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
VERENAThen whom will we have our faith in?I run my hand through his black hair. “You did great. Always pray to the Goddess. She will listen to you,” I mutter softly, keeping my voice steady while my stomach coils in knots.I won’t take away his faith. Even if the Goddess is not out there, people must still have faith that we are protected by a higher divine power.Ezra places his hand on my belly. “I’m praying that I see my sister soon.” He moves closer to my belly as if he wants to know what’s going on inside, and I raise a brow.“Your sister? How do you know it will be a little sister and not a brother?” I ask playfully. I told him before about him getting a sibling, and he was so happy he jumped all around the house. Ezra has people to keep him company, but his heart desires someone closer to him, like a little brother or a sister.He makes a thinking face before he replies. “I want a little sister. I prayed to the Goddess that I get one.” He cups his mouth and his face leans clo
VERENAI raise a brow. What does he want?I look at the phone my Beta’s holding. After a few seconds of contemplating, I decide to talk to him. “Okay.” Norton hands me the phone.I place the phone to my ear while I walk out of my office, Norton following me. “It's Luna Verena,” I say, my tone stern.“Luna Verena…” Alpha Nova addresses me in his deep voice.“It’s quite a surprise to hear your voice after so long,” I say, not hiding the disappointment in my tone.He sighs. “I’m really sorry for not being able to attend the meeting, Luna Verena. But be assured that it wasn’t my intention.”I step inside my room and turn on the lights. “Wasn’t your intention? I’m sure you got the mail from the royal court.”“I did. But I don’t agree with what the King says,” he replies, and I freeze in my spot.“Why not? They have evidence against me,” I say.“Yeah, I heard that. But I know you well, Luna Verena. Also, my pack has been in an alliance with the Moonlight Pack for a long time. So I know that
VERENA“I just read about it in the book I was reading on celestial wolves,” I lie fluently. If he’s not going to open up, then it’s better I don’t share what I saw today. “There wasn’t much about it. Just the term green moon. So I thought to ask you.”“I don’t know anything,” he answers quickly. A little too quickly. It's strange how those red glasses got so easily stolen by a guard in his museum. What if he is behind it? Am I overthinking it?“Alright. Coming back to the topic, are you not afraid of the king?” I ask. “I mean, he won’t like you supporting me,” I remind him.He chuckles lightly, but there’s no humor to it. “There’s already a lot happening in my pack. Do you think I would care what the king thinks when my precious warriors are going missing every single day?”I press my lips in a grim line. “No, you are right. I’m really sorry to hear about that. Is there anything I can do to help?”“Given the position you are in, it would be cruel of me to ask for your help,” Alpha No