ELIJAHMy brain feels like mush on hearing what Rayn just said. Rena, the quiet girl I thought was just a human orphan, turns out to be Alpha Valentino's daughter, a powerful she-wolf no less! But that news fades next to the knot twisting in my gut. I never had an issue with what her rank was. But there is one thing I need to confirm. I can't hold it in any longer. "If Verena's the true heir," I fire at Rayn, heart hammering a frantic rhythm against my ribs, "why doesn't she have a wolf yet?"Rayn looks calm as he answers smoothly. "Our family's shifters are special. The wolves we have are blessed by the Goddess, giving us unique powers. We don't shift like regular werewolves. For Valentino bloodlines, the shift usually happens after the age of twenty, sometimes even thirty. It all depends on the kind of wolf waiting to come out of us."A cold dread washes over me. My body stiffens, every muscle locked tight with worry. I force out the next question, voice barely a whisper. "What ar
ELIJAHMy muscles scream in protest as Rayn approaches. Will he banish me? Or maybe warn me to stay away from Rena?He claps me on the shoulder, a relieved grin splitting his face. "Thanks for looking out for Verena, Elijah." He glances between me and Carlisle. "Both of you saved her life." His brow furrows as he mutters to himself, "Why would anyone want to hurt her? I'll get to the bottom of this."Relief washes over me, but Rayn's cheerful demeanor twists the guilt in my gut. "I don't deserve your thanks, Rayn," I mumble, voice heavy. His frown deepens. I take a step back and bow respectfully. "My apologies for everything. Thank you for inviting me. The Moonlight Pack can always count on me for help."Rayn blinks, confusion swirling in his green eyes, the same color as Rena's. "Uh, but—" I cut him off, striding out into the cool night. The day he learns the truth, his hatred will be swift and unforgiving."Hey you!" That skunk, Carlisle, stops me cold with a yell. "Playing the remo
ELIJAH“Two attacks on Rena. One at the exhibition, the other at the Mountain Cross Pack train station. Both are connected since the assassins tried to hurt her belly.” I say as I stare out the window, the sun disappearing behind a thick layer of gray clouds, mirroring the storm brewing inside me. Since leaving the Moonlight Pack, I haven't slept, haven't stopped digging for answers. My only hope was the Silver Club, a secret network reserved for elite Alphas. It is run by the High Council and the Alpha king. It took years to gain access, years to prove myself worthy. All that hardwork has paid off as now I can gain all the information from the Club network. There’s no information the Silver Club does not have. "Couldn't this investigation wait for the office?" Joshua asks from the couch, his eyes glued to the data I meticulously gathered."I needed to fake sickness to fool a certain someone," I reply, my voice tight. Joshua understands. "Man," he chuckles, "you almost had me conv
ELIJAH"You're working with Theon and he’s after the pack, that much is clear," I say, locking eyes with Nixie. Her gaze narrows, guarded. "But Rena left the Iron Claw Pack. Why target her?"Nixie feigns disinterest, casually inspecting her nails. "Theon's the one after the pack. My motives are different."My breath catches. Is this about more than just the pack? Is Nixie after Rena specifically?"Rena's been your target all along, hasn't she?" I voice the suspicion that dawns on me, my tone laced with realization.The smirk that spreads across Nixie's face is purely evil. "Took you long enough, Alpha. You and your precious pack never interested me. Verena, however..." Her voice trails off, replaced by a venomous glint in her eyes that burns with pure hatred. "Explain yourself! Why are you after Rena?!" I roar, fury coursing through me. Rena's not the type to make enemies. She's always been driven, focused on her work, a peacemaker at heart.Nixie's eyes darken, an emotion I can't dec
ELIJAHA flash of movement catches my eye, and I whip my head left to see Sophia, Irene's wolf, running beside me. Her dark charcoal fur stands out against the green backdrop of the forest. "Thought you might need a little back-up," Irene's voice rings clearly through the mind-link.Joshua's voice joins in, overriding Irene's. "We're here to protect our Luna too." I glance at Maxwell on my right, racing alongside us. Their concern for Rena warms me – she truly has a way of drawing people in with her kindness."Alright then," I say, resolve hardening in my chest. "Let's go kick some ass."With our enhanced wolf speed, we cover miles in a short time. The sound of our pounding paws echoes through the trees as we near the Moonlight Pack territory.An hour later, I stare down at the scene before me – ten bodies lie unmoving on the forest floor, faces contorted with blood. Theon wasn't bluffing. He had ten men positioned near the Moonlight Pack border, hidden and waiting for a chance to st
ELIJAH"My apologies, General!" the guard mutters, baring his neck in a brief gesture of surrender. He turns to me with a look of annoyance,“You may enter.” There is no sincerity in his voice. His annoyed glare lingers as he steps aside.I return the glare with a smirk and walk past the gates. Seconds later, Cyrus leads me down the silent castle hallway. Our shoes click rhythmically against the polished concrete floor. The walls, adorned with panels of dark, striated marble at intervals, hint at the castle's modern renovation despite its historical reminders. Every few paces, a sculpture of a ferocious beast – sharp canines, long nails – stands as a stony reflection of the royal bloodline. Our ancestors. This is only my second time here. The first was for a royal party the King threw to celebrate his birthday. "Apologies for Nile's behavior," Cyrus says over his shoulder, his voice lacking sincerity. "He's new and unfamiliar with protocol." There's no way a royal guard wouldn't be
ELIJAHA jolt rips through me. The Iron Claw Pack? Fuck, no!"Easy now," Rowan smirks. "You stay Alpha, but like a… what's the word?" He furrows his brow in mock thought. "Ah yes, a puppet Alpha." My chest tightens.Rowan leans back, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Basically, you dance to my tune. Any changes I’ll demand, anything I need from the pack – you follow my orders. Disobey, and you lose the Alpha title completely. Faster than you can say ‘rogue’" His aura turns icy. "Think carefully, Elijah."My head spins. Since childhood, my eyes have been set on the Iron Claw Pack – a pack rivaling a king's power. It was my goal, the reason I pushed myself to the limit, surviving every poisoning attempt by my own family. This fight with Theon, it's all to protect that dream."So?" Rowan's voice cuts through the fog. "Deal or no deal?"Silence stretches, thick and heavy. My body's frozen, my voice stuck in my throat. The Pack or Rena?Rowan sighs, downing his drink in one go. The glass slam
VERENAThe sterile room hums with tension that I feel in my bones. Each contraction feels like an organ tearing at my insides, the pain stealing my breath. My frantic gasps fill the air, which is vibrating with the murmurs of the medical staff around me.It has been seven months since I learned about my true identity and started living in the Moonlight pack. My dad has been extremely caring towards me and has left no stone unturned to make sure I am healthy while my belly grows. A part of me still can’t believe that I am the lost princess of the Moonlight pack. It feels like a dream, or a scene straight out of a movie.That’s why it's scary. Whenever good things happen, I fear that they’ll all be taken away from me. That fear has taken form in my mind at this moment in the operating room.A young nurse, barely past her twenties, holds my hand, her grip surprisingly firm. “Okay, Miss Verena. We need you to stay calm for the baby.”I squeeze her hand back, finding a sliver of comfort in
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.