VERENAA dark shape materializes in the doorway, momentarily blocking the moonlit path that stretches across my bed. My heart skips a beat as I recognize Elijah’s silhouette. As he steps closer, the moonlight baths his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the worry etching in the lines around his eyes. Despite the tension that clings to him, a warmth spreads through me at the sight of him. “You’re here,” I say, feeling excited. I missed him so much. I instinctively push myself off the bed, but a strange sensation washes over me. My limbs feel heavy, an invisible weight pinning me to the mattress. Panic claws at my throat as I struggle to move. Why can’t I move? “Hush, calm down,” he whispers, his husky voice soothing my tense nerves. He takes the chair beside the bed and looks at me, his eyes glinting with sadness. Why is he sad? His eyes slide to my leg and he watches it for a few minutes before he utters. “I’m so sorry.” I frown. “Sorry for what?” I ask, wanting t
VERENAHis gaze follows mine to the bandage, a flicker of worry crosses his features. "The doctors said your muscle tissues and tendons were damaged," he explains, his voice soft but firm. "The wolf's bite punctured pretty deeply. They stitched the wound closed, and it's healing, but it'll take time." I purse my lips before I ask. “How many hours has it been?” “An entire day.” He says and the news hits me like a physical blow. “A whole day. I was out for that long?" Dad drags the chair kept beside the bed to the front and sits on it. “The doctors found some substance inside your body that slowed down your healing. You shouldn’t have been feeling this much pain and it should have healed. But it isn't, because of that substance.” His jaw clenches, a flicker of worry igniting in his eyes. I remember seeing Nixie before I passed out. I can bet that it was her who had injected some kind of herb or concoction in me to slow down my healing. But why was she there? What relation did she
VERENAI clearly remember how strong those wolves were. They can’t be of any normal Shadow Den gang. They can’t be ordinary wolves. If Serena hadn’t used her powers at the last moment, we would have been dead meat. I look at my arms. Those powers that came out of me…it wasn’t in my control. I wish I could control those powers. I would need to train Serena to learn using those powers whenever we need. “What happened to the girls, dad? Are they safe?” I ask and there’s a knock at the door. The door opens and Kyla walks in. Her arm is encased in a bright pink cast. A cheerful smile stretches across her face as she sees me. Relief floods me on seeing her. She looks fine. Except the arm-injury though. The wolf must have attacked her hand. “Luna,” she bows and I shake my head. “No need for these formalities. Is your arm healing well, Kyla?” I ask and look at her arm. “Yes, Luna. I’m sure I won’t need this cast by tonight,” she replies with a bright smile. Thank the Goddess. Her eyes
VERENAMazie bites her nail, her eyes lost in thought. “Um, one of my friends in the orphanage was sold to the royal family as a maid by our… w-warden.” Her face turns bitter on mentioning her. “This man came to the orphanage to take her to the castle. I was there and trying to help my friend fight the man. She didn’t want to be sold. But he dragged her from there and I was very angry at that man. That’s why I can’t forget his face.” I frown. A servant from the royal family? So is the man who was part of the gang associated with the royal family? It does not make sense. I turn to Mazie. “Thank you for letting me know.” Mazie nods and then after talking to her for a few minutes, she leaves the ward. I look at dad. “Ezra?” “Ezra doesn't know anything about the attack or that you are in the hospital. Just like every other time, Maria told him that you have an important meeting and that you are on a mission to save the word,” he replies and chuckles. I smile, feeling relieved. Being
VERENAThis isn't "nothing." This is worse than I let on, worse than I dared to admit even to myself. A whimper escapes my lips before I can clamp it down. Shame burns hot on my cheeks.Carlisle’s face swims into focus as he walks closer to me. “Don’t push yourself too far, Verena,” he whispers and I look up to see concern in his eyes. He extends his hand to touch me but then gets still and retracts it. “I won’t.” I say and nod curtly.—-------------I don’t know how many hours have passed while I stay in the hospital bed. The hospital allows me to use my phone. I scroll through my messages and call records countless times, checking if there was anything from him. There’s nothing. I feel a tightness in my heart. There’s only a message from Elijah that is new. ‘Increase your pack security as well as the security around your house.’ That’s all. He must have sent it because of the threat of Ashwalkers. But something in my gut tells me that isn’t it. There’s more to his message. I t
VERENAMy eyes go wide in shock. “What. R-really?” I ask, looking down at my belly. She nods, her smile turning into a full grin. “However, it's still very early. My tests never go wrong and I can confirm that you are pregnant. But we’d still need to do tests. Why don't we schedule another appointment for a follow-up ultrasound in a couple of weeks?" I am not able to utter a word, my mind completely occupied with what she just said. I am…pregnant? I remember Elijah and me not using protection while having sex that night. Since I am a werewolf now and his mate, the process of me getting pregnant must be faster than normal. Happiness floods me. I’ll have another child. Elijah and my child. But hope is quickly doused by a wave of fear. My pack is in danger, Elijah hasn’t responded to my calls and I just went through an attack. Everything is uncertain. How will I bring a child into this chaos? Because of me, Ezra has already gone through a lot. Am I ready for such a responsibility?
VERENAHe sighs and looks at the window, as if hesitating to answer. But then he turns his head towards me. “There’s been rumors that the celestial wolves are the ones who have created the Ashwalkers and are leading them.” He says. My eyes turn wide in horror. “What?! That’s absolutely ridiculous. Why will we do that?” I snap. “I know that too. But it looks like the King has started to suspect you, Verena.” He says, his voice low and lacing with concern. My heart races in my chest. How can they make such assumptions about us? “Relax, Verena. I don’t believe in this shit and I’m sure anyone who knows you also won’t.” He says, “You got this.” He assures me. My stomach churns as I look outside the window. The car rolls before the entrance to the high-rise hotel building where the meeting will be held. Carlisle and dad help me step out of the car and the valet parks the car. We walk through the hallway and Norton opens the door to the room where the meeting will be held. I step insid
Verena“Rena, I want to reject our bond and get separated,” Elijah’s voice doesn't hold an ounce of emotion as he sits across from me in the dim living room. I'd been waiting for him to celebrate our third wedding anniversary together. But when he arrived, there was this coldness about him. I figured he was just tired from work, but then he asked me to sit down and dropped a bombshell on me."Why?" I blink in disbelief. He must be joking, right? But the intensity of his gaze chips away at my doubt, replacing it with a growing sense of worry. I know the reason. The one I've feared the most for so long.His mate has returned to the pack.Elijah is the Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in Fenrisa, the Iron Claw Pack. I am his wife and his mate. One would think that due to being fated, our relationship would be a good one. But that’s far from the truth.The truth is, I am his second chance mate. Elijah’s first mate had left him just before the mating ceremony. The reason was unknown