SHRIMP I TOLD AYLA about Lucien's favor and as expected her reaction was beyond surprise. She said I'm putting myself in misery. But who am I to oppose the Alpha? "You're crazy, Ysobella. You have feelings for him, yes, but it doesn't mean you can't say no."I can sense a hint of disappointment in her tone. But I need to look at the brighter side. "I know, Ayla. But hey! At least there's good news, right? It means Clarrise is now okay."Ayla rolled her eyes. "Fine! Just watch yourself, okay?" she reminded as her mother reminds her. "Yes, Sissy," I jokingly said to her. Ayla just laugh in response. "But you know what, Bella. I feel bad for Clarrise." "Do you think she saw her mate again?""Maybe? She wouldn't be hurting this way if it weren't for her mate. He's, after all, the sole reason for her endless pain. Whoever he is, he is fortunate because the love Clarrise has for him is inexhaustible.""Ladies! Let's head to the kitchen. The Alpha is waiting."Our attention was drawn t
NIGHT CAME AND we were busy preparing food for the pack. Clarrise also came to help. We set the food on the tables outside. The pack members like the Sentinels, Scouts, Hunters, warriors, and pack doctors, usually had their meals outside. The canopies serve as their shelter. We also prepare food in the dining inside where Lucien eats his dinner. Sometimes, Markus and the triplets dine with him when he is around.Ayla asked me to prepare seven plates. I eyed her with confusing eyes. If my mind serves me right, it's only Lucien, Clarrise, and the triplets who will eat in the dining because Nereza and Markus still haven't returned from the city. I narrowed my eyes and I noticed the nervousness in Ayla's face. "Sissy?"Her voice is laced with hesitancy. But I did not pay much attention to her strange behavior. "Why, Ayla?" I asked calmly instead. The way she averted her gaze and her fidgeting fingers tell me that something is wrong. "Uh, Clarrise told me if we could--- if we could d
RESENTMENTSI AM HONESTLY confused about what's going on. Why does he have a bowl of shrimp with him? Is he still hungry?He is silent and I see no reaction on his face. But seeing him this way is much better than seeing the coldness and roughness in his eyes."Uh, you ask of me?" I began to speak.He cleared his throat before answering. "Yes... I... need you... with something."He quickly lowered his gaze. A soft gasp escaped my mouth before I slowly walked toward him but my eyes never left the bowl with shrimps."A-Are you still... hungry?" I uttered the question with a hint of hesitation.Lucien lifts his head. I think I know what he wants. I bit my lower lip to prevent the smile that is slowly forming on my lips. I settled myself beside him and peeled the shrimps in silence.The deafening silence that engulfed us surprisingly did not make me feel awkward. Lucien's eyes never left me since I started peeling the shrimps. I inwardly smiled because he looks like a kid, waiting for his
SILENCED ENGULFED US for a moment until he finally opens his mouth to speak. "Can you give me some time? I--- I will sort everything. Hurting you fears me. To see you cry because of me breaks me and I don't want that again." He held my hands and his eyes pierced through me. "Just trust me and I promised I will figure things out. I may sound selfish right now but what else can I do?"We're both selfish Lucien because I want you for myself too but I can not be happy, knowing that there is someone out there, yearning for her mate. Maybe it's best if he finds her so he can finally decide. "Lucien, I want you to find your mate."He let go of my hand. "Y-Ysobella... I know you are scared but please don't---""Am I stopping you from finding her?" I can't hide the disappointment in my voice. Maybe I am the reason why he's not looking for her. That thought hurts me and I somehow felt guilty. His heavy breathing indicates how frustrated he is. Not a single word rolled from his tongue. He lo
ATTICUS"MY NAME IS Atticus. And you are?" The gentle smile on his lips still lingers. His hands stretched, waiting for mine to accept it. Hesitation crawled in my body but then I don't want him to feel bad so I eventually accepted his hand for a handshake. "Ysobella," I uttered my name to fill his curiosity. But the moment our palms touched, something odd happened. It was a feeling of familiarity and in an instant, the fear I felt vanished. Now I feel comfortable being around him. "Do you mind?" he asked while pointing to the space next to me. I gave him a simple nod. He sat beside me with contentment on his face. This man beside me kind of reminds me of someone but I can't point out who. He has this mischievous look, ebony eyes, and a well-defined jaw. His comb-over hair suits him well. He's wearing a dark blue long sleeve shirt and dark pants. But one thing in him that made my brow furrowed is his slightly pale complexion. But his complexion does not make him appear sick or w
MY LIPS AND throat have gone dry. I didn't utter a single word because of the fear. What happened the night before is still fresh and the way he's looking at me right now only intensifies the fear I felt. I sharply gasped when his hands took mine. He brought it to his nose and I inhaled its scent. Why is he sniffing my hand?!"Who is he, Ysobella?" he darkly asked while squeezing my hand.His question stunned me. Is he talking about Atticus? If yes, then how did he know about him? Then I remember Markus. Markus must have told him using their mind link. I deeply sighed and look at him with pleading eyes. "I asked you a question, Ysobella. Who. Is. He?" His face looks so grim. And he sounds desperate for an answer so I told him about Atticus. The more I talk about Atticus the more threatening he looks. "Did anyone ever tell you not to talk with strangers, hmmm?" he lowly asked while tucking some strands of my hair in my right ear. "He wasn't doing anything bad. He's actually a nice
VAMPIREA SENSE OF unfamiliarity welcomed me when I awoke the next day. I took time to explore the room I slept in. I slowly rose from the canopy bed and leaned my body on the headboard. This is the softest mattress my hands had ever touched. I thought.I began to marvel my eyes to the room. The victorian types of furniture make the room elegant. There's a four-seater couch, two chairs, and a table. My eyes flew to the double door located on the right side of the room, which I presumed is a walk-in closet, and a single door next to it, a bathroom perhaps? Then a table right across the bed with two full-length mirrors next to it. But whose room is this anyway?My attention caught a sound of a door opening, it was his bathroom door! My eyes widened in shock when Lucien came out from the door looking fresh and dripping wet, with a towel wrapped around his waist. I quickly looked away before he notices me but I can feel my face heated. So this is his room. I heard another door open,
MAMA MELLY'S GREETINGS welcome me the moment I entered the kitchen. I returned her greetings before she led me to the dining. My brows creased with perplexity as I followed her. "Why are we heading to the dining, Mama Melly?"She glanced at me before answering my question. "It's Lucien's request."My mouth parted but didn't say a word. I don't want to eat alone so I looked for Ayla. Fortunately for me, she hasn't eaten yet and she heartily agreed. "So... tell me, Sissy. Did you and Alpha Lucien sleep beside each other?" she started intriguingly. I almost choke from her question. Her eagerness for answers is suddenly giving me pressure. But I don't really know what to say to her because even myself does not know the answer. I was deep asleep the whole night and when awoke this morning, I am alone."I woke up alone," was all I could say. Her eyes squinted. She even leaned closer to my face as if looking for a further answer that will satisfy her curious mind. I secretly sighed in r
"GRIM! LET'S LEAVE this place!" one of the rogues yelled.We tried chasing them but sadly we didn't capture them all.And a year after my father's death, Luna Azalea Salvatorri died. She died in grief for she couldn't handle the pain of losing her mate, our father."Lucien, the triplets are fifteen now and they said that they wanted to join the pack," Clarrise informed me one night. So the next day we welcomed the triplets as the newest members of the pack. Our newest Gammas."Lucien! Have you spoken with the Council?" Nereza asked after the triplet's initiation. "Not yet." I sighed in frustration. The Council members are pressuring me in finding my mate. They said that I will rule better with a Luna beside me. "I haven't found my mate yet," I told her. "But the Elders... what will we say?""Just let it be. There is nothing we can do."Four years had passed and Clarrise is now eighteen. She didn't celebrate her eighteenth birthday because something terrible happened to her. She m
LUCIEN HELLION SALVATORRI OF CRESCENT MOON PACKI HAVE ALWAYS been fascinated by my father and mother's love since I was a child. When they locked their gazes on each other, I saw love and passion in their eyes.Years passed, and I began to wonder what it was like to have someone you care about and with whom you could share your feelings. Then I recall something my father told me when I was six years old."Lucien, you can't just choose the woman you want to spend your eternity with," my father said with amusement."Why not?" I asked with creased eyebrows. "Because you have to wait until you meet your mate," he answered. "What's a mate?" I asked again. "A mate is the person you are destined to be with. The person you can spend your eternity with. Your other half, just like me and your mother," my father responded with a flicker in his eyes."Then how can I find my mate? Can we go and find her instead?" I asked, hoping. We're actually on our way to Burkhann City to see an old family
EPILOGUESOMEWHERE IN VINFORTTHE REBELS ARE hard at work building the weapons they will use in the next war. They lost many of their men and alliance five years ago during the Pack War but in the end, they were able to bring triumph for they carried out their plan for their prince.And now, after five years of waiting and planning they will soon carry out their next plan. Some of the rogues are patrolling the area, while others are busy training. Their lair is close enough to the fallen kingdom but it does not waver them because the place is long forgotten. A grin is plastered on Luther's face while watching the rogues train. They need to train more to be ready for another battle. They knew that their prince would not stop until he got what he desired.Their prince wishes to rebuild the fallen kingdom of Vinfort and resurrect the long-forgotten wolf pack.Luther Grim moved to the other side of the camp, arms crossed, watching the newly recruited warriors train. And an evil grin ap
MY EYES QUICKLY darted to Clarrise. A small smile crossed her lips but her eyes tell differently. I know very well the emotion lurking in her orbs. I squeezed her hand and engaged us in another conversation. I am glad that Ayla managed to put a genuine smile on Clarisse's lips as she regale us with her stories. Moments later, sweet melodious music filled the hall. It didn't take for the men to ask their partners for a waltz. Markus came as well for Nereza. Lucien momentarily followed with a sweet smile.But before leaving our table, I asked Raven and Logan to help Ayla and Clarisse since both ladies are drunk. Logan helped Ayla while Raven took Clarisse in his arms since she can no longer walk suitably due to being drunk. It's very rare for a werewolf to get drunk. But Lucien mentioned before that a werewolf will get drunk if his or her emotional aspect is unstable. I don't know what came into me but I shifted my gaze to Drago right after Raven left. He appears uninterested but
ETERNITY ATTICUS TAPS LUCIEN on the shoulder when we finally reached him. Atticus then looks at me with his gentle eyes before he hands me to Lucien. Waves of electricity spread through my body the moment our hands touched, and I believe Lucien felt it as well.When our eyes locked, I notice the ineffable joy dancing in his orbs. But right before we faced Enchantress Elphina, he kissed me deeply in the hands. The ceremony was initiated by the enchantress. She expressed the beauty of life and how fortunate we are to live in this world. She also reminded us to treasure every moment we spent. Following that, she finally urges us to speak our vows. I swallowed hard and faced Lucien with misty eyes. "Lucien Hellion Salvatorri," I uttered before I smiled at him lovingly. "My love, my mate, my Alpha. It's been four years and look at us now, standing in front of the people we love and swore to protect. And I am here, in front of you, in front of these people, to show my love and devotion.
THE SOUND OF us kissing reminds me of how I drowned myself in euphoria. The heat is enough for me to lose my sanity. Lucien let out a manly moan as he kiss and licks the part of my skin where he placed his mark. "Ahh..." A moan of bliss escaped my mouth when his lips found my breasts, kissing them alternately. I didn't even notice that I'm already naked. Lucien's other hand is sensually caressing my waist and I flinched when I felt his fingers playing with the nub between my thighs. "Ahh, L-Lucien..." I moaned when his fingers started thrusting in and out. "Ohh m-my... Lucien p-please..." I shamelessly begged once more.I am lost. My head is clouded with lust and I want more. I grabbed his neck and kissed him fully on his lips while gently stroking his hard member. "D*MN!" He groaned like he just lost the last thread of his patience. With haste, he held my waist and swiftly flipped me. Now my back is facing him. He kissed my bare back, relishing every second. His lips move as
HIS PAINTINGWE STAYED IN the library for a while until Markus came to fetch Nereza. As for Clarrise, she went to visit Ayla in the quarters. I wished to go with her but Markus informed me that Lucien is waiting for me in the art room. The moment my foot stepped inside the familiar room, different memories from the past flashed before me. My eyes suddenly turned misty. I remember very well the first time I set foot in this room. The feelings and emotions I felt when I saw Lucien. Well, it never really changed the way he made me feel, it actually got stronger. But who would have thought that we are destined? "Hey..."I blink twice when I heard Lucien's voice against my right ear. He breathed deeply, inhaling my scent. My eyes then darted to the painting on the easel. My eyes are once again filled with mists as my heart is filled with warmth. The painting is yet to finish but I know it is me. Slowly, I lifted my hand to touch the canvas with utmost gentleness. And as I did so, the
"FORGIVE ME, LUCIEN," Markus apologizes. He appears guilty for his own words. "No brother," Nereza interferes. "Markus might be right. If Lucianna's mate has nothing to do with the royal family, then why is Luther doing this to you? What good will it bring them?"Is this really my daughter's fate? Why does it look so tough? Isn't being taken away from us enough? When I look at Lucien he seems to be in deep thought."But we aren't yet certain that your daughter is mated with the prince's descendant. Also, I don't think that the prince has vile plans for your daughter. My mother believes that it might be the best way to put everything back in its proper place. And she told me to trust her and let fate take its course," said Adrienne. "It doesn't matter right now. But I will never allow that family to use our daughter in their evil plan." Lucien then rose from his seat. "Markus, gather as many Scouts as you can and pay any human who is willing to retrieve us Orbis," he ordered.I have
VISIONSADRIENNE IS THE only surviving descendant of Ada the Oracle. According to her, after the Blood War, her mother, Ada, fled to save their lives. She stated that her mother was pregnant during that time.Ada had no idea the war was coming, but she had a feeling that death was on its way. Instead of being terrified for herself and her baby, she stayed in Vinfort, hoping to see something that could save people's lives, but she didn't see anything.Adrienne also mentioned that her mother often blames herself. That if only she had kept to herself her vision of the future, the other leaders wouldn't have felt envy and dark desires.The Oracle tried so hard to see what the other leader's future holds but she saw nothing and that enraged the former leaders. It triggered their lust for power, greed, and envy. "Where's your mother now?" Lucien asked. "The prince has her. His men caught her after years of running and hiding," Adrienne uttered with despair. "Why aren't you with her?" Rav