DENVER.“What is going on here?”Ivan was the first to speak out what was in all our minds because the moment we arrived at the address Jaxon had sent, even a crowd was an understatement to describe the number of people that were already there. “It’s everyone in both Packs,” Cory whispered to me.A low grunt escaped my lips.“What the hell is he up to now?” I cussed. “Thelma!” Eliana’s voice echoed from a distance and I looked to see her at the door with Cory’s wife. We marched forward, coming to a halt for a bit.“Why is everyone here? Did Jaxon say anything? Where is he?” Eliana’s million questions started to gush from her lips. “We don’t know why he summoned us here too. He just showed up for the first time since the Masquerade Ball and ordered everybody here, both Packs” Thelma replied.“We had no choice but to follow. From the looks of it, the Blood Hounds seem to fear him more than anything” She added. “Well, have you seen Elijah at least?” I stepped forward, my breath hitched i
ELIANA. I burst through the chamber doors only to find my father behind his desk. His face was cowered low and his arms were crossed. The atmosphere was tenser in here than it was outside. “Why didn’t you tell me?” He roared. The moment he lifted his gaze, his eyes sliced through me. “Why didn’t you tell me that Denver killed one of my people? You know that’s where I draw the line, Eliana!” He raised his voice and my words got stuck in the back of my throat.Denver walked in right after me and my Dad fell silent. Both their eyes marked into each other and you would understand if you knew the long-brewing rivalry that existed between the Blood Hounds and the Black Mountain Pack—a rivalry that was supposed to come to an end when either of us would finally become Alpha and the two Packs would merge.But today, Jaxon had torn us a thousand steps backward.“You have some audacity sauntering into here?” My Dad darted a glare as cold as ice to Denver and I was the one who stepped in. “He d
ELIANA. As I stepped out of the door, the first thing I did was look around for Denver. I caught a glimpse of him as he strutted behind Blake and my Dad’s Beta Phil alongside some guards who were to lead them outside. I was just about running towards him when Elijah gripped my hands. I turned to look at my son whose face was scrunched up a bit. And then he folded his arms. “Hey, Elijah” I crouched low towards him.“What's the matter?”His lips parted with reluctance before he said, “It’s just that you’re always leaving every time. You and Dad, you’re always leaving” He pouted with a crack in his voice and my heart melted at that moment. I ran my hands through his hair, cradling him closer to me.“Oh Elijah” I heaved.“I wish I didn’t have to leave, all the time and I’m sorry if it feels like I’m barely around. I wish it was different, I want it to be different. I want to wake up on a normal day with you by my side and we spend the rest of the day together—“ His eyes lit up.“Like in
ELIANA.I placed a hand against the door and slowly, it gave way. The air inside the dungeon was humid and moist and the light was barely fathomable. I heard an echo of his footsteps as I drew nearer to the cell.“What are you doing here?” His voice was hoarse and deep as his fingers clung around the railings of the cage. And when I finally came to a halt, I pushed the plate of food that I’d brought over to him.His tainted eyes fell to the ground before raising them back at me.“I brought you something” I heaved. “And how am I sure this isn’t laced with wolfsbane? How am I meant to trust my captor?” He said and for a moment, the silence was piercing before Blake laughed it off.“I’m kidding. I’m kidding” He blurted out, diving right into the plate and I scoffed lightly from my lips. “You should have seen your face” He teased with his mouth full and I leaned against his cage.“For all it’s worth, it doesn’t have wolfsbane in it. I’m not sure of what my Father has his guards feeding yo
ELIANA.For a moment, I just stood there. My eyes boring into the mirror right in front of me as I washed my hands and my face and every part of my body that was smudged and stained with her blood. Every inch reminded me of my failure to protect my sister. And even after some time had passed, there were still tears in my eyes that went ahead to stream down my cheeks.I shut off the tap, heaving a deep breath before running my hands across my face. The wet strands of my hair fell across my temples and I took a step back. It stung…it stung a lot. Because this was yet another life Jaxon had taken and to think it was his blood sister’s. It was clear he was going to stop at nothing until he got what he wanted and for the past twenty hours, it just seemed like he was winning and he was taking everything down with him.Nora didn’t deserve to die. Not that way, not in my arms begging me to save her but at the end of the day, I couldn’t. She had to drink my blood but she died before she coul
ELIANA. I grasped the last candle remaining, lighting it and placing it full circle around her body just like the rest of them. I needed the whole room which I paced back and forth to do the spell. And it was a race against time because every second longer Nora stayed dead, the harder it was going to be for me to bring her back. "Eliana" My Nana called from behind and from her tone, I knew exactly what she was about to say next. I stood up straight and her brows curled with wry. "It's a really difficult spell, Eliana. I myself can't even do it" She muttered. I pulled out the spell book."Well we're different. And I have exactly what I need" I replied, leaning over to remove the fabric from Nora's face. Her eyes were closed and her skin was a pale blue-black color. Luckily it hadn't been so long.I heaved a deep breath, bringing my eyes to meet Denver's after I made him promise me to not interfere with this. And even though he remained quiet and folded his arms, I could see the worr
ELIANA. “Spectra et umbras, aperite portas”Nora’s eyes were brazen with surprise as they fell on me. She stood up to her feet and could barely contain her words. “You came” She said. I nodded my head. “I said I was going to protect you…”“Of course I came” I replied and she pressed her lips together. By that time, I inched close enough to her. “Now, let’s get out of here.” With a hand stretched out to her, Nora looked back and forth doubtfully. “Get out of here?” She echoed, a little bewildered with an arch between her brows and I nodded. “I know a way. I can get you out of here” “You mean resurrect me?” She echoed as I pulled her arms. At that moment, I looked down at the dress she was wearing which was the exact one she’d died in. It was a good thing she wasn’t in white yet. Even the blood stain was still lodged in her sides but it was fading away quickly. “It’s not too late now” I heaved. “Just come with me, I’ll tell all you about it later” Nora slipped her hands through mine
ELIANA. It wasn’t until after I walked out of that room and past the corridor that I realized it was daylight outside the window. A deep breath heaved out of my lips, beyond glad that the tumultuous night had come to an end. As I reached the door to my Father’s room, I came to a halt. A gust of air blew into my face and I went over my lines in my head before finally raising my hands to knock. It was his guard who opened the door and the next eyes that met mine were Phil’s. “Where is my Dad?” I breathed heavily. The air inside his chambers was already cold and somewhat tense and Phil brought his eyes over to the desk right in the corner and my father was seated right behind it. I sauntered towards him and he took his eyes off the paper in his hands.Our eyes met, it was nice to see him easing back into normal pack duties and documentation after everything that happened but this conversation had been long overdue.“Eliana” He called out as I came to a halt in front of him. “To what d