VERENA“What?!” Dad is the first to react, followed by me. My hand flies to my chest and I hear my heart thumping against the palm of my skin.Norton nods and hands him the test reports. Dad flips through the pages, his eyes reading the document while his eyebrows furrow. Maria walks in and looks at us with a questioning gaze. “What happened?”Dad lifts his gaze and looks at me, a look of pure horror etched on his facial features. My legs suddenly feel like jelly and my head spins. I don’t know how to react to this. A part of me wanted Dad to be right and my gut feeling to be wrong.But it turns out it was right. Mom’s body isn’t inside the coffin. Just like Elijah reported Theon’s body going missing and Nixie’s body being replaced by some other person’s dead body.Dad looks pale and Maria and I gasp when he loses his balance. Norton and I grab him from both sides and make him sit on the couch. Dad places a hand on his head while his other hand goes to me, gripping it for support.Thi
VERENAHe rushes towards the stairs. I look at Maria before I follow behind him. We reach the safe where the Goddess Gem is kept. Dad types in the security code, and the safe door opens, revealing the red gem inside a glass case.I frown and look at Dad. “I don’t understand. Why did you come here?”Dad places the glass case carefully on the table and takes out the gem. The gem glows red as he holds it in his hand. “Look…” he points at the base of the gem. I lean closer and squint my eyes.My eyes widen as I notice it. A small section of the gemstone is missing. It's so tiny, it's almost invisible to the naked eye. But one can see it if they look carefully or use a magnifying glass.I lift my gaze to Dad. “When I threw the gem, this section must have come off, and Regef took it before anyone could notice,” Dad mutters, his jaw clenching.“Does this mean he’s used that section of the gem to create Ashwalkers?”Suddenly, my head throbs, and I hear Kyla in my head. “Luna, General Cyrus is
VERENADad’s face turns rigid. “First he asks everyone to break allegiance with her, now this? How far is the King intending to take it? Makes me think he has a problem with my daughter specifically.” He spits, his eyes sharply challenging Cyrus.Cyrus raises his hands defensively. “I’m just a messenger. In fact, I requested the king to give Verena an option. Otherwise, he was planning to imprison her. After all, he has proof that Ashwalkers have elements of the Goddess Gem in them. So it's obvious to the law that celestial wolves are after this.”“But Rena isn’t just the—” I hold Dad’s hand, and he looks at me.“It’s alright, Dad. I might not be able to prove my innocence because I have no proof. At least the King gave me an option,” I speak in a sad voice, and Dad’s brow dips as he stares at me in shock.“Dad, let me handle this. You act along with me,” I quickly tell him through the mind-link.He hesitates but then calms down. He trusts that whatever I am doing is for a reason.I l
VERENAHe hums. “That’s true.”I have noticed something else. Elijah said the king is threatened by my powers. But if that is the case, then why did Cyrus propose to get married? Are they intending to eliminate the threat by pulling me under the royal family? Or… there’s something else?I turn to Isabella, who stands in one corner of the living room. She was the one who served the drink to Cyrus. “Did you report it to Elijah?” I ask. The girl nods.“The Alpha’s very angry. He says that he’d kill Cyrus if that guy dares to come close to you again,” Isabella says in a calm voice, showing no expression on her face.My cheeks heat up. That’s my sexy beast.Dad looks at me. “What are you planning to do next?”I smirk. “I’m going to spy on Cyrus. I’m sure he’d lead us to the answers we are seeking. Also, I think it’s time we take action.”Dad raises a brow. “You intend to attack the king directly?”I nod. “We don’t have much time left. I won’t be participating in any battles…” I hold my bel
ELIJAHONE YEAR LATER…I press the heel of my shoe against Cyrus’s face. He groans in pain as I have intentionally touched a bruise on his face. We are in the dungeon of my pack and the King’s General is my hostage, his hands and legs tied by a special kind of rope that’s laced with wolfsbane as well other herbs that hurt like a bitch when they touch your skin. Joshua walks in the cell where I stand and cringes when he looks at Cyrus. “The King’s dogs came to investigate. I gave them a good tour through our pack.” He reports, the edge of his lips curling in a smirk. They must be looking for their General who disappeared. “Good,” I kicked Cyrus’s face before retrieving my leg. I wouldn’t have cared much about Cyrus if he didn’t try to take what was mine. He dared to propose to Rena. From that point on, he became the first one on my list to be eradicated. A scum like him doesn't need to live.Cyrus is strong, so it wasn’t easy to capture him. Flashback I am on the run. Joshua, Ir
ELIJAHHe charges at me, his eyes flashing, showing his wolf on the surface. He growls and slams his body into me like a bull, throwing me towards the forest. My head collides with a tree trunk, making me groan in pain. The leaves cascade down the trees on me as I get up and hear Cyrus’s footsteps squelch against the mud. Joshua, Irene and the twins are battling the king’s men, keeping them from attacking me. I am confident with Josh and Irene’s skills, but the twins are new to this. I had trained them well and now it's time for them to show that they are truly capable of being my warriors. Cyrus chuckles as he nears me. “Don’t worry, Elijah. Once Verena and I get married, I’ll take good care of her in bed. Do tell me how she likes to be fucked.” He smirks and his words make my blood boil. I see red everywhere. He shouldn’t have gone there. A strange energy courses through my veins, making my insides turn cold like ice. I growl at him, the sound of it making the earth beneath us
ELIJAHI wash my hands in the sink and splash some water on my face. Then I pull my phone out and the wallpaper of Venus sleeping in the crib flashes before me. Ezra is standing beside her crib, showing the victory sign with his two fingers. My lips curl in a faint smile. Rena clicked the picture of the two and sent it to Isabella who then sent it to me in a secured file. The most interesting part is that Ezra made this file secure using his knowledge regarding computer science. My son is a freaking genius. I can’t wait to see them again. A part of me wanted to end this as soon as possible. But I knew I had to stay patient. It's my goal—to secure my family’s future. This picture reminds me why I need to stay focused and keep going. Joshua walks inside my room and lightly taps the door with his knuckles. “You ready?” I glance over my shoulder and nod. Today we are going to put an end to it. We’ll attack Rowan’s castle. I grab my black leather jacket and put it on me. The night is
ELIJAHThe moment Joshua says Cyrus escaped, I hear a crashing sound and the ground before us explodes. The explosion throws us behind and I land on the ground with Joshua and the rest. “They know we are here,” I tell Joshua and growl as I stand on my paws. Before we can take a step forward, more explosions happen, causing more wolves to be thrown back or injured by the bombs that are thrown at us. I howl at the other wolves, asking them to follow me. The wolves turn towards me and I take the path towards my right that leads straight into the forest. Our paths are bombarded, making it difficult to reach the forest but I keep my pace fast. Once we reach the forest, I signal them to scatter. “Make two groups. One that will charge through the front gate and the other through the back. Be careful and keep an eye out for the king’s guards.” I tell them through my howls since I can’t mind-link with the rest of the wolves of the other packs. Two groups are made. Carlisle and Alpha Nova’
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.