“Hello, I can’t return tonight. Don’t wait for me.”Keir’s call that night caught me off guard. He wasn’t coming back, and I didn’t see him for the next six days. The silence in his cottage felt oppressive at times, even though my life there was comfortable. I had everything I could need—both luxuries and necessities.Two maids were always around, taking care of me, and I was free to move about. I could go to the training ground to practice or stroll in the gardens whenever I wanted. Sasha visited me almost every day, and we spent hours chatting. Sometimes, she even took me to cozy little cafés within the inner territory. In just one week, we became close friends.Eden and I talked daily using Sasha’s phone. From her, I learned that both Kyrell and Keir had gone on a confidential mission, and it might take some time before they returned. Despite the comforts around me, I felt like I was living a secluded life.---(A week later, at Keir’s private training ground)“Afternoon, Eliza.”S
(POV of Young Eliza Claire Gold)I somehow managed to stammer, "Y-You already have a mate! H-How can I-"Keir's arms tightened around me, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "Yes, I do. I found out my mate is my childhood friend-but none of that matters because my Lycan craves you, Eliza. You, more than anyone, more than her, more than fate itself.""Oh."I tilted my face toward him, raising a brow. "So, you want me because your Lycan desires me, is that it?"Keir chuckled low, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Before I could react, he spun me to face him. His hands gripped my waist firmly, pulling me closer until there was no space between us. His voice was low,deliberate. "No, Princess. I want you because I love you. I care for you. You're mine-not because of my Lycan, but because I choose you. I've always chosen you before everyone."My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. His intense gaze locked onto mine, his breathing ragged. I could feel hi
“You can moan louder!”Passion coursed through me, igniting every nerve as I trembled under the intensity of his playful tongue. My voice wavered, barely a whisper. "Keir... it feels so-"Before I could finish, his fingers gently pressed against my lips, silencing me as they slid inside. The warmth of my breath mingled with the slickness of his touch, heightening the tension between us.My body arched instinctively, every muscle tightening as waves of pleasure crashed over me. A soft cry escaped my lips, and when I met his gaze, the satisfied curve of his smile sent another jolt through me.Keir leaned down, his lips capturing mine with a fiery hunger. "Don't give in so soon, Eliza," he murmured against my mouth, his voice low and commanding. "We've only just begun.”My breath came in quick, shallow bursts as the heat between us grew unbearable. His body pressed closer, the firm evidence of his desire teasing me, brushing against the dampness he'd already claimed. The anticipation was
Darkness enveloped the Starfall Forest, its dense canopy casting deep shadows that seemed alive with mystery."Hoot! Hoot!"The owls’ sharp cries pierced the serene stillness of the night, until the faint, rhythmic sound of footsteps broke through, rustling the brittle leaves and snapping dry twigs underfoot.A creature of the night was running, darting through the dense woods of Auryn’s Starfall Forest.Her breaths came in short, heavy bursts as she pushed herself to run faster. Her path led upward, toward the towering mountain that marked the border between the rival kingdoms of Auryn and Verena.Finally, she reached the summit, her slender, golden form framed against the vast night sky. Rising onto her hind legs, the she-wolf tilted her head back and fixed her rare lavender eyes on the moon—a giant orb of silver light radiating an ethereal glow. Like a queen presiding over her celestial court, the moon stood sentinel among a sea of glittering stars, its presence both commanding and
POV of Eliza Claire Gold(5 years later, Velvet Villa, Starlight Kingdom)Knock, knock!“Are you ready, Lily?”Isaac’s calm, gentle voice came from the other side of the door as I adjusted my mask one last time, staring at my reflection in the large, round mirror. My lips curled into a teasing smile as I responded, “More than ready, Sir. Let’s savor some exotic wine tonight.”“It’s Isaac, not ‘Sir.’ How many times do I have to tell you?” he replied, his tone carrying an edge of exasperation.I clicked my tongue playfully and muttered a quick, “Sorry.”Grabbing my shimmering masquerade mask, I smoothed the folds of my red gown embroidered with fine golden threads. It hugged my figure elegantly, though it revealed more than I preferred—a choice I’d reluctantly made to blend in with the crowd.When I opened the door, Isaac was waiting, dressed sharply in a maroon tuxedo. His piercing blue eyes, framed by silver streaks in his neatly combed hair, scrutinized me for a moment before nodding
(POV of Eliza Claire Gold)‘Damn! It looks magnificent.’I mumbled as I entered the vast hall of the VIP floor. It was more extravagantly decorated than the ground floor. A famous pianist was playing a gentle piano tune as some luxuriously dressed couples were swaying their bodies along with it. ‘I should go and find Mr Hogg before anyone else recognises me here,’ I thought to myself as I paved my way through the crowd. Instead of taking the left, I turned right in the direction of the confidential area. That floor was specially reserved for the elite guests of the party so the security was also very strict there. The moment I tried to enter the corridor of the guests’ rooms, I was stopped by two guards who blocked my path, “May we see your ID card, Mam?”“Sure, one minute”, I pretended for a moment to search inside my handbag. Then I flashed them a disappointed smile as I answered in my honeyed tone while playing with a strand of my hair, “I am so sorry. I just forgot it in the ro
Wait! Let me accompany-”Before Juliet could finish her sentence, I ran through the crowd in the opposite direction of Sasha. ‘No! No! How can she be here? She was occupied on the other side of the party! I can never meet her.;’‘H-How will she react if just for once I talk with- What am I even thinking!’ Thousands of conflicting thoughts were in my head when I barged into the washroom. Without realising it, my vision blurred by tears. The tears I always tried to hide from everyone, began to run down from my eyes. Biting my lips, I tried to control the sobs as I kept on murmuring, “Calm down! Calm down! I have an important mission to handle. I must not get distracted.”Taking deep breaths, I calmed myself down and wiped away the tears from the corners of my eyes. But the memories that I was trying to suppress were constantly tormenting me within. After waiting a while, I decided to go back to the party, suppressing my emotions. Obviously, that mission was more important than my sil
‘Damn! Issac!’I cursed annoyedly while walking hastily through the vast and empty corridor of the second floor. I was impatiently trying to call him, ‘Why isn’t he picking up?’My eyes were bordered with tears and my mouth was as pale as my cheeks.I hastily walked out of the Velvet Villa in search of a taxi. It was so early in the morning that there was barely any guard so none tried to stop or question my messy and suspicious appearance. Holding my heels with one hand, I was staggering and dragging myself as far away from the Velvet Vila as possible. My head was still throbbing and my vision was blurry due to the tears, clouding my burning eyes.An inner torment began to gnaw at me as memories were burning my heart. I mumbled, biting my lips hard to control my tears, “How! How the hell did I end up with him again?’While remembering about last night, my face turned red and gloomy as I mumbled, “I- I just h-hate him so much. I never wanna-”My voice just choked in the middle of the
“You can moan louder!”Passion coursed through me, igniting every nerve as I trembled under the intensity of his playful tongue. My voice wavered, barely a whisper. "Keir... it feels so-"Before I could finish, his fingers gently pressed against my lips, silencing me as they slid inside. The warmth of my breath mingled with the slickness of his touch, heightening the tension between us.My body arched instinctively, every muscle tightening as waves of pleasure crashed over me. A soft cry escaped my lips, and when I met his gaze, the satisfied curve of his smile sent another jolt through me.Keir leaned down, his lips capturing mine with a fiery hunger. "Don't give in so soon, Eliza," he murmured against my mouth, his voice low and commanding. "We've only just begun.”My breath came in quick, shallow bursts as the heat between us grew unbearable. His body pressed closer, the firm evidence of his desire teasing me, brushing against the dampness he'd already claimed. The anticipation was
(POV of Young Eliza Claire Gold)I somehow managed to stammer, "Y-You already have a mate! H-How can I-"Keir's arms tightened around me, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, "Yes, I do. I found out my mate is my childhood friend-but none of that matters because my Lycan craves you, Eliza. You, more than anyone, more than her, more than fate itself.""Oh."I tilted my face toward him, raising a brow. "So, you want me because your Lycan desires me, is that it?"Keir chuckled low, a sound that sent a shiver down my spine. Before I could react, he spun me to face him. His hands gripped my waist firmly, pulling me closer until there was no space between us. His voice was low,deliberate. "No, Princess. I want you because I love you. I care for you. You're mine-not because of my Lycan, but because I choose you. I've always chosen you before everyone."My heart pounded so loudly I was sure he could hear it. His intense gaze locked onto mine, his breathing ragged. I could feel hi
“Hello, I can’t return tonight. Don’t wait for me.”Keir’s call that night caught me off guard. He wasn’t coming back, and I didn’t see him for the next six days. The silence in his cottage felt oppressive at times, even though my life there was comfortable. I had everything I could need—both luxuries and necessities.Two maids were always around, taking care of me, and I was free to move about. I could go to the training ground to practice or stroll in the gardens whenever I wanted. Sasha visited me almost every day, and we spent hours chatting. Sometimes, she even took me to cozy little cafés within the inner territory. In just one week, we became close friends.Eden and I talked daily using Sasha’s phone. From her, I learned that both Kyrell and Keir had gone on a confidential mission, and it might take some time before they returned. Despite the comforts around me, I felt like I was living a secluded life.---(A week later, at Keir’s private training ground)“Afternoon, Eliza.”S
POV of Young Eliza Claire"Keir? Where are we going?"I asked, my voice filled with curiosity as I looked around the unfamiliar path. Instead of heading back to the Night Walker Clan house, the car sped deeper into the forest of the Night Walker Territory.Without glancing at me, Keir smirked mysteriously and replied, "You'll find out soon, Firefly. Are you sleepy?"It was close to midnight, but sleep was the last thing on my mind. Keir's presence had stolen any trace of tiredness. My heart fluttered restlessly as my eyes kept drifting to his sharp, handsome features. His charming smile lingered on his lips, and in the soft glow of the moonlight, he looked like a perfect sculpture carved out of stone.Sensing my gaze on him, he suggested, “Take a nap if you want. I’ll wake you up when we get there.”“Umm, no, it’s fine,” I murmured, smiling shyly at him. “I can stay up all night if you—”“If I ask? Would you really do whatever I ask?” Keir teased, his tone playful.Shaking my head, I
POV of Young Eliza Claire Gold“It’s getting late. I think I should leave now,” Eden said, glancing at his watch. I sat besidehim, with Sasha on his other side. Keir and Kyrell were seated next to me.Dave, the host of the party, had stepped out for a moment to greet some VIP guests. The party downstairs on the ground floor was lively, but Keir had arranged a quiet meeting with Eden on the second floor of Dave’s resort to keep things private from the Lycans’ Kingdom.It wasn’t safe for me to leave the Lycans’ Kingdom to meet Eden, so they invited him here. Dave, Keir’s childhood best friend, was helping us in every possible way. At first, I had found Dave a bit strange, but he turned out to be the most welcoming host I’d ever met.I tugged on Eden’s sleeve and looked up at him with pleading eyes. “When will you come to see me again, Brother?”Eden gently patted my head, his voice kind. “Very soon, Eli. I promise.”The thoughts of parting away from him was tormenting me from within. I
"I was extremely busy, as you know," Keir said in a friendly tone, shrugging his shoulders. The young, cheerful guy with gray hair and a delicate, slender build quickly dismissed his other guests.As Keir approached, the other guy leaped forward, wrapping him in a tight hug. "Buddy! I’m so happy to see you! I feel like I’m going to cry. I thought you’d forgotten me already."Struggling to free himself from the guy’s grip, Keir groaned in annoyance. "I wish I could forget you. Why on earth did I even think of coming to your party?""Because you desperately needed my help and were practically begging for it," the guy replied without letting go of him.Leaning against the doorframe, Kyrell watched the scene with a wide grin, clearly enjoying Keir's irritated expression like it was the most entertaining thing he’d seen all day. I turned to Sasha, confused. She leaned closer to whisper, “They’re childhood friends, and he’s—”"My God! Who is this gorgeous lady?"Interrupting her, the cheerf
“K-Keir!”My voice rose in surprise as I stared wordlessly at him, my heart was pounding rapidly. The glimmer in his emerald eyes sparkled like precious gems, stirring a whirlwind of emotions within me. I had missed him terribly, craving his presence during that long, lonely week. And now, as I finally stood before him, I could only gasp in astonishment.His gaze met my questioning eyes, and he gently took my hand in his. In his deep, teasing voice, he asked, “So? Did you miss me, Firefly?”A shy smile tugged at my lips, and warmth crept into my cheeks. Tucking a strand of my carefully styled hair behind my ear, I rolled my eyes and replied, “Humph! Why would I miss you?”Keir raised an eyebrow and pulled me a little closer, his tall figure leaning casually against the car. “You don’t look like someone who didn’t miss me,” he said, his tone playful. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”I looked up at him and replied quickly, “When did I say I wasn’t?”“Ah, so you’re so happy to see me that y
“Hello, I can’t return tonight. Don’t wait for me.”Keir’s call that night caught me off guard. He wasn’t coming back, and I didn’t see him for the next six days. The silence in his cottage felt oppressive at times, even though my life there was comfortable. I had everything I could need—both luxuries and necessities.Two maids were always around, taking care of me, and I was free to move about. I could go to the training ground to practice or stroll in the gardens whenever I wanted. Sasha visited me almost every day, and we spent hours chatting. Sometimes, she even took me to cozy little cafés within the inner territory. In just one week, we became close friends.Eden and I talked daily using Sasha’s phone. From her, I learned that both Kyrell and Keir had gone on a confidential mission, and it might take some time before they returned. Despite the comforts around me, I felt like I was living a secluded life.---(A week later, at Keir’s private training ground)“Afternoon, Eliza.”S
Sitting by the swimming pool, I was chatting with Sasha, who was, as always, her talkative self. She was animatedly recounting every moment she had spent with my brother, describing every word they exchanged.Pausing for a moment, Sasha took a long sip of her virgin mojito and leaned back on her sunlounger. “Why didn’t you tell me that Eden is so handsome?” she asked with a playful pout. “I would have dressed better to impress him!”A secretive smile tugged at my lips as I turned to her and said, “You don’t need to dress up, Sasha. Your smile alone is enough to charm anyone.”The cool evening breeze rippled gently over the lake’s surface, blending with the warm, reddish glow of the setting sun. The sky was painted in hues of orange and crimson, creating a serene backdrop.Curious, I asked, “My brother has never shown interest in dating or even talking to girls. Honestly, I was beginning to think he preferred guys. How did he manage to impress you?”Sasha burst into laughter, her eyes s