DORYI’m shocked to hear what she says. A celestial wolf? Ruth?“Wait… you? But how? And what’s a healer celestial wolf?” I ask, my mind reeling with different sorts of answers.Ruth stares at the dirty floor and sighs. “Celestial wolves have different types and forms. One of them is a healer celestial wolf. Just like Verena, I have powers too. But all I can do is heal.” She lifts her gaze and looks at me. “Maybe they sensed it when the Ashwalkers attacked my pack. Ashwalkers and celestial wolves are sworn enemies, so they can sense each other.”My jaw drops. “That’s… crazy. I never thought you’d be a celestial wolf. Why didn’t you tell anyone?” I ask.She shrugs. “There’s no point in it. I am a celestial wolf, but I’ve lost my healing powers. Just like some celestial wolves shift late, I shifted early and received my powers. But after Carlisle was born, I lost them.”I frown. “How did you lose them?”She shakes her head, the doubt clear on her old face. “I have no idea. Wish I knew w
DORYSome of them give me a crooked smile as they stare at me. “She’s kind of cute. We can have some fun before we kill her.”I hear Ruth’s voice from the cell next to mine. “Leave her alone! You monsters!” she yells and rattles the cell bars violently with her hands.But the men ignore her. They move closer, their eyes glinting with a sinister light. I try to back away, but there’s nowhere to go.As one of the men reaches out to grab me, I act on instinct. I reach into my waistband and pull out a small blade I took from the lab earlier. I’ve hidden it under my top, hoping it might come in handy.With a swift motion, I lunge forward; the blade glinting in the dim light. The man lets out a startled cry as the blade pierces his arm. He stumbles back, clutching his wound.His companion jumps at me, but I’m ready. I sidestep his attack and drive the blade into his shoulder. He howls in pain, his grip on his weapon loosening.I grab the opportunity, disarming him and knocking him to the gr
DORYMy jaw drops. Wow, he’s as strong as Alpha Elijah. I had seen him fight a few times, but because I was occupied myself, I couldn’t pay attention. But a part of me wanted to…pay attention to him. I shake my head and push my thoughts away. I shouldn’t think of those thoughts. “Oh, come on. He’s pretty much single right now. It won’t hurt anybody!” Lori says in my head as she drools over his wolf. “You aren’t wrong, but…he’s way older than me.” I argue. “And he’s hot.” She says and Alpha Carlisle ends up killing the last wolf. He takes a step back and shifts back into his human form. I press my lips as I watch him roll his shoulders, the movement on his muscles under his tight white shirt. He turns around to look at us. Ruth glares at him. “Took you long enough, Carlisle! My back hurts from having to rest it against that disgusting wall. Do you want me to have spondylitis again?” She snaps, and he sighs. “Sorry, I was trying my best, but it was hard to figure out the location
VERENAMy eyes widen as I see Dory alongside Ruth. A wave of relief washes over me. I’m glad they are safe. I turn to Drake who’s holding my mother’s arms. He also looks happy and relieved to see her. Carlisle’s also there and they all rush to us. “Oh, so you brought your dog with you,” Regef says as he looks at Carlisle and something flickers in his eyes. A look that I can’t comprehend. “Good, you make things easier. Now I can end everyone who’s part of this system.” Regef’s eyes glaze over and a group of men whose uniforms are different from the rest of the people step inside the room. Unlike the rest, they are wearing black cloaks with dark green stripes on them. My face turns pale. I can sense the power from them. They are not ordinary people. One of them steps forward and looks at me. I growl at the person. A wave of hatred washes over me, a feeling so intense it's almost physical. I can't understand why I feel this way, but the emotion is undeniable. With a flick of his wri
DORY Ruth’s words shock me. Me? How am I supposed to heal Carlisle when I have no experience in healing? But Ruth assures me and I look at Carlisle. He seems to be in extreme pain and it's hurting me a lot. As if I can feel his pain. I exhale. “Alright. If it helps then I’ll do it. But I don’t know what to do.” I say what’s in my mind and Ruth smiles. “You don’t have to worry about that. I’m here. I’ll tell you what to do,” She pats my hand and pushes me towards Carlisle. I step towards him and notice him grimace as if he doesn't want me close to me. My chest tightens. Why does he dislike me so much? Is it because he hates the Iron Claw Pack and part of it? Isn’t that stupid for an adult like him? “Alright. I need you to sit and touch his chest. With both hands.”My heart skips a beat. Touch his chest? With both hands?! Oh my Goddess! “Yes!” Lori jumps in excitement. “We get to feel his body.” I suppress her voice as it makes me feel excited. If I get too excited, I’d end up
DORYI get back on my feet and walk over to her. “You look extremely pale, Luna.” I hold her hand and feel another wave of energy spark through me. Luna’s eyes close for a few seconds before she opens them and her skin gets back its colors. She does not look pale anymore. Her eyes widen as she looks at me. “I don’t feel tired anymore.” She whispers. She grabs my hand. “You brought back my energy. How did you do that?” she asks and I shrug. “I…don’t know. It sort of happened.” I say and help her get back on her feet. She frowns and looks at Ruth. “You need to explain, Ruth. How can Dory have such powers?” Ruth’s face turns rigid. “Because she’s a celestial wolf like you. But not exactly like you. She’s a healer.” She answers and Luna gasps. “What?” Drake yells and walks over to me. “Dory…a celestial wolf? How?” The look in his eyes speaks of confusion and doubt. I get him. I also couldn’t believe it until I actually healed Carlisle. Ruth crosses her arms. “I can’t tell how. She i
VERENAAs I enter the living room, I'm met with a chilling sight. Two of our maids are lying dead on the floor, in a pool of their blood.Elijah stands in one corner of the room, his eyes glowing with that green light. This is the way I saw him the last time. In his cold, predatory form. Relief washes over me. He’s finally woken up. But it's mixed with the shock and disgust of him killing two of our maids. I approach him cautiously, hoping to break through the darkness that's consumed him."Elijah," I call softly. “You need to step out of your darkness. You’re killing your pack people.” He turns to face me, his eyes narrowing. A low growl escapes his lips, and I feel a chill run down my spine. I've never heard him growl like that before. Yes, he had growled at me before he lost consciousness, but it wasn’t that feral or intense. This one is. Before I can react, Elijah lunges at me, his movements swift and powerful. I stumble backward, my heart pounding in my chest. I've never seen
VERENAAs Elijah tightens his grip on my throat, I feel my vision begin to blur. Is he really not going to stop? Just as it seems he’s going to attack me, I hear a shout. Drake and Dory grab him from behind, Drake’s face contorted with anger while Dory’s eyes are filled with concern. They pull Elijah away from me, their fists raised.A brutal fight ensues, the room echoing with the sounds of punches and grunts. He throws a powerful punch at Drake, who dodges to the side and counters with a swift kick to Elijah's shin. Elijah stumbles back, but quickly recovers and delivers a roundhouse kick to Dory. Dory seems to be in trouble as she can’t defend herself against that attack. Carlisle growls and steps in and blocks it with his forearm. He retaliates with a flurry of punches, but Elijah parries each one with ease. He then grabs Carlisle’s wrist and throws him to the ground. Carlisle groans in pain and is about to fight back, but suddenly, he looks dazed. His face contorts into pain a
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.