VERENA"Verena, try this one!" Ruth says in excitement as she holds a scarlet evening gown in her hand. We are at a little boutique in the Moonlight Pack, shopping for a dress for me to wear to the exhibition.It has been two weeks since Carlisle and I both revealed our secrets, and I agreed to attend the exhibition with him. But I didn't expect him to travel to the Moonlight Pack one week before the exhibition."The Moonlight Pack has beautiful places to visit, so I want to show you around," that’s what Carlisle had said, gleaming with excitement. Honestly, he didn’t look that excited when he gave me a tour of the Mountain Cross Pack. But I understand why.My eyes shift to the floor-to-ceiling glass that spans one wall of the store, and I stare at the trees lining the street, the soft lavender-colored leaves swaying under the mild breeze. The sky is a blend of soft hues of pale turquoise and rose pink, the sun's rays casting a gentle glow on the street lined with small shops.The lan
VERENAMy body trembles as I slowly turn around to face him: Elijah.His dark eyes fixate on me, tracing every inch of my form as if he's mapping my body in his mind. His inky hair is sexily combed back, and the gray suit drapes elegantly over his muscular frame."Rena," he whispers my name gently, causing my heart to skip a beat. As he moves closer, the fabric molds to his body like a second skin, emphasizing the powerful lines of his broad shoulders and chiseled chest."No!" I say firmly as I back away from him, my back hitting the cold glass. This man rejected me, banished me, and yet my heart dances in excitement when I see him. I hate this mate bond.Elijah pulls out a green dress and holds it in front of me. "This will look good on you," he says, watching me with a gaze that sends goosebumps down my skin.I clench my fist and look straight at him. "Why are you here?" I ask. In the distance, I can hear Ruth engaged in a discussion with the manager, unaware of what's happening her
ELIJAH“Baby, which dress will look good on me?” Nixie asks for the tenth time, pointing at the dresses laid out on the hotel bed. I sigh in frustration and place a hand inside my pocket while scanning the different colored dresses. Somehow, I can’t picture which dress will look good on Nixie.My wolf, Rolf, howls inside my mind, reminding me that it took me only a few seconds to figure out what dress would look good on Rena when I was at the store. I knew her body like the back of my hand. Every inch of her body, every dip, every curve has been explored by me.“Elijah?” Nixie calls out to me, and I shift my attention towards her.“Where did you get lost?” she asks, pouting. But then she smirks as if thinking of something mischievous. “Or is it your way of saying that I’ll look good in any dress I wear?”I nod, letting her live in that delusion. She giggles. “Aw, then you could have just said so. It makes me feel good when you appreciate my beauty, you know?” She flutters her lashes a
ELIJAH Her betrayal leaves a bitter feeling in my chest, slowly morphing into anger. My jaw clenches. Who is that fucker who dared to touch Rena? Once I get my hands on him, he’ll wish that he were dead sooner. I need to ask her, and I need to know who it was. But all that anger died when I confronted her at the store. I don’t know what came over me, but I just stepped in to show her the dress I picked for her. What was she thinking while picking those ridiculous dresses? Not every dress can showcase the beauty she has. I hope she’d go with my choice. I remember the look in her eyes, the way her heart thumped in her chest when she saw me. A part of me likes to think it's because she still has feelings for me, but I can’t deny what I clearly saw in her eyes—hatred. My phone vibrates, bringing me back to the present, and I answer the call. Joshua speaks from the other side, “Everything has been going according to plan,” he reports in a serious voice, and asks, “Did Nixie suspect anyt
ELIJAHI sigh in annoyance and run a hand through my hair. I shouldn't have said that. Fuck!Irene directs her rage at me, “What plan of yours is only Joshua aware of? Alpha Elijah Donovan, what are you hiding?”I exhale audibly, and my shoulders slump. It's better if I tell them everything.I see Irene’s gaze as I say, “There is a reason I took Nixie back in. A reason that has nothing to do with her being my mate.”Dory takes a step forward, eyeing me curiously, her head slightly tilting. “What is that reason?” she asks. I can hear everyone’s hearts beating rapidly in anticipation. Even Derek is confused. After all, no one knew of my real plan except Joshua.I lean my back on the desk and cross my arms. “When Nixie returned to the pack and told me everything, I looked into the pack and found interesting details. Her story of being taken hostage by the SandStone pack is completely fake, but in order to make it real, she took help from someone to orchestrate the whole thing and injecte
ELIJAHThe punch causes Joshua to drop to the floor with a loud thud. His words pierce me like a dagger, making it hurt more than it should. I yell at him, “I would have never hurt my pup if I knew it! I am not a monster!” Joshua gets on his feet and wipes the blood off his nose. “Does not change the fact that you hurt Rena, and your pup.” he glares at me. Dory shrieks, and everyone present takes a step back as Joshua lunges back at me with a ferocious kick. I dodge it, and land a hit on his gut. He falls on the desk on his back, and the papers fly off the desk. “Goddammit Out of all the places, they had to choose the Alpha’s office to fight? The maids cleaned the place an hour ago!” Derek complains from behind. He slips between us, and blocks Joshua’s path, “Man, calm down or — Argh!” Derek grunts as Joshua kicks him back, causing him to fly across the room and hit his head hard against the glass showcase. Irene rushes to him, “Oh Goddess! Derek!!” She holds his arm while he squi
VERENAI rub my palm over my dress for the thirteenth time as I stare out of the moving car window. The tinted window reflects the nervousness on my face.“Verena?” Carlisle's voice makes me turn my head around.“Yes?”“Were you listening to what I just said?” He asks with a stoic face, and I blink in puzzlement.“Oh, I am sorry. I did not. What were you saying?” I ask, feeling a little guilty for not paying attention to him speaking.The corner of his lips slightly raises, “Relax, Blue Goddess. I was just teasing you. I didn’t say anything,” his blue eyes flash with mirth.I push a lock of hair behind my ear as my cheeks turn hot in embarrassment, “You are teasing me quite a lot these days,” I complain with a small pout.He tilts his head, “Can’t help it. You are so easy to tease, my Blue Goddess,” his expression changes to something more intense, “So what were you thinking about so deeply?”I look at my hands, “Well, I am attending the exhibition of Alpha Valentino for the first tim
VERENAMy heart thunders loudly in my chest as I meet his sharp gaze. Just watching him from afar brings back a wave of emotions that I've tried to keep buried in my heart for so long.His other arm is being held by none other than Nixie, the same woman who had banished me. This night can’t get any worse.I feel a light nudge on my hand and turn to Carlisle. His face is unreadable, but his voice is calm. "Remember what I told you," he says with a smile.I nod with a smile and raise my chin as we walk ahead. We enter the main hall, and despite my heart racing wildly, I plaster a look of absolute confidence on my face. I knew he’d be here, but I still attended the exhibition because I didn’t want to hide. I am not affected by him–at least that's what I want to show him. But I can feel his gaze on me like a hawk, pricking my back.The room is bathed in a warm, golden glow, and in one corner, a small orchestra plays beneath a canopy of twinkling lights. The classical music weaves through
ELIJAHI step before Rena and throw my dark energy towards Regef to neutralize the attack that he did. Regef’s wolf growls at me in anger and charges straight at me. But there’s Theon beside him who follows suit. I’d have to deal with both of them. I am about to charge at Regef when I feel that stabbing pain within my body again. Umbra is trying to gain control over me again. “This is fruitless,” I hear a voice in my head and realize that it's Regef’s. Is he mind-linking me through the bond we have as Umbra’s cult? “You should stop going against your fate. Your body won’t be able to take the resistance as it is built for dark powers. Fighting against your nature will only get you killed.” I grit my teeth and close my eyes to control the pain. I can sense Theon lunging at me but a bright globe of light collides against his body and throws him away. Regef stops and looks at Theon laying in the ground. I look beside me and see Rena step forward. She looks at me and places a hand on
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