LucyThe early morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the training room, casting a warm glow over the mats and equipment. As I stretched and readied myself for another combat class, I caught Duke’s eye across the room. We exchanged grins. Everything had changed so quickly between us.Family.The room buzzed with excitement as students got ready to start the warm-up. I found myself a spot next to Duke, feeling more of a surge of comfort than usual. He bumped me gently. “You’re practically glowing.”I grinned at him. “You are too.”Lucian came in, grinning at the class, dressed for a workout.“Good to see you all so ready to get tossed around this morning! Gloves on. Let’s get started.”We got through the warm-up before we paired up. I adjusted the straps of my gloves as Duke approached, his easy grin. “Ready, Lucy-Cat?”I scowled at him, falling into step beside him as we headed to our designated sparring area. “You’re doing that on purpose.”“I will gracefully allow you t
LucyThe man sneered. “As if you could dictate to me, Lucian. I will bring Duke to the Council Hall as ordered.”Lucian’s eyes flashed. “Trent, Riley, and Dagon have agreed to serve as interim liaisons until I can officially appoint one. He’s not going anywhere with you.”Relief washed over me as Lucian’s words sank in. The man was angry, but we had good reason not to even think about going anywhere near the Council. “Who do you think you are to question the Council?” The man sneered. The man scowled, his gaze locked onto Duke. “You’re to report to the Council Hall immediately. Your presence is requested. Handlers are busy, and you—“Lucian growled, his eyes flashing. “We’re going to have a fucking problem if you keep this up.”Duke winced. “I’m in the middle of training right now. Can’t this wait?”The representative’s smile faded, replaced by a cold and stern look. “It can’t. This is a matter of importance.”I saw Duke’s jaw tense, his gaze narrowing. I knew he was considering hi
LucyAs the summer ended, a sense of excitement and anticipation filled the air. We still hadn’t found a liaison, but the Council didn’t seem to be attempting anything suspicious. Fall was approaching, and with it came the beginning of a new academic year. I was nervous about what would come next, but Dagon reassured me that until I was done with my human degree and basic magical studies at the coven, there was nothing for me to worry about. Today, I was supposed to be registering for my classes at the human college. The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow across my room. I stretched and yawned, my mind already buzzing with plans for the day. After a quick shower and breakfast, I headed to the human college using my Moving Ring. My heart raced with a mix of excitement and nervousness. I was pursuing a degree in criminal justice. Dagon said it was a good field for someone headed into the Academy, but I’d need to supplement those courses with more supernatur
LucyLucian’s words resonated with me for the next few days. There was so much about the werewolf world that I didn’t know. Maybe my fear of it would go away if I knew more. With any luck, all my coursework would make that the case. “There!” Jessie said, pointing down the way and waving her hands over her head. The Hecate City airport bustled with activity as a large group of people made their way from one of the terminals. The Blood Moon escort with us lifted the sign overhead as Jessie waved her hands. The group of newcomers were also members of the White Moon Pack who had moved across the country after the war. One of them looked over at us, pointed, and the rest of them followed. Jessie rushed to meet them, and as I pulled Duke forward to greet them with Lucian, I felt like we were making more and more progress towards restoring the White Moon Pack, my family. Excitement and curiosity surged through me as I watched them interact. They pulled me into a hug even if they weren’t
LucyWe left the café and rode back to the pack house. The goodbye lingered longer than I admitted, and I quickly used my Moving Ring to go to Stacy’s building with all of my bags. I got into the elevator, and a dreamy smile played on my lips. The day had been fun but at the end of it… I couldn’t shake off the warmth that had settled in my chest, the memory of David’s laughter, and his teasing remarks.The look in his eyes when we were seated by the window. Just as the doors of the elevator opened, Tina’s mischievous voice rang out from in front of me. “Well, well, well, look who’s got that starry-eyed glow! Must be a hell of a guy!”I looked up to find Tina leaning against the wall near the entrance of the elevator, a knowing grin on her face. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but I couldn’t hide the contentment that radiated from me.“Hi, Tina,” I replied, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.She chuckled, pushing herself off the wall and sauntering over to me. “Oh, c
LucyMy heart stuttered at his words, a mixture of surprise and warmth flooding my veins. The idea of attending the Festival with David was both thrilling and intimidating. There was no way I could even think that going to an event like this wouldn’t mean something more than just a showing for the pack. It would mean tying myself in the minds of everyone to David. I bit my lip. “You look nervous.” “I am.”“Because of them?”“I-I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”He smiled. “Whether you are on my arm or not, I’m causing a hell of a lot of trouble on your behalf.”He turned back to look at the poster. “There’s no pressure to answer now, Lucy. Or at all.”“What… will you do if I don’t go? Do you… have another date in mind?”He smiled. “I didn’t.”My face heated as I realized what he meant. He was planning to ask me anyway. He nodded toward the library. “Let’s keep going. I’m sure we can find something better to do with the time than stare at a poster, hm? How are your basics
LucyI looked up to see Lucian walking in his pajamas with a stack of mail under his arm. He smiled, holding a cup in his hand. “Well… yes.”Lucian nodded. “I’m glad… Walk with me? I think we should talk.”I nodded, walking alongside Lucian through the house until we reached the serene courtyard behind it. There was only a sliver of moonlight coming from the sky. Lucian’s gaze was distant, contemplative, and I sensed that there was something on his mind. “Is everything okay, Lucian?”“Sort of. I’ve received invitations for our pack to attend the Crescent Festival and other werewolf-centric events… private parties, etc.” The mention of the Crescent Festival had my heart skipping a beat. “You don’t look happy about it…”“It could be a chance to gain allies among the smaller packs…” His lips twitched. “Or rather, it is, but there’s a need to be cautious. Entangling ourselves so deeply with the werewolves again might lead to another power struggle faster than anyone is prepared for.”
LucyI stammered and pulled my hand back, but the roses continued to bloom. My face heated. “It’s written all over your face,” he said. “I didn’t give you a rose seed. It was supposed to be aloe vera.”I looked at the bush, and Duke grinned at me. “I… I didn’t even realize what I was doing.”“Transfiguration,” Lucian said simply. “Changing is just a step behind conjuring from nothing. Good job.”“You were thinking about David, weren’t you?” Duke said, grinning. “Red roses, Lucy?”“Leave me alone!”Lucian chuckled. “Your magic responded to your emotions, Lucy. There’s nothing to be ashamed of… But we do need aloe vera, so next time, try to picture that instead of a rose garden when you’re fantasizing.”Duke snickered.The weekend arrived, bringing with it a sense of relaxation that I desperately needed. With my textbooks set aside for a couple of days, I was looking forward to some downtime. I had managed to grow one aloe vera plant once Lucian and Duke had stopped teasing me. I was
LucyThe morning sun, a mischievous wink through the blinds, painted golden stripes across our bed. I snuggled deeper into the warmth of David's embrace, the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest a soothing lullaby. He slipped his hand across my lower back. The warmth of his bare skin against mine set a spark of pleasure through me. He rumbled low and content into my hair. “Wake up,” David rumbled. He kissed my head and twined a curl around his finger. “We have things to do.”“You shouldn’t have kept me up all night.”He chuckled. “You didn’t say that last night.”I nudged him. He dipped his head to nip my lips. “You know, if it’s too much, you can always tell me to slow down.”He’d been saying that for five years now, and I never found a reason to tell him to. He knew that. His eyes flickered between colors. I nipped his lower lip. “Give me a reason.”He smirked and rolled me onto my back. “To slow down or…”“To get up,” I said as he kissed
LucyI sat on the cold stone, watching her, but she didn’t move another muscle. I didn’t know how long it had been, but it didn’t matter. The spectral glow around her was starting to dim, and my mind was just too stressed to do too much thinking. The light of the ritual, the spell I’d used, the blood on my hands all flashed through my mind, and part of me wondered if it was all just a dream. I looked down at the stained and ruined gown. The armor was as pristine as ever, but most of the embroidered roses were torn or stained. This dress would never be white again, let alone whole. I flicked a piece of the long, gossamer fabric and shook my head. I really liked this dress.“Lucy!”I turned my head toward the sound of David’s voice, wrung out and relieved to hear him. He was rushing through the air towards me. He dropped down a few feet from me, looking so worried I could cry.I smiled at him as he dropped to his knees beside me and threw his arms around me,
LucyI sailed through the air, landing with a jarring thud within the ritual circle. With a trembling hand, I pushed myself up, my senses on high alert. A figure, cloaked in darkness, appeared in front of me. My blood ran cold. Selene."Well, well, Lucy," her voice, honeyed yet laced with venom, slithered into the darkness. "Thank you ever so much for making this easy at last.”I grit my teeth. I wouldn't go down without a fight. Straightening my shoulders, I met her gaze, my voice shaking but resolute. "You underestimate me.” “No, Lucy,” her voice dropped, and a cruel smile twisted her lips. "You underestimate me.” The chanting grew louder around me. I lunged for the necklace, my fingers grazing its cold surface before Selene snatched it away, a triumphant gleam in her eyes. But that touch, fleeting as it was, ignited something. I felt her pushing at my mind. I felt her shoving me back until I could see the forest from before, and we were fighting in a ci
MattMy vision pulsed and flickered, a strobe light of pain blurring the edges of reality. Tony rained blows down on me, slashing with claws. Each hit chipped away at my resolve and my control, leaving behind a raw desperation to end this quickly. My armor protected me from most of the damage, but still. He was always the stronger of the two of us. I thought it was just because he was the older of the two of us, but this was different. I thought for sure he was going to bite off my head. Then, a flash of golden light arced through the air, and a spear lanced past my shoulder, catching Tony square in the chest. I turned back to see Ginevra hovering in the air. Her golden dress glowed as she passed me with a glowing winge spreading from her back. What the absolute fuck?Tony staggered, falling to the ground, and Dad darted forward, encasing Tony in a shimmering web of light. The wave turned to chains. He thrashed and howled, straining against the magical bonds, but t
LucyPeter's breath hitched, rasping, and shallow, then deepened into a cough that wracked his battered body. His eyelids fluttered, eyelids so pale they were almost luminous in the dim torchlight. He struggled to get up, leaning on his Spear and on Michelle. The light pulsing through the Spear rippled over his skin. He let out a soft sigh and stumbled a little. “Peter?”“I... It’s gone.”“What?” Michelle gasped as his hair started to change, losing the gray color and growing dark. His face turned younger until I was sure that he was all of twenty-something. He grew a bit taller, too, bigger until his shirt strained against his chest and his buttons popped. He flushed. “Well… that’s not…” He cleared his throat as Michelle smiled up at him. “So this is what you looked like in your youth?”He scoffed. “I’m much younger than you think.”He grunted, pressing a hand to his side. “Wish the Spear would heal the wound, though.”I winced. “Sorry… it’s a
PeterMy feet pounded a frantic rhythm against the uneven earth, branches whipping at my face, thorns tearing at my clothes. How long had I been running? How much further did I have to go? I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter so long as I got there. My lungs burned, legs screaming in protest, but still I ran. The trail of blood behind me and the patchwork of wounds across my body, chunks of missing and regrowing flesh, weren’t my concern right now. The creature—the wolf was after me, and unlike before, it didn’t seem willing to back off or slow down. It was going to kill me, and what happened after that was anyone’s guess. Behind me, the guttural snarl of the wolf echoed through the trees. Too close to be comfortable. Too close to make sense. This was too much like that dream, but worse. So much worse. The sky was a kaleidoscope of images I could barely make out. They flashed in the sky and in my vision, making it hard to see. I saw Lucy. I saw Michelle. The long
LucyAdrenaline surging, I grabbed Michelle and pulled her after me deeper into the inky depths of the tunnel.“Quick!”She panted. “What’s going on? Peter—”“He’s possessed,” I said. “Just keep running for now!”I saw my Allison up ahead, leading me down another tunnel. Behind us, I heard Peter's guttural snarls, the rhythmic thud of his feet echoed eerily in the confined space. We had to lose him and the other one quickly, but we didn’t seem to be putting enough distance between us. Panic coiled in my gut, urging me to run faster and push my body beyond its limits. Michelle kept up relatively well. We twisted and turned, navigating the treacherous path by torchlight and the spectral murmurs of White Moon's fallen. But the passage seemed to twist back on itself. When we were back at the forked path, the faint light that had been illuminating the tunnel went out, plunging us into darkness.Michelle shuddered. She drew closer to me and tightened her grip on m
LucyI was back in that house with that couple that adopted me. I felt the floorboards creaking as I went downstairs. I saw the men in suits. I shrieked, turning. Not again. I couldn’t be back here. Where was David? How had I gotten back here? I looked down. I wasn’t… wearing the dress or the armor. I had no daggers. My hair was just as uncombed and dry as it had been then. When I looked in the mirror, the skinny young woman who had barely had anything more than ramen and school lunch stared back at me. My stomach lurched. The door opened, and I turned to run, knowing what was about to happen. I dug my heels in as dark shadows pulled me towards the door. I felt myself being lifted onto someone’s shoulders. I fought and kicked, but all my training and all my strength were gone. I saw the calendar on the wall, but the date was different. It wasn’t my birthday. It was the day of the Crescent Moon Festival. I screamed, grabbing anything I could manage. Then, Sele
DavidOren's head arced through the firelit air, landed, and rolled. His body dropped to the ground, still spurting blood. Then, all hell broke loose.The shimmering barrier around the Ball faltered, rippling like a pond, before collapsing entirely. Hunters poured into the arena, their snarls blending with everyone's shocked gasps. “Defensive measures, now!” I yelled, my voice carrying over the sound of the attack. A group of dragon shifters took to the sky as my blade clashed with the first hunter. How had they gotten through the barrier? I saw a flicker of a ghost and growled. “Selene!” I shoved the hunter back, slicing through him before sending out a shockwave of air. She’d been behind this, and maybe she’d been planning this for years, using the werewolf virus to spy on the preparations. It would make sense to try and get rid of me. I was the direct descendant of Fenris. More than that, it was their movements. Each and every one of them moved e