The zipper on the jacket Scott gave Ciara was so difficult to put on. Her hands were slippery from the damp ground she had unconsciously been clutching inside the cave while waiting for him, who was yet to arrive.As Scott approached her, Ciara thought he would scold her for not being able to do something as simple as zipping up her jacket. However, she didn’t expect him to kneel and help her with the zipper.“Thanks.”Her gratitude received no response from him. Instead, he looked up, his gaze fixed on her lips.Afterward, he brought his face closer to hers, and she instinctively pulled away. Her movement startled him. He blinked and seemed momentarily confused.“Let’s go back,” he said then, turning away and leaving her.What was he about to do just now?*The cabin was in a state of chaos. It was no wonder the team members were worried about Scott’s condition. Scott probably felt the same way if he saw all this, plus the reports from the Moon Ashes patrol members.The main room in
Hayley didn’t come alone. She was accompanied by several patrol team members, including Burke and Godrick, as well as Maila.While the others simply stared at Scott in disbelief, Hayley walked in and pointed her finger at him.“I knew it!” she yelled. “You’ve been hiding something from me!”After saying that, she glared at Ciara and raised her hand high. A slap was about to land on Ciara’s face if Scott hadn’t caught Hayley’s hand and pushed her away.“What are you doing?!” Scott barked.Hayley pulled her hand away from Scott and held her wrist. It seemed Scott had gripped it too tightly in the heat of the moment, and now Hayley looked pained. Her expression was a mix of anger, pain, and disappointment.Scott knew his defense of Ciara would hurt Hayley. But for the Moon Goddess’s sake, Scott was ruthless and felt no pity or guilt towards her.“Why are you protecting her?! Whose side are you on?!”“You shouldn’t have slapped her! She’s innocent!” Scott defended.Of course, this only fu
Ciara’s two legs felt as though they were bound to stone chains as she crossed the gravel road that led her to Scott’s residence. The two werewolves accompanying Scott weren’t particularly friendly towards her. They didn’t smile at all when she accidentally met the gaze of both men, who were waiting for her and Scott at the bottom of the cabin’s stairs.“Let’s go,” Scott said to his friends.The two men walked ahead, and Scott and Ciara followed. She searched for her necklace pendant and her heart rate slightly calmed when her hand felt the cold surface of the object.The distance they covered felt so far, and as the trees became sparse and the road transformed from dusty gravel to a smooth black surface, she spotted a row of houses in the distance, and her nervousness escalated rapidly.This was the first time she was inside a pack of werewolves. Until now, she had been surrounded by humans who treated her unjustly.She felt both excited and fearful at the same time. Excited because
“I have to make sure she is not dangerous. I don’t want to endanger our pack,” Scott glanced at Ciara before looking back at Hugh and speaking. “And I’m not a cold-blooded werewolf who kills every rogue I encounter. We can get information from them.”“And what information can you get from her?” Hugh asked.Scott fell silent. “I don’t think it’s something we can discuss in front of her.”Hugh took a deep breath and said, “Well then, until you get information from her, confine her in the prison—”“No,” Scott interrupted. “She’s not a threat, so we don’t need to confine her.”Tension mounted, and Ciara edged behind Scott. She didn’t want to end up back in a cell...“And what assurance can you give me that she’s not dangerous, Scott?” Hugh challenged. “After all, I’m still the Alpha of Silvercrest. If something happens, and this girl is the cause, I have to take responsibility for it.” Hugh, shorter than Scott, raised his chin and gazed at his son. “Now, tell me. What assurance can you gi
Ciara was taken aback by Scott’s question. Thinking about Nova had made her sad, and without realizing it, she started crying. She quickly wiped away the tears on her cheeks while forcing a laugh.“No!” she said. “I’m just tired.” Her voice trailed off at the end, and then she hid her face by bowing her head.I am a bad liar; she thought. She wasn’t good at lying, and she was sure Scott didn’t believe her weak excuse.However, Scott didn’t comment further on it. It seemed he wasn’t too concerned about whether Ciara was really crying or not.“Stand up. We’re going to my house now,” he commanded.She stood up and brushed the dust off her backside. She followed him, who was walking ahead. They left the Alpha’s house, and she took a deep breath, feeling like she had successfully passed through something terrifying.She prepared herself for more curious stares, but when they stepped outside, there was no one on the streets.“Starting today, you’re a guest at Silvercrest,” Scott said as he
“I heard the news that my fiancé invited a girl to stay at his house,” Hayley said, placing her hands on her hips. Her jaw clenched as she fixed a sharp gaze on Ciara. “Turns out the news is true,” she added.“It’s not like what you think,” Scott said. However, he seemed indifferent to Hayley’s rage. He continued cooking instead of approaching her to calm her down.Of course, Scott’s demeanor only made Hayley angrier. “How can it not be what I think it is?! Now, if I were to invite a man to live with me, share the same room and bed, wouldn’t you think of what I think?!”Scott half-slammed the knife he was holding onto the countertop. One hand rested on the edge of the table, and the other was on his hip. He took a deep breath and stared at Hayley.“That’s a totally different thing!” he snapped. “It’s not like I invited her to stay here because I like her. It’s all because Hugh told me to take responsibility for Ciara being here.”“Oh... so your name is Ciara?” Hayley no longer paid at
Ciara heard the front door being opened and then slammed shut. Not long after, Scott returned to the kitchen. He stood with his hands on his hips and said, “Don’t mind her.”But that was impossible, of course. Hayley’s position at Silvercrest was stronger than Ciara’s; it had to affect her. “Is she your girlfriend? What does ‘engagement’ mean?” Ciara asked.Scott furrowed his brow. “You’ve never heard the word ‘engagement’?”Ciara shook her head. “No,” she said. “I only know about boyfriends and husbands.” She paused for a moment. “Nova told me.”“I know.”“Know what?”“I know Nova is the one who told you.”This time, Ciara raised an eyebrow in surprise. “How could you know?”Scott walked behind the counter and continued cooking. “Because I only heard the name Nova from your mouth and no one else’s. So, I concluded that this Nova person is the one who taught you everything about life.”Ciara felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment. She looked down and played with her intertwined fing
There were more werewolves gathering when Ciara arrived at the patrol team’s main base. The place was huge, consisting of wooden buildings, a very spacious semi-open room, and a courtyard capable of accommodating a thousand people. Ciara felt the burning enthusiasm amidst her embarrassment. She was happy to meet many werewolves, something she had dreamed of for a long time. However, just like when she came to Silvercrest, all eyes looked at her with suspicion and curiosity.She followed Scott as he walked while chatting with Sewell. She lowered her head, occasionally glancing towards the crowd, who stared back at her cynically. Among the crowd was Hayley.Everyone crowded toward the open space near the field and stood in rows. Five other people, including Scott, stood facing them. Ciara knew those five people; three of them were the ones who came to Scott and Ciara at the cabin. It seemed they were important figures in Silvercrest, just like Scott.Ciara stood outside the room, near t
Ciara’s hand, which was gently rubbing Scott’s arm, fell limp upon hearing that. “What are you saying? What’s that supposed to mean?” She couldn’t think. She didn’t know what filled her mind right now. It was as if her brain’s functionality had been hindered, and she couldn’t draw conclusions from the reality Scott revealed. “Nova...,” Ciara murmured, uttering the name with confusion. “You... and Nova...?” “Yes. We’re siblings. Nova is my brother. A brother I never knew I had.” Ciara covered her mouth with both hands. It was too impossible to be called a coincidence. Nova had indeed mentioned that Silvercrest was the pack where her mother came from, but Ciara never imagined he had a blood connection with Scott. “I was as surprised as you when I found out about it from my mother,” said Scott. He shook his head. “It turns out my sibling has been looking out for you, Ciara. She saved you, my mate, from hell.” Ciara didn’t know why she stood up and walked to the riverbank, but she
There’s a nook beneath the cliff they had passed earlier. A stretch of white sand extends along the river with clear water as emerald as gemstones. An expanse of forest stretches on the opposite bank of the river, and there’s a large shady oak tree right next to the nook.Ciara sighed in amazement at the sight. A perfect place.“This is just the beginning,” Scott explained. There was a hint of proudness in his voice. “Wait until nightfall, and you’ll witness something much more beautiful than all of this.”Ciara furrowed her brow at Scott’s explanation. She was curious. “What’s going to happen?” Then she looked at the sky and remembered the expanse of stars in the Moon Warriors’ territory. “Are we going to see the stars?”“More than just that,” Scott murmured. He winked, and Ciara’s heart trembled at the sight.Scott led her into the large nook near the oak tree. There, he invited her to sit on the sand. He stretched out his legs and looked towards the river.“This is the perfect plac
“I was looking for you,” Ciara replied. “Louis came to me and Godrick, crying. He said you were missing, and he was terrified.” Ciara looked Margo up and down. “But seems like you’re okay. What actually happened?”Margo’s face appeared flushed. She bent her knees and hugged them, placing her chin there. “I... I’m okay,” she murmured. “I just wanted to... disappear for a while.”Ciara sighed. She took a seat next to Margo and sat with her. They both gazed towards the river. “What happened?” Ciara asked. “Will you tell me?”Margo picked up a stone near her foot and threw it towards the river. “I—this is embarrassing,” she said, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I can tell you.”“Tell me. I won’t judge,” Ciara assured her. “And whatever happened to you is important. Just like you, I won’t take it lightly.”Margo stared at Ciara for a while. “I... I actually like Deck.”That wasn’t surprising. However, to spare Margo’s feelings, Ciara feigned astonishment. “Oh, really? Since when?”Margo sh
“But I’m not done,” Ciara said. “I still have to train them until later this afternoon with Godrick.”Scott frowned upon hearing her mention Godrick’s name. “Who schedules your activities?”“We schedule them together.”“If there’s a rescheduling, I won’t allow you to be paired with Godrick in anything.”Ciara could only roll her eyes and choose to ignore Scott’s protests. His jealousy was entirely unfounded.“What time will you be finished?”“At four in the afternoon.”“Then we’ll meet at home later in the evening, okay?”Ciara nodded, closing her eyes briefly. Scott leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “See you later, then.”He waved and walked away. Shortly after Scott left the main base, Godrick opened the office door and approached Ciara. “I’ve been peeking through the window, waiting for him to leave,” he grumbled. “He’s really annoying.”“Don’t you act like that toward your partner?”Godrick looked surprised at Ciara’s question. He blinked and then shook his head. “Me? Do you
Ciara waited patiently, but after their meeting with Mila, Scott had yet to fulfill his promise to take Ciara around. Until now, she didn’t know what the continuation of their plans regarding the couple’s ritual would be like.“Ciara, watch out!”Something rushed towards her and almost collided with her. Swiftly, Ciara jumped to the side, avoiding the attack and successfully saving herself from the onslaught of an uncontrollable wolf.They were having a routine competition among patrol team members, and now it was a match between Deck and a new member named Louis. The one who had just lunged at Ciara was Deck.After the match ended, Deck ran over to Ciara.“I’m sorry!” he exclaimed, bowing. “I didn’t mean to attack you!”Godrick walked behind him and pressed the young man’s head. “Bow deeper,” he commanded, pushing Deck’s head further down, almost to his knees.“Godrick, stop it,” Ciara said, glaring at Godrick.Godrick gave her a grin and released his hand from Deck’s head.“You were
Ciara concluded her story with a smile. She wiped away her last tears that evening and stroked the grave marker of Nova, bidding him farewell.“We’ll visit her occasionally,” Scott said.They walked side by side, Scott embracing Ciara, and Ciara hugging Scott around the waist as they headed towards the car.“That day... I don’t know what would have happened to me if it weren’t for you finding me,” Ciara reminisced, as the car drove away from the cemetery.“You would have become a captive for sure. They would have tortured you or even killed you. A rogue is one of the pack’s archenemies, and there is no mercy for those who dare to trespass into our territory.”“But you spared me.”“Because my wolf forbade me to harm you.” He glanced through the corner of his eye. “I guess our wolves have a strong instinct about each other.”When they arrived at Silvercrest, a stack of tasks awaited them.For the next few weeks, Ciara and Scott were occupied with their respective activities. Scott was p
That day was the day Ciara basked in the sunlight. She wasn’t truly outdoors, as she had always dreamed, but in a glass-roofed room revealing the blue sky and sunshine. As usual, Nova was with her.Today, he didn’t bring anything, but his presence beside her was more than enough to make her happy.“Do you like being under the sunlight?” he asked as they both sat in a patch of warm golden light.She looked up and raised her hand, shielding her eyes from the brightness. “Yes. The sun and the sky become refreshing colors to my eyes. They are something special.” Then she gazed at him. “You must see them every day, right?”Nova didn’t answer immediately. He just stared at Ciara with his gentle gaze that always made her heart race. “Yes... I see them every day to the point where I take them for granted.”Ciara smiled faintly. “In that case, we have a different perspective on what’s special.”Nova nodded. He then lifted his face and made the same motion as Ciara. As they both lowered their h
And imperceptibly, days had passed. Ciara had fallen under Nova’s charm, and for the first time, she listened to and obeyed someone in that place.Ciara didn’t interact much with people here, and none of them caught her interest. They seemed gloomy with stern faces and rough behavior. But Nova was different.Her heart raced every time he appeared. There was a fresh and calming scent about him that could mask the unpleasant smell of the cleaning fluids she despised. He always smiled whenever he entered her room, bringing new things to show her every day.Today, he brought some new items she had never seen before. She thought they might be tools for a series of tests.But it turned out they were called a television and a VCD player.“We’re going to watch a movie,” Nova said, followed by his usual sweet smile. “Have you ever watched a movie?”“Are you mocking me?” Ciara replied curtly.Nova laughed. “Sorry.”A few minutes passed, and Ciara sat quietly on the bed, observing Nova setting u
“Nova came to the place one day after the bad guys took liters of my blood and tested various types of bullets to shoot into my body.”Ciara started her story about Nova.*It was a rough day, just like any other day Ciara spent in that horrible place.She hated everyone there and her wolf was at a peak of rage, which she could not control. Every few minutes, someone injects a large dose of anesthetic and attaches a special device that renders her immutable.As the drugs and devices took effect, her vision became blurry and she could only hear voices around her. They spoke in stretched tones and it was as if they were talking underwater.The anesthetic reaction lasted only half an hour at most. Her self-healing ability makes the effects of the anesthetic fade quickly. And when she came to her senses, she heard someone speak angrily.“What did you guys do to her?!” the man exclaimed. “She could die if you treat her like this!”Then another person answered the anger with the phrase ‘thi