened as I stuttered. But then, his gaze softened afterward. “Evadne... it’s not even a month after you arrived here. I’m not forcing you. If you want to come, come. If you don’t...” he sighed and dragged his gaze to the
'The Alpha King seemed to devour any storm passing by just to show me his effort for us to dine together for the second time,’ I was telling myself. Begging myself. ‘Please don’t run to the toilet yet.’ I swallowed. Perhaps I should fart in my room first before meeting the Alpha King. My watery bowels turned even more watery. Mara howled at my thoughts, even the beads of sweat now forming on my forehead despite the cold. My wolf’s laughter continued, making my cheeks red. I hope Kallias doesn’t smell it, or at least scent it in me. Mara laughed even more. “What are you blushing at?” Kallias gently let go of me and helped me stand straight. “Can’t I just blush at my mate?” That foolish attempt to flirt in front of a cold Alpha is, well, foolish. But the Alpha King smiled, even if it didn’t reach his eyes. “Ladies first?” He waved a hand to the round table adorned with a sapphire blue tablecl
Evening finally came and I found myself reading a book. I don’t usually read books because the last time I held one, Elodie grabbed it from my hand and smacked it on my face, resulting in my nose bleeding. Now, sitting for dinner before a roaring fireplace, snow relentlessly falling outside, I never felt more relaxed. I’m reading a love story, not sure how this came to the Alpha King’s possession and gathering dust in this little library. It was about an Alpha who fell in love with one of the daughters of the Moon Goddess, cursed to forget him every single day when the dawn breaks. Right. Another reason to cry tonight. But the smell of oranges that Farra included in my dinner along with the snowdrops she added to the vase on my vanity mirror rippled something in my heart. One that I have tried to tell my heart to forget and bury it where I cannot find it lurking as one of my feelings. But those feelings lingered. Summoned, it
“If you do that one more time, you’ll just break your leg rather than incapacitate your enemy.”I dared to glare at Beta Caesar, but he just laughed at me like a child who never learned from her mistakes.“Do this,” he added, punching an invisible enemy through the air.“But I have a weak punch,” I told him, “Besides, the enemy is gripping my other arm.”The Beta’s eyes smiled, “Your other arm is free so there’s that.”I grunted at him. I have spent the whole week learning and training with Beta Caesar. Mara couldn’t agree more and she loves to be able to show her white fur to the rest of the Nightblood Pack. I didn’t like it at first, however.But Beta Caesar’s enthusiasm and Beta Geneva’s excitement were what changed my perspective. Every breakfast, I sometimes stretch my arm or leg subtly before digging into my food. I learned to ignore the whispers of the other packmembers. That group of Warriors that once gossiped about me quieted, or maybe it’s because I was always present when
“You look like you’ve been through shit.” I was on her threshold and she was holding what seemed to be a cup of jasmine tea when I knocked. I brushed my snowy shoes on her rags as Beta Geneva swiped the door open. “I was. In fact, I—” But then I shook my head. I cannot tell Beta Geneva about Greg. If I did, she’d probably hunt him down and tear him to pieces. I can’t afford the Fireheart Pack came knocking in the Winter Castle and demanded for my head. It’s too risky to tell her, too much trouble. “I was just being clumsy. This is nothing.” Beta Geneva’s house is as simple and yet welcoming as she looks. The soft wood tone and the sunset colors of the walls and ceilings definitely match her personality. It’s like her house is a living flame in the heart of eternal winter. She arched a curious brow. Geneva has a talent for smelling lies. “Is it?” “Yes,” I looked away, refraining from her assessing eyes. “I was, uh, being careless as I’ve s
I immediately looked away, feigning injury on my foot so that I could get to the ground. I must not meet his eyes. He must not know I’m here. I didn’t turn away when his gaze lingered. I lurched into a sprint, finding my way through the Alpha’s icy garden of frost-crusted red roses and snow-covered sunflowers. I didn’t stop until I was sure I was far from my father’s sight. I don’t know why I’m hiding. He probably knew about me and the Alpha King already anyway. Well, nevertheless, I never want to see his face again. It brought painful scars and haunting memories every time I found his face staring at me.When the Winter Castle was just a magnificent view in the distance, I wandered into the Alpha’s vast garden, benches were in the place along with slightly frozen fountains with ice sculptures adorning it.I sat on a wooden bench that was almost white thanks to the weather. I sighed and slumped back. I closed my eyes for a moment, my heartbeat slowly