ELIJAHThe words slip out of my mouth before I can think. Rolf growls in my head. He can’t speak to me, but I can feel what he means to say. He wanted me to ask this question for so long.I know this isn’t the best time to ask her this, neither is the secret room in the basement of a fucking kindergarten school the most romantic place for a proposal. But, I still want to know.Rena takes a sharp breath as if she’s processing what I just asked. Her eyes turn glassy, gleaming with so many emotions. Love, warmth, pain… it's like a storm.She pushes those tears back and looks at me with a serious face. “Then you better prepare a nice diamond ring for me.” She gives me a beautiful smile that just makes the room around me brighten up. My mouth opens, but I don’t have any words coming out. It's hard to speak what I’m feeling through words.A part of me thought she’d not accept it. But she said those words as if she was waiting for it.A tear rolls down her eye, and she quickly wipes it. “If
VERENAI mean it when I say those words. He has waited for me for four years, never giving up. He protects Ezra, me, and my family all these years without asking anything in return.So the least I can do is put my faith in this man who’s willing to battle the King for me and wait. I will wait for him, no matter how long it takes. Now that we are here, there’s one thing I’m sure about.He won’t betray me. Not anymore.“I’ll try to do what I can from my side,” I add while watching his eyes swirl with happiness. He must feel the sincerity of my words. I place both my hands on his. “We are in this together. Also…” My eyes harden on him. “Don’t keep these secrets from me. I had no idea you sacrificed your pack for us. Don’t do that again. You don’t have to bear everything alone.” I say softly, but there’s a rigidness in my voice. It's like a command.His brows lift and there’s a flash of amusement in his eyes. “I won’t. But promise me that you’ll stay careful. You won’t put yourself in dang
VERENA“Alright,” Miss Nadia nods and steps out of the room. Once she’s gone, I turn to Elijah.“You don’t have to stay in a hotel. You can leave the pack without getting noticed,” I say, and he arches a brow.“How?”“Daddy is going to be Mr. Invisible?” Ezra asks with an innocent face, and I smile at him.“Kind of,” I reply, and Elijah tilts his head, confused. I told Dory that night at the hospital that it's my responsibility to make sure he does not get caught under any circumstances. I’m going to keep my word. “We have a secret passage that leads straight out of the packs. You’ll take that one and I’ll send some of my trusted men with you. Norton will also go. They’ll ensure that you don’t have any problem.”“The King’s men won’t learn of it?” Elijah asks.I shake my head. “No way. It's an old secret of the Valentinos. Celestial wolves used to use this passage during the old times. It is protected by my ancestor’s magic, so you have nothing to worry about,” I say confidently.Elij
VERENAI blush and push a strand of my hair behind my ear. “He’ll know when you give it to him. Oh, but do tell him that all the boxes are not for him. There’s one for Irene, one for Josh,” I tell her strictly, hoping that my messages reach him. Or else he’ll eat all of them. Dory nods. “Got it.” She shoots a glare at Drake who’s peeking at the bag, licking his lower lip. “Hey!” She pulls the bag away from him. “This is not for you.” Drake scoffs. “I know. I’m just sniffing to know what the flavors are.” Dory rolls her eyes. “Go sniff someone’s butt like the dog you are.” Drake narrows his eyes. “Oh I get lots of hot girl butts. Unlike you, I’m actually popular.” “I feel bad for those girls,” Dory clicks her tongue and feigns concern.“Stop it, you two,” I tell them, and they both stiffen.“Kids nowadays,” Dad says as he stands in the foyer, shaking his head in disappointment.Maria throws him a glare. “You are one to talk. Should I tell them what kind of playboy you were back th
VERENAEzra holds my face, bringing me out of my trance. “Don’t worry, Mommy. We will beat those bad guys,” he says, curling his hand into a little fist, his eyes flashing with a fierce determination so much like Elijah’s.I chuckle. “Of course, we will. My boy is so courageous.” I pull his soft cheek, and he giggles. “Alright, time for you to take a bath.” I let him down, and suddenly the floor starts to spin.“Rena?” Dad calls me out, but I feel like his voice is coming from a far distance. The oxygen cuts out of my lungs, and I try to inhale through my mouth.“Mommy!” Ezra’s concerned yell hits my ears, and I look up, finding Dad’s horrified face looking back at me.“Oh my Goddess!” He whispers as he rushes towards me. I feel a burning sensation on the right side of my face and my right arm. I lift it, and my eyes turn wide as I see familiar silver markings slither down my arm.Oh no! “It’s the curse again,” Dad says, his voice filled with concern as he holds me by my shoulder whil
VERENAI slowly turn around but find no one in the room. I am hundred percent sure I heard a male voice. My brow pinch as I remember Ezra telling me that the curse was a ‘he’. I look sharply around the room and ask. “Who are you? Show yourself!” I demand, my voice stern. The voice responds back, making a jolt run through me. “Well, there’s not much to show. But if you insist…” My eyes go wide when I see the shadow behind my closet door move and materialize into a tall figure. I am not sure if what I am seeing is real. Because it's just a shadow. It has no face, no arms, no legs…just a silhouette. “Told you, I don’t have much to show,” the voice comes from the moving shadow, making me gasp. “Who are you?” I ask, my voice coming out a little weaker than I intended. I feel in my gut that I already know the answer to my question. “Who am I?” he chuckles, as if my question is amusing to him. “That can be up for a later discussion. For now, let's focus on why I am here.” I raise a br
VERENA“And why is that?” “Because I have used my powers on you before. I am a Celestial wolf with the Goddess helping me. I have the Goddess’s powers.” I growl. “Hmm. Are you sure about that?” I frown, the confidence in his voice breaking my resolve a little. “What do you mean?” The shadow moves closer to me and starts circling me like a predator. My muscles turn stiff as I feel his presence weighing on me. “It's true you are a celestial wolf, gifted with the powers of the Grand Selene. The Goddess of the Moon. The Goddess of the night!” There’s a hint of malice in his voice that seems to be coming out of sheer jealousy. I just feel it in my gut that he does not like her very much. “But…how will the Goddess help you if she’s dead?” He asks, but it's more of a declaration than a ‘what if’ sort of game. My heart leaps into my throat. “What!” I yell. My body freezes and my heart races in my chest, a wave of shock and fear washing over me. I scoff, “You are bluffing!” My voice does
VERENA“Alright,” I say to Serena, feeling relieved, and then slowly get back on my feet.“How?” The shadow is frozen in his place as I challenge him with a glare.My eyes flash, and the silver markings on my arm don’t feel like a curse anymore. They feel like a weapon that’s providing me the strength to fight. Now I don’t know how that’s possible either.But there’s one thing I am damn sure about.“My entire life has been a struggle, and I survived it all,” I roar as I take daunting steps toward the shadow, “I have lost count of how many times I have been on the brink of death or have been wronged! But I have survived all of it. So if you believe that trying to possess me is going to work and break me, then you are fucking wrong!” A strong growl travels up my chest, making the walls around me tremble.The silver marks on my arm glow so vibrantly, their light rapidly spreading around the room.“Fuck!” The shadow steps away, as if running from that light. The light consumes the entire r