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SHADOWS OF DECEIT
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Reckoning of the purple moon SACRIFICIAL PAWN
POV: Mia.Unseasonably cold night air made the delicate hairs on my nape bristle with dread. Maybe all it was, was the approaching change of seasons, a subtle psychological deception. Perhaps my subconscious had already realized that treachery and deceit were waiting just over the horizon, trailing spectral warning tendrils in their wake.For whatever reason, instincts blazing like synapses in an electrical storm, I stopped on the wooded trail that led back to my little flat. Something was wrong, thrown out of the natural order of things in a way that sounded discordant notes across my entire existence.Breaths came in shallowly and I looked around me intently. In some way, the silence was heavier, with a nasty watchfulness prickling my nerve endings. It was as though the trees themselves were mute witnesses, leaning in a conspiratorial silence.Grasp yourself, Mia. Just from hearing too many of Ivory's delusional beliefs about old grudges and persistent dangers, you're scared.I push
Reckoning of the purple moon THE VIPER'S COILS
POV: Callum Wells.I used to control everything like pieces on a chessboard, but suddenly things got out of hand. Ivory Wells kept digging up secrets I wanted to keep hidden. Her actions even turned people against me.I thought I could scare Mia into staying quiet, but she's still helping Ivory. It's like dealing with annoying insects that won't go away.If I don't stop them soon, they'll cause bigger problems. So I need to take action.I asked for a report, trying to stay calm. But I was itching to hurt someone.One of my most reliable guardsmen stepped out from the shadowy line, his face hidden by the distinctive cowl. Like a rabbit immobilized by the hypnotic gaze of a serpent, I could taste the stench of his fear drifting off of him in nearly visible plumes.All OK. The ranks were kept focused more effectively by fear than by any other feeling."Mia Wills remains...uncooperative, despite our overtures," the wretch said, unable to keep my eyes on her for more than a few seconds. "S
Reckoning of the purple moon BURIED SECRETS
POV: Ivory Wells.The blurry surveillance picture in my shaking palms hammered like a jackhammer in my chest. It saw a little dark haired child being escorted away by an unidentified person. But those huge naive eyes that had followed me around for two long years were unmistakable. Darcy my beautiful daughter!Emotions threatening to engulf me, I sank onto the ancient couch, the picture dropping from my fingertips. Was she still among us? Could it be possible that after all this time, believing she had died and picturing the worst? As opposing dreams and anxieties fought inside of me, tears ran down my face.Something was wrong, I've suspected ever since Jeremy showed up on my doorstep inexplicably a few weeks ago. It smelled of secrets and deceit, the way the weird child clung to me, those uncanny resemblances to Darrel. I ought to have known that after I was banished, the Purple Moon pack would never leave me alone.Then Jeremy said, "I've never seen or met Jenna before." How, of c
Reckoning of the purple moon RECKONING
POV: Darrel WilliamsWith a stifling weight, the lair appeared to encircle me, the ghosts of the past pressing. Grabbing the edge of the bulky oak desk till my knuckles became white, I used the physical agony to anchor my disorganized thoughts.How could I have believed the lies that were presented to me seven years ago with such blindness and willingness? I could smell treachery and deceit in the strong earthy smells that had always comforted me. Every time I closed my eyes, Ivory's face swam behind mine, her beautiful features bearing the scars of her exile. As my most reliable friends denounced the woman I was a woman whose only transgression was giving birth to a child whose entire existence they considered a "abomination," I had said nothing.No matter how hard I tried to ignore the memory of that terrible night, a deep growl rumbled in my breast. Callum's greasy tones were still hissing in my head like a snake.Alpha, the whelp threatens the purity of our ancestry. What is to
Reckoning of the purple moon A SHATTERED WORLD
POV: Jeremy Williams.The world that I had known shattered like a fragile mirror, and the pieces that were left behind fell to the ground at my feet, revealing a distorted reality that rendered me incapable of giving a coherent response. I had been leading a dishonest life for the entire time, hiding the truth about who I truly was behind a well-built façade.On a lovely afternoon, the first crack appeared in the universe that I had imagined to be perfect. My friend Ivory had come to visit me, and I noticed that she had a hint of sadness in her eyes, which I was not sure I could fully interpret at the time. Taking a deep inhale of the reassuring scent of lavender that seemed to linger all about her, I embraced her with the same warm embrace that I had always given her. My little arms were wrapped around her waist.She started by saying, "Jeremy," in a little gentle voice that was nonetheless slightly eager. "We need to talk."It was as soon as I heard those four words I felt a chill r
Reckoning of the purple moon DESCENT INTO DARKNESS
POV: JennaWith every instant that passed, the weight of my acts descended over me like a stifling blanket. The echoes of my footsteps seemed to taunt me as I walked around my rooms, reminding me of the repercussions my hand had started.Originally a desperate attempt to uphold the dignity of our pack, what had started as a simple web of lies and dishonesty had threatened to destroy the entire fabric of everything I had battled so valiantly. The once solid ground underfoot had collapsed into a dangerous chasm, and I was teetering on the brink, trying to hold onto power.Darrel's disobedience had been the first fault in the foundation, a fissure widening daily. His obsession with the human woman Ivory had blinded him to the old customs meant to protect our species for millennia. How could he not realize that her entire presence was an insult to our way of life, a blight threatening to ruin the purity of our bloodlines?My calls to reason with him, to help him realize his mistakes of be
Reckoning of the purple moon HUNTING THE HUNTED
POV: MiaTension permeated the air, every breath I took seemed as though it were weight-bearing down on my chest. The walls that had once given me protection now seemed to be smothering me with their stifling grip as I snuggled in the low-light safe house.How had things turned out? My life had been a somewhat straightforward one, full of the daily grind just a few short weeks before. But then all changed when Ivory returned to my life.Her search for the truth about her daughter's destiny had turned into my own, a fierce need to rectify the past guiding all I did. And suddenly I was thrown into a realm of peril and mystery I had never dreamed of as the shadows of those who aimed to silence us grew progressively longer.My body tensed naturally as the sound of footsteps outside the door and a bolt of adrenaline coursed through me. I grabbed for the gun hidden in my waistband; the cool metal served as a sober reminder of the reality I now lived."It's me," said a familiar voice distort
Reckoning of the purple moon DESCENT INTO MADNESS
POV: Callum WellsThe shadows appeared to hang over me like a shroud, their cold fingers encircling my being and stifling me with their hug. Walking the boundaries of my cave, the weight of my deeds fell on me, a continual reminder of the sins I had done in the name of safeguarding our way of life.For so long, I had thought that my road was the moral one, that the sacrifices I had made were required to preserve our bloodlines' purity. Now, though, as the reality started to fall apart before my eyes, I started to doubt everything I had always revered.Ivory's unrelenting search for the truth had grown to be a thorn in my side, a continual irritant threatening to untangle the well-spun web of lies I had created over the years. Her sheer existence was a stain that had to be eliminated before it could permeate the very fabric of our pack, an affront to all I had battled to preserve.I could feel the noose tightening around my neck as the days went by, the whispers of dissent getting loud
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Reckoning of the purple moon UNITY DAWNS
POV: Ivory WellsI emerged from our cabin and felt the warmth of the morning sun on my face. That tragic day in the cave had been three months ago. Even though so much had changed, other things stayed reassuringly similar."Good morning, drowsy head," Mia greeted me as she jogged up. "Ready for the big day?" I smiled. "Ready as I'll ever be, I think. Who gave pack picnics the go-ahead?""Oh wise leader, that would be you," she jokingly said.We strolled to the central area, where pack members were busy getting everything ready for the festivals. Near the food tables, I saw Darrel chatting with Hardin and Marcus. "There you are," Darrel said, drawing me in. "We were just discussing the new patrol schedules."Marcus gave a nod and said, "Joint patrols are operating efficiently. Now my wolves feel comfortable here." "And the training program?" I inquired with Hardin.He grinned. "Better than anticipated. Kira has a talent for instructing the younger ones." "Dad! Mom! Take a look!" Jeremy
Reckoning of the purple moon PAINS AND SACRIFICE
POV: Darrell WilliamsWith the bright light gone, an unsettling silence followed. I attempted to clear the dots from my vision by blinking. When my vision returned, I saw Callum on the ground, lifeless, with Darcy and Jeremy kneeling next to him. "Callum?" Emotion-laden, Ivory's voice broke the stillness.Heart heavy, I took a step toward her. Callum had become the brother I'd always wished he could be in his last moments, something I never would have imagined myself feeling sorry for."Is he...?" I was unable to complete the question. With tears flowing down her cheeks, Ivory nodded. "He's gone." The children gazed up at us, shock and anguish filled in their huge eyes. Shouting, "We didn't mean to," Jeremy said. "We didn't know it would..."I gathered them both into a close embrace. "It's not your fault," I firmly stated. "Callum made his choice. He saved us all." I began to notice the world outside our small group as we grieved. Rovin's army was nowhere to be seen, and the cave entr
Reckoning of the purple moon THE PRICE OF REDEMPTION
POV: Callum WellsI heard the others converse, make plans, and feel hopeful. I felt ill from it. How were they so innocent? Calm amid the packs? Saving us all with the powers of the children? That story was a fable.But as the evening went on, I was plagued by a persistent discomfort in my stomach. What if they were correct? What if there was an alternate route? I shook my head, attempting to dispel any uncertainty. I'd gone too far to go back at this point.The cave became still as the morning drew near. Most had gone to sleep, worn out after the activities of the evening. But I was unable to sleep. As my thoughts raced, I relived each step that brought me to this point.Curled up beside Ivory and Darrel, I found myself staring at Jeremy and Darcy. They appeared so little and so innocent. Was I truly ready to give them up for power? "Can't sleep?"Ivory was observing me with cautious yet nonhostile eyes when I turned around."Just thinking," I said in a whisper. She inched forward, t
Reckoning of the purple moon WOLFS AT THE DOOR
POV: Darrell WilliamsChaos ensued inside the cave. In a flurry of fur and fangs, wolves snapped and hissed, crashing into each other's bodies. Amidst the chaos, I lost sight of Ivory and the children, and my heart raced with concern for their well-being."Ivory!" I yelled, my voice hard to make out over the commotion. Something heavy crashed into me from behind. I turned around and met Callum's twisted smile."Hello, my old friend," Callum said with a sly smile. "Miss me?" I didn't use words to squander time. We collided, stumbling in a mass of limbs across the cave floor. I caught a glimpse of Marcus fending off two of Rovin's goons."Darrel!" A voice spoke above the din: Ivory. "The kids!" I glanced up and saw her cornered with Darcy and Jeremy. With a look of hunger in his eyes, Rovin was charging towards them. My veins heated with rage. I hurled Callum off of me and lunged in the direction of my family.But before I could get to them, an unforeseen event occurred. With a surprisi
Reckoning of the purple moon DECEPTION AND LIES
POV: Ivory WellsI started to get shivers as the howling got closer. It felt quite exposed suddenly, this small clearing.With a tight voice, Darrel stated, "We have to move. Now." Marcus gave a nod. "It's not far to my den. There, we'll be secure."Unsure if we could trust him, I hesitated. But after seeing the exhausted looks on Darcy's and Jeremy's faces, I decided. We had to find shelter quickly. I kept having the impression that something was missing as we went through the woodland. Callum and Rovin had surrendered too quickly. What did we fail to notice?It turned out that Marcus' den was a cleverly concealed cave system. We assembled around a central fire pit once we were inside. With his eyes darting nervously to the cave entrance, Jeremy sat close by. I held his hand and whispered, "It's okay. We're safe here."He gave a nod, but it was clear he wasn't sold. Not one of us was. Marcus cleared his throat. "Now, I believe it's time for some answers."Darrel sat up straight. "You
Reckoning of the purple moon FLAMES OF DESTINY
POV: Ivory Wells“Jeremy!" I screamed as the fire surrounded my son. My heart halted, horror clutching me like a vise. Then, though, the flames disappeared as fast as they began. And something else lingered where Jeremy had stood.A wolf, but unlike any I had seen before. Its eyes shone like fire, and its fur shimmered with an ethereal brightness. Darrel muttered next to me, "Oh my god. Is that...?"Not sure what to say, I nodded. Our son had developed into something much beyond our wildest dreams. Marcus moved forward, amazement ablaze on his face. "The prophecy," he said quietly. "It's true."Jeremy's wolf turned its head and stared at every one of us individually. Its sight locked with mine, and I felt a flash of recognition. My small son was still in there."Jeremy?" I called gently. "Can you understand me?"The wolf nodded gradually. Darrel stepped forward, his hand out. "Son, can you shift back?" Though nothing changed, Jeremy's new shape shimmered. He whined, sounding frustrat
Reckoning of the purple moon THE WOLF WITHIN
POV: Jeremy WilliamsEven as Mom guided me out of the cave, my heart continued to beat. The sounds of war had diminished, but the echoes of horror still echoed within me."Are you okay, sweetie?" Mom's voice quivered with concern as she grasped my shoulders, searching my eyes. I nodded, unable to find the words to convey what I had just experienced. How could I explain the unfathomable, events that happened in that dark, scary cave?We stumbled into a little clearing, surrounded by the calm of the forest. Mom held me close, her hug was a barrier against the residual fear. "Now that you're safe," she muttered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. "I won't let anyone hurt you."But I wasn't sure whether even she could protect me now. The meeting with Callum and the enigmatic Rovin had been traumatic enough, but what worried me most was the discovery about myself that surfaced in that unfathomable darkness."Mom," I began, my voice shaking, "something... something happened
Reckoning of the purple moon HIDDEN PARTNERSHIP
POV: Darrell WilliamsThe sound of Alpha Marcus approaching filled the cave. His presence commanded both respect and horror in equal measure, and his silver fur shimmered in the unsettling blue light.I looked at Ivory and noticed that her eyes reflected my same bewilderment. Why was the Silver Claw Alpha in this situation?Marcus scanned the cavern, taking in the tight exchange of words. "Well, isn't this cozy?" he grumbled.Anger twisted Rovin's face. "Marcus! You're ahead of schedule." My thoughts were racing. Too early? Were they collaborating? Marcus laughed, his laugh resonating against the walls of stone. "Plans change, my dear friend. I decided to speed things up."I moved forward, putting myself in the way of my group and this new foe. "What's going on here?" I demanded.Marcus looked up at me, a gleam in his eyes. "Ah, Darrel, the young one. There's a lot to learn about politics in packs." "This isn't politics," Ivory fumed. "You're holding our son hostage!"Whimpering, Jere
Reckoning of the purple moon THE SEARCH BEGINS
POV: HardinAs we gathered in the pack grounds, the tension in the night air crackled. Nervous talk was interrupted by Darrel's voice.He declared, "We're under attack. We're not running, though. We're retaliating."Ivory stepped forward, and I saw her eyes light up. "We must split up now. While some remain to protect, others will go in search of Jeremy."There were murmurs among the people. I saw glimpses of resolve, fear, and rage."Hardin," Darrel yelled out. "You will lead one search team. Kira, you take another. Ivory and I will take Callum at his word."I nodded, mentally arranging routes already. "What about Darcy?" I enquired. Everybody looked at the little girl. She was tall, with a soft glow all about her."I'm going with you, Dad," she declared strongly.Ivory began to object, but Darrel raised a hand. "She is correct. Her abilities might give us the advantage we need."The pack split apart, and I went up to Kira. "Pay attention to her," I muttered. Kira's gaze grew gentler
