What is this?she mouthed to Luke, who had no answer. Tearing her gaze away from the sight had been a struggle, so she returned her attention to it and counted the minutes. The pattern didn’t change, a steadiness that comforted and relaxed her bit by bit. In her head, she matched the rhythm with a song she knew from when she was young and smiled. She enjoyed it so much that she closed her eyes, excited to return to the main territory so she could teach the kids the song.Harry will love it. Margaret will be delighted and will sing it over and over. Rainier will tease them and tell everyone about it, then will sing it the loudest.The attachment to them brought a sudden pang to her heart, knowing she would leave them when she had things figured out. Rosalia’s giggle came to mind, but it was Luke’s face that stuck there, as understanding as always when she finally told him that she needed to move on. He would let her go. He would be as complacent as always, the ever-supportive man who of
“Birds, squirrels. The usual forest creatures. It took the rest, but maybe the deer was too heavy for it.”“So, it can kill something of that size but can’t drag it away?”The question hung in the air and had her contemplating. “Maybe.”Hands on her cheeks turned her attention to him, where he peered into her eyes. “You weren’t affected?”“I was. I closed my eyes. I think it broke the trance or whatever that was.”“I’m glad,” he said, pressing a kiss on her cheek. “Not about the situation, but that you were awake. You saved us, Maya.”“You would have done the same. Any of you.”And she believed it, this faith that Reese and Daria wouldn’t have let her fall to her demise, either. The two eventually caught up to them and Reese examined the deer, too, then described it to Daria in detail. When he was done, tension hung in the now-peaceful forest.“What the hell was that?” Reese muttered.No one could answer.***“It stormed again after that whole fog incident. We had fog outside our terr
His tone hinted that he was teasing, but something on her face had his features darkening. Before she could answer, he was leaning in to capture her lips, a testing kiss that caught her by surprise. Even so, it was already instinctive to kiss him back, and what started as a test became a rising desire that spread tingles over every inch of her body.Refusing to be the only one feeling it, she searched his tongue and sucked on it, then rubbed his thigh up and down. When she was inches from crawling on his lap and forgetting propriety, Luke broke the kiss with a sharp exhale and his thumb resting under her one breast. His lips skimmed down her shoulder as he breathed her in.“I wanted to dare you if we could be quiet here, but I don’t think I can be quiet,” he said in a low, silky voice against her ear before his tongue played with her earlobe. “Maya…”“What?”“I need you.”Perhaps she could have denied him if it was a different scenario, but the rawness in his voice gave her no defense
“Do you want to go home, or do you want to keep strolling around?”She looked up at the sky, then at him. “I want to shift with you.”His eyes widened, then blazed with concern. “Don’t overexert yourself. Shift only to the point where it doesn’t hurt.”“That’s why I want to shift with you,” she confessed. “You comfort my beast and make me feel…” Alive. “Calmer.”“You are going to drive me crazy, Maya,” he returned. “But it would be my honor.”He offered his hand, and soon they were venturing into the forest to find the perfect spot. Scanning the horizon, she was about to tug him in a specific direction when something trickled into her line of vision and left her frozen.“Luke.”He stilled at her urgency. They spun to watch fog creep from a forest patch, dancing the same pattern it had danced before.*****It took him a while to recover from the shock, but Luke closed his eyes once he did, remembering how Maya had escaped the trance they had all gone through. When he opened his eyes, h
A strong breeze knocked his hat back. Then a bigger force pushed, stronger than he anticipated, sent his body flying through the air. Seconds later, the thick fog from above closed in on him, a trap that he had been too much of a fool to see. Maya’s curled body disappeared from his sight because it wasn’t her but an illusion, and now the space where she had been filled up with fog, too, until he could see nothing. He pushed to his feet and tried to run away. Every time he did, an invisible barrier slammed into him until he felt it closing around him on all corners. Pain sliced down his legs, then banged his head repeatedly. A shadow lurched above, the menace so unsettling that it felt like he was staring death in the face—The growl stopped his trail of thoughts. The shadow forming into a wolf before him snapped him into movement, but it was the clamp of jaws on his body that made him understand one thing: this wasn’t an illusion. Recognition blazed as he moved until he was riding the
“Yes. Sometimes. She’s a great friend and thinks she’s some mother hen approving my dates left and right. I think she likes this one…and yes, we are going to remain friends.”“Again, I didn’t say anything.”Reese smirked. “I can’t say the same about your brother and Tina, though.”Luke agreed with that but didn’t say anything, unsure how Eric and Tina were navigating their complicated relationship now and how many people knew of its progress. When Reese left, Luke sat on the grass to continue monitoring Maya’s progress, aware of how strictly she kept to their barrier while also avoiding venturing deeper in. The private corner remained private as no one noticed what she was up to other than him and Reese, and that show of trust in them had him making sure they remained alone for the rest of her activity.When her movements slowed, he was ready with her clothes, handing them over the moment she shifted back to human form. She shimmied in them, unashamed to face him naked. The confidence
The woman didn’t question her excuse, already too preoccupied with the seeds lined up for planting. Maya took advantage of it and was out of there, walking at first before she burst into a sprint as far away from the center of the territory as possible. She avoided the guarding spots, too, and headed straight for the mansion, then snuck towards the back until she arrived in the greenhouse. The empty rows of wooden stands indicated that it hadn’t been used in a while, but a sweet scent drew her towards the back where pots of colorful blooms lay. She stopped in her tracks, eyeing the budding stems.An image of the little girl who had once been so real popped into her head, holding a flower just as small. The dam she had been holding on to broke so hard that she could only fall and curl up on the ground as she was hit with memory after memory of how it felt when she had first given birth: that same unbearable joy whittling at her defenses before everything had been torn away from her. Sh
“You could have killed me but you didn’t,” the woman blurted out.Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Luke saunter close and give a slight shake of his head out of Hannah’s view.No intruders.Stupefaction made her dizzy, but she focused on the woman. Hannah was alone?“You could have alerted them, but you didn’t,” she said slowly. “What do you want?”“I wanted to tell you what I think you don’t know, even after all these years. The trap and the sabotage. The infiltration and the burning of your clan.”Maya’s spine stiffened. “Yes. Because I was foolish enough to trust Sam.”But the woman’s words were yet another shock to the system.“No. They already knew before you got there. Someone else tipped them off—someone else in your clan who knew what kind of man your clan leader was. You were the backup plan.”“Who? What kind of man?”“Nelly. She was—”“My cousin.” Her brain processes the information, and anger seeped in. “She would never have betrayed us. She would never have…”Except
Chapter 31As the united pack and council members concluded another day of ensuring harmony in the supernatural realm, they gathered in the council hall for a moment of reflection. /Millent, the triplet, and the council members sat together, their hearts full of gratitude for the journey they had shared and the bond that had brought them together."We've come a long way," Millent said with a smile, looking at her pack and council members. "Our realm has flourished, and we've overcome every challenge that has come our way."Daniel nodded, his eyes filled with warmth. "And it's all thanks to the power of our unity and love," he said. "Together, there's nothing we can't overcome."Mike added, "Our realm has become a sanctuary for beings of all species, a place of acceptance and understanding. We've shown the world that unity can conquer darkness."As they looked back on their journey, they recognized the profound impact they had made in the lives of countless beings. Their realm had bec
Mike nodded in agreement. "Our unity has always been our greatest strength. If we are to face the Serpent and the Voidbringers once more, we must stand together."Daniel spoke, his words infused with hope, "Let's not forget the power of love that brought us this far. Our bond may be fractured, but our hearts still beat as one."Millent looked at them, her resolve firming. "You're right. We can't let this darkness tear us apart. We need to find a way to heal our bond and stand united once more."As the united pack and council members delved into ancient texts and sought guidance from wise beings across the supernatural realm, they discovered a glimmer of hope—a ritual that could mend the fractures in their unity. The Moonstone, a sacred artifact of immense power, was said to hold the ability to heal even the deepest wounds between soulmates.Determined to reclaim their unity, they embarked on a quest to find the Moonstone. Their journey took them through treacherous terrains, ancient r
"I'm not entirely sure," she replied, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "I feel torn, as if there's a part of me that's pulling away. It's not about our love, but rather a need to rediscover myself."Daniel and Alex exchanged glances, concern etched on their faces. "We love you, Millent, and we'll always be here for you," Daniel said, his voice filled with reassurance."I know, and I love you both too," she replied, her heart heavy with conflicting emotions. "But I need time alone to find my way back to who I used to be, to remember who I am without the overwhelming bond of unity."The triplet listened, understanding that Millent needed this time for herself. Though it pained them to see her struggle, they knew that respecting her journey was vital for their unity to remain authentic.As Millent ventured into the depths of the forest, she encountered Kieran, the lone wolf she had once felt a deep connection with. His presence offered her a sense of grounding, and they spent hours tal
However, as they spent more time together, Alex found himself gravitating towards a human girl named Emily from the nearby town. Despite the challenges of an interspecies relationship, their love bloomed. Emily's compassionate heart and curiosity about the supernatural world brought new perspectives to the Harmony Alliance.As Alex navigated his feelings for both Seraphina and Emily, he realized that unity extended beyond supernatural boundaries. Love knew no limits, and he embraced the complexity of his emotions, guided by the understanding and support of his pack and council members.Millent, the heart of the united pack, felt a deep connection with a lone wolf named Kieran from a distant pack. Kieran had faced his share of struggles, and his past had left him guarded. Yet, Millent saw the goodness within him and sought to break down the walls he had built around his heart.Their journey of love mirrored the united pack's own journey of unity. Millent's determination and unwavering
Chapter 26Deep within the hidden archives of the Harmony Alliance, a forgotten parchment was discovered. It spoke of an ancient prophecy, entwined with the Moonstone's power, that foretold a great reckoning looming on the horizon.Millent, the triplets, and the council members gathered around the council hall, their eyes fixed on the aged parchment. The words etched upon it spoke of a celestial alignment, a convergence of cosmic forces, and a powerful entity known as the "Eclipse Serpent.""The prophecy suggests that the Moonstone is a key to understanding and averting the danger," a witch council member said, her voice tinged with trepidation. "But its true meaning remains shrouded in mystery."The united pack and the council members embarked on a quest to decipher the prophecy's cryptic verses. They consulted ancient tomes, sought counsel from wise elders, and even reached out to supernatural seers for guidance.As they delved deeper into the Moonstone's significance, a recurring t
Back in the council hall, the united pack and the council members celebrated their victory. The atmosphere was not only one of triumph but also of profound joy, for they had discovered the true meaning of unity."We have proven that our hearts are our greatest weapon," Alex said, a smile playing on his lips.Millent nodded, her eyes shining with pride. "Through our emotional connection, we have achieved a unity that is unyielding. Together, we are an unstoppable force of light in the face of darkness."The council members raised their voices in agreement, their hearts overflowing with gratitude for the journey that had led them to this moment of triumph.As the united pack and the council members embraced one another, their hearts beating in harmony, they knew that they had not only protected their realm from darkness but had also forged a legacy of unity that would inspire generations to come.Chapter 25As they stood together, bound by love and understanding, they were a testament t
Millent, the triplets, and the council members took their seats, ready to engage in heartfelt conversations. Their experiences in neutralizing the dark artifact had strengthened their bonds even further, and they knew that open dialogue was the key to maintaining their unity."We have faced yet another challenge together," Millent began, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and determination. "Our unity has once again proven to be our greatest strength."Chapter 24A vampire representative spoke up, "Indeed, we have come a long way from the animosities of the past. Through unity, we have found respect and acceptance among different species."A witch nodded in agreement, "Our ancestors may have harbored prejudices, but today, we stand united in our commitment to harmony."A shapeshifter added, "It is through open dialogue that we learn from one another's experiences and break down the barriers that once separated us."The council members exchanged stories of their individual journeys,
Chapter 23With the defeat of the dark force, the werewolf world celebrated the resilience and unity displayed by Millent, the triplets, and their united pack. Their victory resonated far and wide, inspiring werewolves and supernatural beings from all corners of the realm.As the days turned into weeks, Millent and the triplets continued to foster their united pack's bonds, recognizing that the victory over the dark force was just the beginning of a new chapter in their journey. They knew that their unity must remain steadfast, for the challenges that lay ahead were unknown and ever-changing.With the newfound allies they had gained during the battle, the united pack formed a coalition known as the "Harmony Alliance." Packs from different regions, and even other supernatural beings, came together under the shared banner of unity and love.The Harmony Alliance became a force for good, intervening in conflicts, mediating disputes, and providing assistance to those in need. The werewol
In the wake of the victory, Millent and the triplets decided to embark on a journey of exploration and discovery. They yearned to seek out new alliances, to forge connections with packs beyond their own borders, and to spread their message of unity even further.Their travels took them to distant lands, where they encountered werewolf communities with unique customs, traditions, and challenges. They engaged in heartfelt conversations, sharing their experiences and listening to the stories of others.Along their journey, they met an elder werewolf, wise and weathered by time. The elder spoke of an ancient relic known as the Moonstone, said to possess extraordinary powers. Legends claimed that the Moonstone had the ability to amplify the strength of love and unity, but its whereabouts had long been forgotten.Millent, the triplets, and their pack became enthralled by the tale of the Moonstone. They were determined to find it, believing that it could serve as a symbol of hope and a cat