When she opened her eyes, she was greeted by a nearly dark room. She could feel a headache approaching, and nearly every muscle in her body was aching. She found herself on the carpeted floor, next to the windows. She sat up and rested her back against the cold wall. She sighed and lightly massaged her forehead. She attempted to stand, but a sharp pain shot up through her legs and she fell on the carpeted floor. She looked around and stood up again, crawling her way towards the switchboards and switching the lights on, instantly illuminating the room. Her fingers had left a red print on the switch, and she looked down at her hands, perplexed. Her hands were stained bright red with blood, fresh blood. Her eyes widened as she looked down at her blood-red, trembling hands. She dashed into the bathroom and stared at her reflection in the mirror. She was drenched in blood, and her face
There is an awakening magic each day in the early morning, a sense of an old earth-spirit rekindled that seeks to knit together all that is good. Leaving her behind, perhaps because she does not belong to good. She was sitting on the loveseat by the window, staring out the open window at nature. Sleep didn't come to her, she was awake the whole night. When he opened his eyes, the sun had just begun to rise, and he saw her sitting with her back to him. He slid out of bed, slightly cringing from the pain in his hand. He took soft, silent steps behind her and gently rested his hand on her shoulder. When he touched her, she flinched and turned around to see a look of hurt and ambiguity on his face."Has something happened, love?" he asked softly, she turned her gaze to the window."Nothing that should concern you." He was perple
!trigger warning: graphic content, violence!"I came here to practice, but you've taken my spot." He looked startled for a moment as she responded with a straight face."I was unaware that anyone practiced here, My Lady.""Evidently, I do. So, could you please move?""Of course." He bowed and stepped back from the ring. She cinched her ponytail and began lightly stretching her hands. The Beta began to move toward an exercycle. She could feel his gaze on her, which creeped her out a little. She concentrated on the large blue sand-filled bag and began working on her kicks. The gym had several boxing areas, but this one was her favorite. Through a glass window, it provided a view of the beautiful forest outside. She could also see the training grounds around the corner from there. Her kicks landed flat on the bag, and she let out soft grunts as she work
!Trigger warning: graphic content!His gaze scanned the entire room and discovered four dead bodies lying around. Their throats had been slashed, and they were battered and bloodied. His eyes caught a glimpse of his Beta on the floor, blood oozing from his mouth, a broken nose, and a sharp long injure on his abdomen. But he was still breathing. He glanced at her hazel eyes and saw fear flash in her eyes for a fraction of a second before they closed and she fell. He was by her side in an instant, catching her fall in his broad arms. His eyes went black, and canines protruded from his gums, indenting his lower lip. As a thunderous growl erupted from deep within his chest, the veins in his neck and hands popped out. The wolf whimpered and lowered its head, resisting the man's command. He was already in the room's darkest corner, staring at the beast in the center. The moment Aiden's long, sharp claws rip through
"We're under attack!" "Do you have any kind of shelter for the elderly, pregnant women, and pups?" Aiden inquired as he dashed outside. Ariel grabbed her dagger just before rushing behind him."Yes, Alpha. It is located to the south. The fire had no effect on it.""Good, how much time do we have and where are the enemies?""We haven't heard anything from the guards since the sounds came from the west. We mostly have ten minutes.""I take them all to the shelter," Ariel said as she turned to leave."Take them and stay with them. I don't want you anywhere near the war zone." Aiden pulled her wrist and said firmly,"This is my fight, Aiden. I'm not going to let you or anyone else die." She walked away. She gathered every elderly person, pregnant woman, and pup with the help of some pack members. They jolted to the shelter, and after ensuring that e
As she was about to let go of Johan, during the throw, she had planted both hands on the ground. When she completed the attack, she sprang off her hands, throwing herself into a quick back spring, followed by another, another, and another to build momentum. When she was almost to Johan, she bounded off the ground and threw herself into a spin that would have made an expert gymnast jealous. Flattening out in the air like a sideways whirling tornado, so that her body was perpendicular with Johan's as she neared the fallen swordsman, her spin got increasingly fast as she whipped her arms in and out, efficiently putting herself into an almost uncontrollable rotation, arced at Johan.Just as she was about to reach him, Johan threw one of his legs out, shin angled down. The entire force from the spin was pushed into his leg.He barely had time to breathe, let alone dodge. But, it was a testament to his experience in battle that he kept the presence of mind to roll
"Eldrid! Beautiful fire." He spoke as he tasted her name on his lips."It's a good match for you." He said, and she returned her gaze to the plate of food."Why did you hide from me?" After a brief pause, he inquired. She did not respond."You could have informed me. I wouldn't have judged you or looked down on you no matter what. You are my mate!" He slammed his fist on the table in frustration and she looked up."Fine, I'm an assassin. I kill people without knowing who they are, what they did wrong. I just kill because I was told to. There now you know!" She said cutting through her waffles. He became irritated when she didn't look at him. He took the plate from in front of her and slid it away. She looked at him with a puzzled expression."What?" she inquired"Don't you realize how desperate I am for you? I'd been waiting for so long! When I finally got you, you kept running. After all that, I thought we were doing w
"Who is she?" She asked as they walked out of the castle."Lady Victoria?" Megan asked for confirmation and Eldrid nodded"She is the only child of Councilor Lord Roberts, a close friend of King Bruce.""What is she doing here?" Eldrid asked"I don't know My Lady; she used to come here frequently, but in recent years she hasn't; His Highness and Lady Victoria were childhood friends.""Childhood friends huh!" She muttered to herself. Victoria has a strange aura about her. Eldrid had the ability to see right through people's facades. And she had a strong suspicion about that woman."Please take me to Beta Nicholas, Megan." She finally asked Megan to take her to Beta Nicholas and Megan nodded with a low bow leading her to the Packhouse."Lady Ariel!" Nicholas sat his book down when Eldrid entered his chamber after a knock. She gave him a pleasant smile as she walked closer to his bed and sat on a chair beside it."Please call
"Your Highness,""Please call me Eldrid, Liam." She smiled politely as the Gamma returned the smile and nodded his head."I see you've received my message.""Of course, Lady Eldrid. Nicholas will arrive soon. Is there anything else you require me to do?""No, not right now. Let's go, Aiden is waiting for us." She shook her head and rose from the couch, making her way to the stairs. Liam quickly followed her lead, and they were soon on the first floor, walking towards Aiden's private office. Liam came up behind her and knocked on the door."Come in," Aiden's deep voice rang through the door, and Liam opened it, allowing Eldrid to walk in first. When she walked in, her attention was drawn to the woman sitting eloquently on the couch by the window on the left side of the room. Eldrid shifted her gaze to the man seated firmly in the swivel chair."What exactly is she doing here?" Her voice was calm as she inquired. Aiden raised his eyes to look
"Will this be all, My Lady?" Dorothy inquired as she fastened the final brooch of the Silver Royal Mantle."Yes, thank you, Dorothy." Dorothy, the new head court lady, bowed and walked out, and Seraphina smiled. Seraphina later found out that Megan had been murdered after she had discovered Freya adulterating her drinks. And soon when everything slowly fell into place Dorothy succeeded Megan.Seraphina took a final glimpse of herself in the mirror as she exhaled a deep breath. She was dressed in an A-line gown with an off-the-shoulder neckline. Lace tails onto the shoulder and comes back up at the wrist. The back bodice is a lovely illusion made of lace that opens and closes with buttons and loops. The lace trails back onto the skirt. A dramatic lace border completes the hem. Her hair was styled in a simple sweet hive updo. Her look was completed with a simple necklace and diamond studs."You look stunning!" Hilda complemented as she walked in through t
"In the infirmary!" As soon as he said it, her legs carried her down the corridor, down the stairs, and into the pack infirmary on their own. She felt the dampness on her cheeks as her legs carried her towards the male her heart craved. She rushed through the grassy field, tears streaming down her cheeks, without even bothering to wipe them, and soon arrived at the infirmary. Hilda was standing on the first floor, her face glum. When she saw Seraphina, her eyes widened."Where is he?" Hilda only pointed to the door at the end of the hallway when she asked. She dashed towards the door, but a hand captured her forearm before she could break through."They're operating on him." He said this, and she turned around to face Emmerich."Tėtis!" She wrapped her arms around him and sobbed on his shoulder. He stroked her hair tenderly as he held her."It's okay, he'll be alright!" He tried to console her, but all she did was sob."Why does this always have to happen to
She was the only beating heart, the only being of warm blood and flesh in those cold, lonely halls of the castle. The walls around her were undoubtedly familiar to her in the recent past, these walls had started becoming her home, making her feel she belonged somewhere, but it was all now a strange maze. The light fell on the words that spoke to no one, unaware that their audience had vanished or that the stone floor lay silent beneath no feet except her. It was as if Goddess had stopped time, removed all the distractions so she could see it for real, see how it really was, what it really was. And all she wanted at the time was another beating heart in this deserted castle, another being of warm blood and flesh, another pair of feet to walk beside hers.Her shaky feet were giving up, unable to bear the weight of her being, of her heavy heart. Her hand clutched her chest tightly as she struggled into the first floor. His scent hit her full force
"I'm not a flower of darkness! I have seen the brighter world and I don't wish to go back to a world where light doesn't exist!" She raised her gaze and Mia shrieked.She looked down as a sharp pain sprouted on her abdomen. Seraphina's hands held a dagger as she pushed it deeper into Mia's stomach. She leaped back to Aiden, who gleefully drew her into his arms, his face solemn as he stared at Mia. Seraphina said as Mia fell to her knees."Don't think I didn't notice you were obstructing my path to Cora. You gave me no choice but to strike!""Your blade is your true nature! You will kill anyone who is an impediment! Be it the female who raised you!" Their gazes were drawn to the forest's shadows. As the man walked into the dim light, their eyes widened as if they'd seen a ghost."F-father!" Aiden stuttered.Bruce stared at Malcolm's beheaded corpse."What a pity!" He scoffed and took a step closer to Mia. He knelt and snatched her jaw."Are yo
Kendrick and the warriors rushed up the stairs to the fourth floor. He came to a standstill when he noticed the female facing him, standing there with a heart in her palm. He and the warriors raised their weapons, aiming at the female, and the rattle of their weapons drew Bruce's attention, causing him to turn around."Your Majesty!" Kendrick exclaimed in disbelief, and Bruce's face was hidden behind a menacing grimace. Bruce turned around with the female behind him, wagging his finger. When feral hisses surrounded Kendrick and his warriors, they shrieked. Bruce simply walked away as the creatures ripped the Lycans apart, their howls filling the entire hall."Liam! I need you to find and protect Seraphina. She's with Malcolm, and I suspect he'll try to use her demon. Keep an eye on her and keep her from shifting." Aiden ordered"Until my last breath!" said Liam curtly."Nicholas and I will be fighting on the front lines. No creature shall come near
An amicable, quiet evening was suddenly shattered by anguish and terror. The violent explosion rattled the entire packhouse, and the Lycan and Wolves who lived there fled in terror. The power had been cut off, and the impact had shattered the majority of the windows. The warriors had already gathered around the packhouse."Where is His Highness?" Kendrick, the head warrior, who had been moving around making sure everyone was headed to the safe house, asked another warrior."Last I heard, they're all in the conference hall!" He said this with a panicked tonality in his voice. Kendrick looked up at the building and dashed into the packhouse "The impact was on the fourth floor! Let's go!" Nearby warriors followed him into the basement, through the secured door they entered the armory."We don't know who attacked or how many there are, so bring as many weapons as you need and arm yourself! Notify the battle regiment and the border guards!" Kendrick ordered whi
"What are you so engrossed in?" Aiden inquired as he sat on the lounge chair next to Seraphina. She raised her head in surprise when she heard his voice."When did you return?" With a smile, she asked. He loosened his tie and sat down on the chair."Just a few moments ago. What are you reading?" He questioned, leaning in to read the title of the book she held in her hand."The history of Drinealia and Auhesraivia. You know, it was very harmonious back then." She sighed and closed the book."What do you mean?""What I mean is...come in!" When someone knocked on the door, she paused to let them in.Freya walked in with a cheerful smile and a tray in her hand. When she saw Aiden, her eyes widened in shock, and she instantaneously bowed her head. Seraphina had persuaded Freya not to curtsey to her, and Freya had agreed."Your Highnesses!" Seraphina gladly accepted the mug she offered."Thank you!" Seraphina thanked her, and Freya walked out,
"Training with him can't be that bad!" Aiden tried for the tenth time that morning to calm an anxious Seraphina. She'd been pacing back and forth in their chamber all morning."You've got no idea. Goddess knows how long he lived on this god-forsaken earth, and how many great warriors he trained. I had seen him train juveniles when I was a child. And it was heinous." She shuddered and hugged herself. He sighed and drew her closer, and she buried her face in his chest."You are incredible at combat, sword fighting, and many other things I am unaware of. So don't be concerned, and show him how incredible you are." He said this, and she lifted her head to look at him. She pecked his lips with a smile."You should now get going. He'll be upset if you're late." She nodded and hugged him before pulling away."I'll see you later." She said and he kissed her forehead. They said their goodbyes, and she walked away. "Tėtis?" As she stood on the open lawn surr
Every step was guarded by a Drinealia soldier. They saluted her with their heads bowed and their right fist pressed over their hearts as she passed by. She was reminded of her childhood when she used to run around the corridors of the Castle of Drinealia. The soldier came to a halt in front of a door at the far end of the corridor and knocked. With his head bowed, he stepped aside and pushed open the door for her. As attendants dressed him, the Demon King stood with his hands spread to his sides in front of a huge shining mirror, she walked in. He was dressed in black knee-length leather boots and black leather pants tucked into the boots. He was dressed in a black shirt, and two attendants carefully slipped him into a silver-gold armor vest. A brown animal skin was wrapped around his waist, and a long gold knotted belt endorsed the animal skin. The attendants delicately draped the black Royal Mantle of Drinealia over his shoulder, securing it with a silver brooch