VERENAIn matters like these, I suspect my heart and ask myself if I am a fool who couldn’t see through Elijah’s cruel intentions. But my heart is in the right place. Because all his words are a lie.A plan that he formulated. We need to act like we hate each other in front of Cyrus and that I’m heartbroken.My task is to make that lie sound true. So my heart needs to break again, I need to feel it again. Otherwise, General Cyrus will see through the cracks.If I’m going to act heartbroken, then I need to feel it to its rawest form, and only Elijah can bring that out of me.A growl rips through Carlisle’s throat as he grabs Elijah’s collar and launches his fist at him. I am startled by his act, so is Dad, but he does not stop him. Elijah grabs his fist before it can hit his face and glares at Carlisle.Of course, Carlisle does not know. I did not have the time to tell him.“I’ve had enough of you disrespecting Verena. Shut your trash mouth, or I’ll break your jaw right here, on this ta
VERENAI want to do nothing more than run my finger through his inky locks, grip his hair, and crush my lips into his. My wolf wants to be close to him. But his gaze demands that I turn those desires into pure hatred. That’s how we confess our love today. Through hatred.“Listen carefully,” he whispers, his voice low and dangerous. “I have never, ever loved you. I hate you. Always have, always will.”All I can hear is…I can never hate you. I love you. Always have, always will.His words make a jolt run down my spine, and my eyes sting with tears. I don’t want to cry; I don't want to show him how I feel. But a tear slides down my right eye.I take a deep breath and slap him. From the corner of my eye, I notice Cyrus smirk. Good. This slap has sealed the deal. Now he totally believes that we are separated.Elijah snaps his head, his eyes digging holes into me.“I hate you!” I roar, the tears falling down my eyes. They are meant to show how broken I feel, but they are actually out of gui
VERENAHis gaze falls on the walking stick. “What happened to your leg?” His voice holds concern, but I feel the urge to scoff at it.“An accident,” I say, not wanting to go into the gruesome details. The details that he already knows very well.His eyes flicker with something I don’t understand. “Take care of yourself. I’ll pay you a visit to check on you,” he says, and my stomach churns. Is it his way of saying that he’ll inspect me and my pack? Fuck!“Sure. It will be an honor to have you as my guest,” I manage to say, swallowing the curses that I want to throw at him.I leave the hotel and get inside my car with Dad and Norton. Carlisle has already taken the back seat and is staring out of the window. He notices my presence as the seat dips beside him but does not say anything.Norton gets behind the wheel and starts the car. Once we are far from the hotel, Carlisle looks at me.“What was that, Verena?” he asks, his voice almost demanding.“I don’t want you to fall into this mess,
Dory’s face hardens. “Four years ago, when you were here, the Alpha’s brother, Theon, had threatened to take over your pack. At that time, the Moonlight Pack’s security was extremely weak. Alpha Elijah had no choice but to ask for help from the King. The King said that he’ll protect your pack from Theon’s attacks but in return…” she hesitates, her voice choking. I swallow the lump in my throat, feeling like I know the answer. “In return, he wanted to rule our pack and make Alpha Elijah turn into his puppet.”I take a sharp breath, feeling like someone has pulled the rug from under my feet. He took over Elijah’s pack, so that means Elijah is no longer in control of his pack.My heart tightens in my chest. He sacrificed his position just to protect me. The Iron Claw pack was his dream. I had seen him work diligently to bring it to where it is now. He shed his blood and tears so the pack could flourish and become the strongest in Fenrisa.Then he gave all that up. Tears sting my eyes as I
VERENADory nods slowly. “Yes. They already are.” She looks at the door with fear in her eyes, as if worried that someone will hear us.“Don’t worry. The doors are soundproof,” I mutter and place my hand on hers.“I don’t care if they hear us. I’ll put them in their place,” Drake growls, showing his warrior side.I shake my head. “Don’t even think about it. You can’t underestimate the King’s men. They are really strong,” I warn him as I remember how brutally Serena was attacked.Then, sadness grips me. Is this how we are going to live now? Elijah and I separated from each other, always in fear? I feel a strong pain in my chest. Honestly, death seems like a better option than staying away from him.“But don’t worry, Luna,” Dory says again, gaining my attention. Her face is calm but firm as she adds, “The Alpha has a plan. For now, you both need to act like you are separated. It will be hard, but you both will have to communicate in secret. Don’t text each other or call. Since Drake and
VERENAI smile. It was honestly impressive. That impassive, cold look…Only a beast like Elijah can ace it and fool even the smartest man in the room. Dad looks at me. “So…what do we do now? You have broken your alliance with Elijah…” he rolls his eyes, “Fake breaking the alliance. But if we are not careful, the King’s men will catch onto our act.” I nod, agreeing with dad’s concern. I recall Cyrus saying he’ll visit me, by which he meant he would investigate my pack. I have to be prepared for that and not let him see through our plan. My face hardens as I look ahead. “We’ll head onto the next plan…” —---------------------------“Mommy, where are we going?” Ezra asks from the backseat of the car. I peek at the rearview mirror and see him hold his action figure while sitting beside Maria, a frown on his little face. I smile, keeping my voice soft. “To your school. It's your first parents teacher meeting,” I tell him. But his frown only deepens. “But my teacher did not say anything
ELIJAHEzra looks at me with his wide eyes, his hands trembling slightly as he calls me out. “Daddy?” A rush of warmth spreads through me when I hear him call me that. My heart beats rapidly inside me. I can’t believe what I am hearing. Goddess knows how much I have yearned to hear him that way, to acknowledge me as his father. I don’t even know if I deserve it. Miss Nadia looks at Rena, “I’d leave you all here. The walls are soundproof and this place is highly secured and hidden. So you don’t have to worry about anyone finding out except us.” She says, her voice professional like she has been doing this for ages. Rena nods at her. “Thank you, Nadia.” Nadia bows at her and then leaves with the man who was guarding the door. After the meeting, Rena communicated with me through the twins, telling me to meet her at Ezra’s kindergarten. I used a disguise, this wig, beard and glasses, also masked my scent so no one knows I am here. Watching Ezra stand with Rena, seeing his little ang
ELIJAH“Of course. You being here already helps me a lot,” I say and lean into his touch, then place a kiss on his hand. “Will you tell Buzz Lightyear to lend me his powers when I’m not here?” I ask, and he nods. I smile and ruffle his hair. “Then, we’ll definitely beat those bad guys.”I look over him and see Rena standing, tears falling down her eyes. I stand on my feet and pull Ezra into my arms, holding him with one arm. Then I look at her and extend my other hand towards her. Rena wipes her tears and walks towards us. I wrap my arm around her back as she leans onto my chest and hugs my waist.Rena’s scent wafts to my nose, and I inhale it, feeling it calm my wolf who has been craving her for so long. I missed her so much.I kiss Ezra’s head before I place a kiss on hers. The two most precious people in this world. My family. When I became the Alpha, I didn't believe in ever having a family. My own family was twisted and cursed, so I didn’t know what a happy, normal family felt lik
VERENAI shift back and just stare at her in silence, watching her fumble with her words. Her lips are quivering and she’s sweating profusely, her midnight blue hair sticking to her forehead. She literally copied my hair color and my hairstyle. When she realizes the coldness in my gaze, she stops and starts yelling.”You can’t kill me! Dad will end you. I did what I did and I will do it again with you!” her eyes go round as she looks up at me with a psychotic look. She starts laughing and I know that there’s no humor or happiness to the laugh. “You deserve it all! You are fucking bitch who was born in a wealthy family and was accepted. You have no idea what it feels like to be unwanted. So…so I did all of this. You needed to feel what I felt too. And I succeeded!” she throws her head back and laughs even harder. “I succeeded in ruining your life! After this battle, you’ll have nothing left for you. Everything will be taken from you. Your Elijah, your kids, your pack…everything! So go
VERENAA warm sensation takes over my body and I feel a tingling sensation in my spine. The celestial light builds within me and I aim it at the Ashwalker wolves. They take a step back as if they can sense that power within me. Serena opens her mouth and light erupts from it. It's directed at them and the moment it hits the ground, a huge explosion takes place. I hear lots of howls and the light blinds everyone in the field. When it fades, a huge crater is formed on the ground and there’s no sign of the Ashwalker wolves and the cloaked men who stood with them. The impact was so huge that it got everyone’s attention. Nixie stares at it with wide eyes. “What the fuck,” she says as she measures the depth of the crater I created. “Damn! That’s so badass!” Dory exclaims and I smirk. We approach Joshua and Irene who also are staring at the huge crater. They turn towards us and Dory steps forward, shifts back and kneels down. Joshua looks at me and I see concern in his eyes. “Rena…Irene
VERENAI run towards the main battlefield and Nixie’s petite figure comes into sight. She’s standing against my men, guarded by the Ashwalker wolves and a few of Umbra’s cult men. I watch in horror as Nixie, her eyes filled with a malicious glint, hurls a gas bomb towards Irene and Joshua. The bomb explodes, sending a toxic cloud billowing into the air. Irene and Joshua cough, their faces contorted in pain. Joshua, with his enhanced senses, manages to shield himself from the gas, but Irene, still recovering from her previous injuries, is more vulnerable. I can see her coughing violently, blood staining her lips.“Irene,” Joshua goes to her and holds her while she drops to the ground, the coughing not stopping.Nixie grins as she looks at them. “You used to call me Dumpster Barbie, right? Now what, huh? Can’t speak?” she taunts and then pauses. “Oh wait! I totally forgot to say this. This gas has a special role, you know? It can take away the vocals of the person it affects. Permanen
VERENAI grit my teeth and clench my fist in anger after I shift back. Dad shifts back to his human form too and glares at me, standing protectively before mom. “Dad? Are you seriously going to protect her? You know who she's working for,” I ask him, my eyes pleading for him to see the truth in this situation. She’s not our ally. His face contorts in anger as he hears my words and he growls at me. “I trust her. There must have been some misunderstanding.” His eyes flash and I realize that he’s not in himself. It's the mate bond that’s making him say this. My dad isn’t as strong as I am when it comes to staying away from our mates. His love for mom will destroy him. “Oh yes it is, Ray. He’s making me do these things,” Mom says and makes this sad face. I wonder who’s better at acting innocent—Nixie or her? Oh wait, I forgot that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. She proves she’s her mother. I look at Charlotte and mind-link her. “You are being a total bitch! You used my fat
VERENABut my words fall on deaf ears. He lunges at me, his claws outstretched. I dodge his attack, barely escaping his grasp. I'm filled with a mix of fear and anger. How can he hurt me? How can he turn against me after all this?I draw upon my celestial power, a surge of light coursing through my veins. My eyes glow a brilliant white, and my form shifts, becoming more powerful. I face him, my stance defiant."Elijah, stop!" I shout, my voice filled with authority. But he won't listen. He's lost in the darkness, a creature of pure instinct.We circle each other, our eyes locked in a battle of wills. The air crackles with tension as we prepare to strike. The battle between the Luna Guardian and the Shadow Alpha has begun. A battle that has occurred through different generations and timelines. I don’t want this. But do I have a choice? And what will we do if we both die? I look into his eyes, and see no sign of him. Is he gone? Did Umbra take him from me? I steel myself for what I
VERENAMaria walks towards me. “What happened?” She asks with a frown on her face. “It's mom. She’s here.” I say and Maria’s eyes turn wide. “Charlotte is here? Oh my Goddess!” She rests her hand on her chest and looks worried. I can sense the conflict arising within her. Mom was Maria’s best friend. I’m sure she still cares about her. I look at Irene. “We need to go out there. I’m sure the others will need us.” Irene steps forward. “Of course. I’d be so glad to go out there and kick some—” she halts and looks at the kids. Ezra gives her a sly smile. “Aunt Irene is saying some adult words again.” He makes a tsk sound with his mouth and shakes his head as if disappointed. He does this whenever Irene has a slip of tongue. “Shut up. I didn’t say anything. I only said that I will kick them.” She argues and I roll my eyes. She’s seriously fighting with a kid. “Rena, someone should stay with the kids to protect them,” Maria tells me as she holds my arm. She looks at Elijah who growls
VERENA"You're back," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "You're really back."Ezra smiles, his eyes filled with warmth. "I'm here, Mommy," he says. "I'm not going anywhere."In that moment, all the pain, the fear, the uncertainty - it all seems to fade away. We've won. We've defeated the darkness.Irene quickly turns around and her eyes go wide as she sees us. “Oh Goddess! It worked! Fu—Sorry. I mean hell yeah!” she shouts, raising her fists in the air. She looks no less than a lunatic but that’s how she is.I turn to Venus who just stares at her with her big green eyes, her little hand clutching Ezra’s shirt as she sits on his lap. I kneel on the floor and take her other hand, then kiss it. “Thank you, thank you. You’re our savior.” I whisper to her and cup her little face. She makes a sound with her mouth, having no idea what I’m talking about. I look at Elijah. His head is tilted up towards the ceiling, pushing back his tears of joy and relief. He’s trying to act strong but I k
VERENAI feel a strong vibration at the pit of my stomach. It makes my guts muscles clench uncomfortably but then a warm sensation travels up my spine. Venus stops crying and I open my eyes to see a vibrant light form in the middle of the air. It casts its bright light on the room and reduces Ezra’s dark aura, allowing him to take a breath and relax a little. Venus looks calm too and is staring at her brother with her big eyes. I look at Elijah and he nods. Ezra lifts his head and his face looks better, a lot less pale as he stares at us. But he’s still in his dark aura. Maybe the energy that we created helped to slow down the process. He looks at Venus but does not say anything. I move towards the bed and Venus raises her arm like she did in the kids room when she saw me. She smiles at her brother, her green eyes lighting up. “Veenie…” Ezra whispers. I carefully place Venus on the bed and hold her back. In case Ezra does something, I’ll pull her back. Elijah stands beside me and
VERENAVenus squirms as she sees him and it hurts him but he does not show it on his face. “Are they still out there?” Maria asks me and I shake my head. “No. But we need to be careful. Elijah and I’ll handle everything. Let's go.” I tell them and we carefully walk out of the kids room. Elijah walks ahead, his senses alert for any incoming dangers. I look around too but Venus gets uncomfortable when I’m too tense so I’m trying to stay calm. I look at her and recall the vision I had. I couldn’t see her face but I felt the same way I am feeling right now. The feeling that you have when you are close to your daughter. Venus looks up at me with her big eyes and I give her a smile. “Don’t worry, angel. We’ll be fine,” I give her a kiss on the forehead and she giggles. We reach the bedroom and Elijah opens the door. The moment the double doors swing open, a strong wave of dark aura crashes on me, forcing me to take a step back. Venus squirms again and looks away, as if she’s afraid.