DENVER. "No!" My voice sent a reverberating thunder through the dungeon walls and I fell to my knees as soon as Blake drove the knife into her chest. Eliana fell forward with a gasp. Her eyes were left open, she heaved her last breath while gazing into my eyes.Blood spilled from her lips and her chest into the fire which erupted into violent flames. The fire spread across the room, demarcating it in half. Blake was on the other side, deep cackles escaping his lips as he turned to me. With one hand around Elijah, a tear escaped my eyes."Mommy" I held him tightly to my chest so he wouldn't have to see his mother like that. But he knew something had happened. "I want you to trust me, and cover...cover your eyes, okay?" I gritted through my teeth, trying my best to overcome the words stuck in my throat.I lifted my eyes to Eliana's hanging body and it was like a sword sliced through my chest. I retired Elijah to the corner as my fist folded up in anger and rage. Blake clapped his hands
ELIANA. I was still trying to make sense of everything that had happened when the room was swept in a brewing storm. My hands tugged at the necklace around my neck and when I looked at Elyndra, she was angry just as much as she was disappointed. Her groans were pulsed with rage as she darted her hands at me.Maybe she realized then that there was no way she could kill me while I was wearing that necklace my Nana gave me. I had heard of magical pendants before but it wasn't until I experienced it that I believed. It made so much sense now that I knew my Grandma was a Witch.It made sense why she kept clamoring that I wear the necklace and never take it off. That night, I had made the mistake of removing it and look at everything that happened."It's meant to protect you" She'd said a million times before. Only now, did I believe it. At that point, the door to the room barged open and Cory walked in. I recognized Denver's Beta almost immediately. His eyes bore a look of shock as they f
ELIANA. The rhythmic beeping of the heart monitor echoed incessantly through my ears as I sat beside my Grandmother. The scent of hospital antiseptic hung in the air and fluorescent lights up above.After a whole night, she finally opened her eyes, managing to sit up on the white crisp sheets. At that moment, I squeezed her hands as I sat up. It had been a very long last few hours. I’d known things that I didn’t my entire life and come to terms with a reality I had no idea of.Yet at that moment, after pondering for hours on what I wanted to say, it was hard to feel any other thing but happy. Happy that my Nana was alive. That she was breathing and that the stupid monitor wouldn’t stop beating. I was happy because I defeated Elyndra.“Hey” She softly called, stretching her frail hands to caress my cheeks. Her eyes narrowed with a million unsaid words and I moved closer to her.“Hey” I whispered. Tears shimmered in my eyes, and in hers.“I’m so glad you’re okay” Nana whispered. I nodd
ELIANA. The winds swept through my hair as I entered the gates. My feet brushed against the blooming flowers that glittered underneath the morning sunlight. The air smelled sweet and a soft breeze was as magical as the birds chirping in the ancient trees.Butterflies danced in the air, every little thing captivated my attention. I forced myself to stay and feel at that moment, more than I ever had before. Because it felt like a dream here, the only place in the whole of Oakland that hadn't been ruined or deforested.My mother was buried here, alongside my Grandpa and some of the wolves that lost their lives during either the Cold War or the Great Fire.As I kicked my feet forward, I breathed in a lungful of fresh air. God, I wished life could always be this beautiful and calm. I brought myself to my mother's graveside for the first time since I got back. For so long, I didn't think I could handle it. I didn't think I could handle seeing her like that. I feared I just might burst into
ELIANA.I swallowed a hard lump down my throat as our eyes met. One of the reasons it was so hard for us to still communicate was because of everything that happened in the past. I really wanted to put it behind me, to forget about all the trauma but that's the thing.I don't think the trauma really ever leaves you. I think it stays.And though for so long it may seem as if it had disappeared, it always has a funny way of creeping up on you when you're having a bite of watermelon or singing in the showers or just standing in the winds. It would hit you like a storm and sweep you off your feet. So really, was there anything like moving forward? Was it possible?"Where is he now?" Her voice drew to me and I escaped my thoughts. I arched my brows. "Your father?" She added. I looked down at my watch."He's at the hospital, with Ivan and the rest of them""He's admitted too, doctor says he's getting a lot better but they're still trying to wean his system of the toxins" I replied. She sco
ELIANA. I burst through the door, out of breath and with my eyes searching for Blake. Finally, I saw him. He was a lot weaker while he laid on the hospital bed, clenching around a pillow. “Blake?” I called.“What is wrong?” Denver immediately stood up once he saw me. I faced him with a grim stare. “I think I know how to save him” I muttered. Nana was closer to him at that point and her hands brushed against his forehead. “He’s heating up” She whispered.When I threw a look back at him, Blake was shivering too, and he was non-verbal. “You were saying of a way to help him?” Denver’s hand fell to my shoulders and I swallowed a hard lump down my throat. Of course, I wasn’t a hundred percent certain but I couldn’t just sit there and watch Blake die. He had about a few hours at least. Color had drained out of his face, even his lips and fingertips were purple. His skin was pale and his pupils were deserted. Once he heard the word ‘help’, he managed to open his eyes and I could see the de
ELIANA. I brought my feet to a halt right in front of his door. My fingers trailed down my neck as I cleared my dry throat. The hair across my skin stood up with the wave of nervousness that hit me at that moment. Folding my fist, I lifted it to the floor and knocked.It didn't take long until Denver opened his door. Once his dark eyes fell on me, a chill went down my spine. He had a stint of surprise in his arched brows but then a snarky grin when I inched closer to him.I had to do this.I had to finally give him my response to what he asked earlier that day."You asked me whether it was too late to go back Denver, whether all hope was lost for us?" I parted my lips and he folded his arms. All his concentration was put into deciphering my next words. I shook my head."Well, we can't go back, Denver" I said. You could cut through the tension in the air with a knife. He swallowed a hard lump down his throat."I already got that from when you left earlier, Eliana, there really is no n
JAXON.I toiled the grounds of the deepest part of the forest. Biting into my knuckles, it was hard to control the anger surging inside of me at that moment. For the past few hours, I couldn't still believe Eliana and Denver, Alpha of the Black Mountain Pack had challenged me for Alpha. Putting a dent through the plan I'd spent my entire life putting together was bound to have serious consequences, especially after they shamed me in front of the entire Pack. I wanted to kill her, my stepsister, Eliana. If I had all those years, this wouldn't have happened."Jaxon," A shrill voice called from behind and I darted a cold glare back to my bride. "I brought you some water, you seem so tense" She whispered, stretching the glass towards me. But I snatched it from her hands, throwing it against the brick wall."Of course I'm tense!" I screamed in her face and Ingrid flinched, cowering her face to the ground. I panted heavily from my lips as my eyes met Nora's. She was sitting in the corner w