ROSE One second, I was looking at Magnus and Ellis being thrown into the sky like stones—and the next thing I knew, I was covered with a warm body. A nice feeling of warmth passed through me, and then I felt more recharged than I had been in the past few days. I was wondering if this was the effect of the golden light when Elena’s concerned voice pierced my thoughts. ‘Are you alright?’ She looked flustered. I quickly nodded. ‘Never better, actually.’ The Luna paused and relaxed. ‘Me too. I think that light really has a soothing energy to it,’ she remarked as she turned around to watch the men again. Rum was checking his body while the other two elders were on the ground, fighting to come around. Ellis was the first to get up, and, immediately, rushed forward to renew an attack on the young Alpha—. ‘No,’ Elena whispered in fear. She shot from her seat and cried out, ‘NO!’ I was out of my seat too, staring at Rum as the usually golden light—now orange and fiery—was thre
THE DARK WHIMS‘Rola, I think you don’t grasp the situation here.’ The darkness glowered at the pathetic she-wolf standing before him in a warrior suit, his wrath brewing in the Beta’s voice. ‘Being my son’s mate doesn’t make you a more of a Beta or a Gamma.’ He watched the Beta’s fingers tipped the sharp chin of that pretty face that now looked strained, desperately fighting to surpress the tears of anguish and fear, and felt the Beta’s lips spread into a grin of satisfaction. ‘You don’t get to choose. Your voice doesn’t get to be heard. You fetch for your Beta, and that’s it. And your Beta wants the Alpha here, alive, so he could personally put a silver knife right through his selfish, arrogant heart—and you’re going to fetch what your Beta wants.’ Her feistiness somehow managed to break through the chains he had put on her and were shining like a burst of sunshine from her raven black eyes. ‘And if I don’t?’ He got angry. And anger makes him do crazy things—like sending a w
ROSERum told Ellis that he and I are mates—soulmates, in the human world. Since Elena referred to Ellis as her mate, and I thought they’re married, maybe mates carry the essence of a married couple. Together for eternity that sort of thing. But Rum didn’t refer to mates like that. Is he really ashamed of me? But all those things he said, the sweet stuff he whispered in my ear while holding me, making love to me, they all told me that he cares for me—that he loves me—that he wants me to be his other half. Or has it all been in my head? Maybe Rum has never meant for us to have a relationship like that. Maybe he just feels bad and has taken pity on me—or maybe he feels responsible for me, since I saved him and, in the process of doing so, got turned into a monster—no way near human nor wolf. Shit. This shit sucks. Maybe the truth has been staring at me the whole time but I was too much of a fangirl to notice: that Rum never liked me romantically. It was all in my head—. A shadow
ROSE‘It’ would be the date that Rum and I are moving out to the Silver Ring pack and confront the Beta. ‘Does it really help to keep the truth from him? From Hector?’ ‘It’ll break him, Rose. And I don’t want to see that happen. Not to him. It’s bad enough to lose an eye. Now he has to lose his father—I can’t—.’ His voice turned hoarse with desperation and guilt. ‘I won’t let it happen.’ I pushed his black mane back from his forehead then cradled his face with both hands. ‘That song… are you trying to tell me that you’ve found your old self?’ His jaw clenched and a glimmer covered his eyes, making them more blue and twice as mesmerising. ‘Is that a bad thing?’ There was anger in his voice. ‘I love the present Rum—but I also want to know the Rum from the past.’ I pressed my forehead on his lips and sighed, silently adding, And I want even more to be with Rum in the future. Mates. The name resonated with my utmost desire. ‘It’s Keithen.’ His lips moved against my skin. ‘Call me
ROSE My chin perked up and I was ready to defend myself. But then as soon as my mouth opened, something inside me seized my voice. And then I swallowed my resentment and looked away. 'I'm sorry, Alpha Keithen.' I didn't know why I said that; I guessed I was mimicking Rola, his first love. The woman he respects. He sighed in surrender but it was too late. I have no wish to stay in the same space as him. But I still want to be around to keep him safe. So I said—no, sought his permission like the nobody I was, back in the human world, and over here in the werewolf world—'May I come along then? I promise I won't interfere with your business.' 'Goddess blast it,' he groaned. 'Are you being sarcastic now? Of course, you're coming with me.' And I flashed him my brightest smile. 'Since we're leaving in three days, I'll be training harder starting today.' 'We'll leave at dawn,' he added in his irksome rebuttal tone. 'I'll talk to Ellis and the rest. They can stay here and be our b
ROSEBut I shouldn’t be surprised—this was the Rum I used to know. Rum…Yes. Rum. The superstar with a diva attitude. My ex-boss. All of a sudden, I felt a surge of courage. The same one I’d always feel whenever I faced those bullies. The same grit I had inside me whenever Rum scolded me or tossed a cup of coffee at my outfit, calling me stupid, ugly—dirty Rosie. Suck it up, Rose. You need to be around to make sure Rum is safe. Immediately, my face swivelled down to the ground and I replied firmly, ‘My apologies, Alpha Keithen.’ Lifting my face again, I mustered a casual smile at Rola, who now looked a little remorseful, for some reason, and added, ‘My apologies too, Warrior Rola—.’ ‘Here we go again,’ murmured the exasperated deep voice. ‘I was out of line,’ I continued. ‘Thank you for your concern. But I’m really fine.’And before Rola could respond, I ushered them to move on. ‘Let’s get it going. We’re supposed to be there before the market wakes, aren’t we?’ ‘O-Oh, sure!’ Rol
ROSE‘It’s alright, Rum.’ A sense of peace filled me, spreading my mouth into a serene smile. ‘It’s alright, Keithen.’ ‘You’re not leaving me,’ he demanded. ‘I am. After this. I’m going to live with Elena until I figure out the whole hybrid thing. Then, I’m going back to the human world to work on daddy’s dream.’ He took one large stride forward. ‘Goddamn it, Rose. You can’t make plans for a future without me. I told you what’ll happen if you try to leave.’ I held his gaze confidently. ‘Us being together…who is it really helping, huh, Rum?’ And before he answered, I added, ‘Me? You? Or Hector and Rola?’ He jolted in surprise, as though the thought was new to him. ‘What the fuck are you trying to say? That I’m using you? Deity’s arse, what the fuck do you take me for?! What happened to 'I always thought you're smart, fun and kind’?’‘It’s exactly that!’ I balled my fists to resist the urge of headbutting him. ‘It’s exactly because you’re kind you want everyone to be happy. Even if
ROSEWake up, Rose…. K…. In danger … Wake up, my baby girl…. My eyes flew open. A whitewashed ceiling greeted me and I blinked back furiously.Something happened. But what is it? My chest was heaving heavily, as though crushed by slab of concrete, but I could sit up pretty easily. That's… my desk—my designs are on the wall—my cupboard—. I looked down and saw the sheets wrinkled around me like ripples of a clear, blue pond—. The bluest waters flashed across my mind. Then, the smell of the freshest grass, and—. A hammer struck the back of my head, and pain exploded from my lips. 'AH!!!!!'Immediately, the door threw open and Joy rushed in. 'What is it?!' Her cries of concern reached me before she plopped down next to me. 'Are you hurt?' 'My head…,' whined my voice. ‘It hurts….’ But not anymore. Wait, do I whine? I paused and blinked at the sheets, hands grabbing my head. Then, I looked up and stared at my best friend, who was eyeing me in sheer concern. My mouth opened, wa