ANNA KYLIN CHESTER"THE CHILDREN ARE always welcome here, Luna," the head matron, a thick, busted woman with motherly charms, said, touching my arms softly.I nodded at her gratefully, but my mind was distracted. I turned and looked out the window of her office. They were already mingling with the other students. They were going to fit in perfectly here, and it would be good for their wolf spirits too. Taking them to a human school for a little while was good for their human character development, but that was passed now.Now, they needed the security and camaraderie of fellow pups of their age. "Thank you, matron," I said, standing up. She smiled at me and escorted me out of the office. A tinkling bell sounded through the corridors. "We have a physical practice now. I would love you to be our honored guest.""Oh, I don't want to intrude." I laughed."This is your pack, Luna. You could never intrude," She took my hand in her soft, plump one. "Besides, I am inviting you.""Well, okay.
"YOU FUCKED UP," Vorenus said, tossing the man into the small, dark room and slamming the door behind him."Vorenus, please," The vampire rushed forward and banged against the door. "Please."Vorenus looked at the man. He knew him. His name was Jack and it was Vorenus who changed him."Please-" Jack begged again, his voice cracked. He had a crazed look in his eyes.Vorenus stared coldly, without showing any emotions. "You brought this upon yourself. Vladimir is unforgiving.""I didn't bring any of this on myself!" Jack yelled. "I never asked for any of this. You brought this on me."Vorenus growled. "You didn't think so when you were feeling powerful. When you were enjoying the perks of being a vampire... you didn't blame me for that." His eyes flashed dark red.Jack whimpered and shrunk away from the door."You brought this on yourself and your family," Vorenus snarled. "Every member of your family, including the extended ones, is going to die." He turned away. "Knowing Vladimir, he
ANNIE KYLIN CHESTERI CLASPED LORNA'S hand in mine tightly."YOU should be in the school," she said softly. "I would not want you to miss out on the event they were hosting in your honor."I scoffed. "The event was not IN my honor," I said. "I happen to stumble on it." I rubbed her hand gently. "But I do think we should go back to the kingdom," I said, looking around. We were in the middle of the woods, underneath a thick blanket of creeping plants. Lorna had conjured up a spark of fire to keep the logs burning so we were warm. Slightly."This place is peaceful," she said, staring intently into the dancing flames.I admitted that it was peaceful. Surrounded by nature... and night insects. I slapped one away from crawling up my leg.After staring in silence at the flame, Lorna gave a slight chuckle. "If we had been organized as we had been centuries ago, something like this could never happen." She said."You don't know that," I said softly. I did not want her to go down that self-guil
MITCH CHESTERMITCH SAW THE blood drained from Anna's face. His well-tuned ears picked up the sped-up beating of her heart. She was going into shock.He looked at Lorna. Her last sentence, too, was a shock. It was something he had never expected."Your-" Draco croaked. He cleared his throat and said, "Your g-grandmother?""I am as surprised as you, Beta," Lorna said softly. Her eyes never left Anna's face. "It was all fate. Everything was pre-planned.""What are you talking about?" Mitch asked, shaking his head to clear the cobwebs. This was no longer his conversation. Lorna had taken over."You," Lorna said. She looked at Anna. "The witch blood in you pulled you here. To us. To me." She cocked her head. "You are the reincarnation of her.""Wha-" Draco scoffed. "Lorna, all these -""You even bear her name..." Lorna said, ignoring Draco. "Anna... Annika... they are the same.""I. Am. Not. A. Witch," Anna said tightly, pulling her hand away from Lorna's grip. "I've never been. You are a
ANNA KYLIN CHESTER"BEAUTIFUL NIGHT, INDEED," my wolf, Ava, scoffed at me as I made my way through the woods.After all these years. In my late twenties, and I am suddenly being told that I am a witch? Or worse, the reincarnation of the creator of vampires.I chuffed under my breath. Surely, if it was true what they said, I would have known or seen some signs over the years, but I did not see anything.Was it even possible to be a witch and Werewolf at the same time? I wondered. That would make me... a hybrid. A hybrid?My foot caught the edge of a low branch and I almost stumbled into a shrub, catching myself just in time before I fell headfirst. A clumsy hybrid, I chuckled as I tried to get my directional bearings correct. I turned around. I could see the faint warm glow of the fire in the canopy. I didn't know if they had all followed me out, surely Draco would. He was the Beta, and he took his duties very seriously.I sighed, seeing my breath frost up in the air. I wrapped my ar
MITCH CHESTERHE REMAINED WITH Lorna inside the canopy of plants while Draco hurried after Anna. They exchanged glances over the fire."You are supposed to be with her now," Lorna said, throwing some dry sticks into the fire and watching them burn. "Anyone would be overwhelmed by what she heard this evening."Mitch kept quiet. His gaze was fixated on the fire."She needs you by her side," Lorna said again."Are you still going to leave?" Mitch asked.Lorna sighed. "With what I've just heard?" She scoffed. "Leaving the borders of this kingdom would be like putting a red-hot target on my back..." she looked up. "... but I have to.""What?!" Mitch could not believe his ears."I will not allow the bodies of my sisters to rot on the ground and be feasted upon by vultures." She said in a strong voice."You'd risk your life for... for what?" Mitch asked, exasperated."It's tradition, Mitch," Lorna said. "One that dates back farther than the first Lycan ever appeared."Mitch scowled. "Your si
ANNA KYLIN CHESTERI MUST HAVE underestimated how tired I was because after making sure that the girl's vitals were stable, I only wanted to "rest my head" for a few minutes on the desk in the waiting room, but I dozed off soundly even though it was uncomfortable.I woke up and immediately checked the time on my watch; it was past 7 a.m., meaning that I had slept for about 4 hours. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, and almost had a heart attack at the black eyes staring at me from across the table."Don't do that!" I snapped. "How long have you been there?""3 hours maybe," Mitch replied."So you did not get any sleep, yourself," I said in a matter-of-fact manner."I don't need to sleep," He replied, leaning across and pressing a kiss on my forehead, which I found adorable. "How are you?" He whispered.I nodded dumbly, standing up, and stretching out the cramp in my neck. "I need to check on the girl," I said, coming round the table. He followed me closely as we went into the room.
ANNA KYLIN CHESTER "YOU SHOULD WASH up," Mitch said to me after the children were out of sight."You should, too," I replied. Still holding my hand, he led me into the palace. We passed by the dining room. Enrique sat down alone at the table, wolfing down his breakfast."We could wash up together," he mindlinked me. His words painted a stark image of naked bodies and soap that made me flush red on my neck. He noticed it and smiled. I slipped my fingers out of his and hurried up the stairs, feeling his gaze on my back.As I washed up, I half-expected him to come and join me in the bathroom, but I managed my disappointment when it didn't happen. I packed my hair in a tight ponytail and dressed casually before I went downstairs, suddenly feeling hungry. Mitch was at the table with his uncle; he looked freshened up, too. He must have taken his bath in another bathroom. I sighed in another bout of disappointment and sat down.He took my hand and mindlinked me, "You needed your time alone.