It took some minutes before she got a semblance of control over her actions, Ferix and the rest of them were still on their knees, facing the direction of the hall.Aurora hurried to move away from them even though it proved to be great difficulty to try something else when she was supposed to obey the command.She wasn’t about to let this chance go, this was the opportunity she wanted to make sure that she had, it was the best time to use the antidote to the dark magic control that the witches had someone under.If she could release it and cast a spell to make it litter the air, no matter where the controlled people were, they would break free of their curse, some slower than others but surely.The controlled puppets have their mind and attention over to another being powerful than the one that is controlling them and this higher being didn’t require them to have their guards up.Of course, she could still use spells and magic. The witches must have been so stupid to think that she c
“We had sex again and I don't know how it happened,” Aurora said, clutching the blanket around her trembling frame, it was her only thing keeping her from being naked as she felt. The words tasted bitter, like a heavy lid on her tongue, but she forced them out.Lightning flashed outside, illuminating her in the dim room. Her hair clung to her damp face, a wild mess, and her feet, bare against the cold floor, felt numb.“Wait... what?!” Easton’s voice cut through the silence, his wide eyes flicking to the thin nightgown peeking from beneath the blanket. His expression darkened.“That’s—”“Phoebe’s,” Aurora finished flatly. Her lips twisted into a bitter smile. “Of course it is.”Easton clenched his fists. “That bastard—”“Don’t.” Aurora cut him off, shaking her head. Her gaze dropped to the floor as she tried to blink back her tears. “I don’t need you defending me. Not from him. Not now.”Her voice cracked, but she swallowed the lump in her throat and kept speaking. “He threw it at me.
Aurora flinched at the shrill voice behind her.“Move out of my way, bitch!” Tessie barked, her black eyes blazing with disdain. Her sneer curled into something colder as she added, “And keep your cursed bad luck out of my path.”Aurora turned slowly, her calm gaze meeting Tessie’s glare. Before she could respond, another voice chimed in.“Mom’s going to kill you for letting her stand so close, Tess,” Jennie sneered. “The pack’s still celebrating that a half-witch like her didn't end up being the Luna, thanks to Alpha's quick choice of our perfect sister.”“Shut it, Jennie!” Tessie snapped and turned back to Aurora. “Well? Are you deaf now? Get out of the way!”The tension around them thickened as curious eyes from the field began to drift their way. Aurora felt their glares, their whispers, the same hostility she’d endured her entire life.It was nothing new.Her voice was unnervingly calm as she replied. “There’s no need to yell. Being a werewolf doesn’t mean you have to act like an
Remind me why we are still not out of this place," Easton said."Luna might be needed anytime. I have to be present," Aurora stated nonchalantly. Easton glared at her and immediately knew she wasn’t as okay as she pretended to be. Even after the spectacle on the field, she had taken a moment to herself but still insisted they return to the halls because of her duties.Duties for a position Maverick had just given to Phoebe in front of nearly everyone in the pack."That asshole," Easton muttered as they stood at the far end of the hall. There was no one around, and the dim light shrouded them in shadows. Hidden from plain view, they leaned against each other."He’s been like this ever since the mate awakening ceremony," Easton said, glaring at Maverick, who stood on stage giving a speech. A smile rested on Maverick’s lips as if he hadn’t just shattered someone’s world with his words and actions. "The petty bastard even used you not showing up as an excuse to reject you."Aurora’s mind d
Aurora staggered for a bit before she managed to stand on her feet perfectly. Everyone present was shocked that she could even stand.“I’ve endured too much in this pack to stay another second. Hypocritical leaders, selfish members, and you—my mate—who failed me most. Keep your lies, your cruelty, and your title. I’m done.” Her eyes are cold and unfeeling. “All of you can dive headfirst into hell. I’m leaving this shithole of yours, and you can keep it for the rest of your life!” she spat angrily, despite the immense pain she felt. Turning on her heel, she began to walk away. Easton immediately followed her.Maverick also left the scene, his expression pained as he watched Aurora walk away. He seemed to have difficulty breathing; his eyes were bloodshot, and his hands were trembling. But no one noticed him leave.The pack councils and members attempted to follow her, but Alec shook his head at them, and they reluctantly stood down, watching as Aurora left the field—out of Moonlight Pac
How many people did it take for an unwarranted headache to sizzle up in one’s head and prick at one’s nerves?That had been the question the women Aurora was out in the woods with had asked each other just moments before. They’d all had different answers, and the numbers varied widely, but one thing united them despite their differences:For Aurora, there was no number. No matter how many people it took, no matter how irritating or intimidating they were, no one could shake the rock that was Aurora. She had agreed with a smile on her lips.How wrong they had been.Aurora had never thought she would see him again. They might cross paths someday, but it wasn’t supposed to be now. And even if they did meet, she wasn’t supposed to feel anything.But as she looked at his face, she froze. A lump rose in her throat, a barricade of conflicting emotions she hadn’t felt in the last five years crashing over her—emotions she had thought locked away. They bubbled to the surface as his hypnotizing b
Maverick gave a subtle mental nod when Layla pointed out that Aurora had been using a scent-masking spell since entering the room. It finally made sense. That was why he couldn’t smell her when she walked in or even now. But when Aurora muttered something under her breath, her scent broke through the spell, overwhelming his senses.The scent hit him all at once—too much, too fast. She smelled like the ocean breeze, the kind that brushed against your skin while standing by the sea with a seashell in hand. It was a scent he had always liked.For a werewolf like him, who spent most of his time in the woods, forests, and small towns, her scent was a welcome change. It calmed him. But as it teased his heightened senses, it awakened something deeper. His wolf stirred, thrilled by the possibility of finding another mate. Yet that joy dimmed almost instantly, replaced by anguish.His wolf recognized her. This was the same soul that had once hurt them, the same one they had broken the bond with
Layla had led them from their room that morning. Maverick and Alec had just finished dressing when the bubbly woman had knocked on their door. She had said that she couldn’t let them stay cooped up inside their room while she could show them the beauty of their pack.“Is it really necessary that you come and get us so early in the morning?” Alec had grumbled, and Layla bopped her head.“Of course. It is absolutely necessary. You people have already woken up and gotten dressed, and all you would do is stare at your phones and laptops in your room before we had to talk again at the meeting.” She replied with a wide smile.“And does it have to be only us? There are others too.” Alec said, and Layla rolled her eyes at him.“You are the ones I find most likable among them all, except for that beautiful brunette and her sidekick, of course, but a woman must get her beauty sleep. I heard she’s the pack's doctor. She must have a lot on her hands already, poor thing must study till late at nigh
It took some minutes before she got a semblance of control over her actions, Ferix and the rest of them were still on their knees, facing the direction of the hall.Aurora hurried to move away from them even though it proved to be great difficulty to try something else when she was supposed to obey the command.She wasn’t about to let this chance go, this was the opportunity she wanted to make sure that she had, it was the best time to use the antidote to the dark magic control that the witches had someone under.If she could release it and cast a spell to make it litter the air, no matter where the controlled people were, they would break free of their curse, some slower than others but surely.The controlled puppets have their mind and attention over to another being powerful than the one that is controlling them and this higher being didn’t require them to have their guards up.Of course, she could still use spells and magic. The witches must have been so stupid to think that she c
The abyssal portal at first glance might seem like a normal portal that could take people from one place to another just like every other one that had been seen.But it was different.Once anyone entered the abyssal portal, there was no coming back for that person, they would be gone and gone forever.Aurora remained rooted to the spot she was, beside Maverick who was still unconscious, she waited to see what they were trying to do.The Mistress left where she was and Mani took over and right before their eyes, she started directing the puppets inside the portal, the mindless creatures didn’t even have any expression on their face as they continued to fall into their doom, which embraced them one after the other.“You should absolutely stop this fucking madness! Did you fuckers forgot that these people are living and have their families somewhere?If you are so sure about your abilities, why don’t you remove the control you have over their mind and see if they would willingly jump int
“Where is Maverick?” Aurora asked, staring straight at Mitch, there was no need to spend a lot of time wondering why she had never suspected him or how she had looked right past where there clues littered around. It was no use crying over spilt milk, the only thing she could do at that moment was make sure that Maverick was alright.Easton, Alec and the rest would be okay, because she already had the solution to bring them out of the clutches of those controlling their mind, she just wanted to make sure that she had as many puppets as possible around when she released it into the air.If she wasn’t able to do that, she would just save these few and find another chance for the others.“Why are you asking me?” Mitch asked, the usual warmth that was always present in his tone was still there and he was still talking politely like he always did, as if the situation hadn’t changed at all. Aurora almost couldn’t stand it but she wasn’t in the right situation to show him how much she hated i
Ferix cleared his throat before he straightened his shoulder, all his attention on the two women leading them as if he was deeply invested in where they were going.At that moment, he really looked like he wasn’t going to say anything but then he opened his mouth and started talking.“There was someone who was threatening and blackmailing both me and Carly, both of us were under him.He would send us on different missions and have us do some things for him.”Ferix had moved to stare down at his hand, before looking around sheepishly, still not meeting Aurora’s gaze.“What he had over us was strong enough to keep us obedient over the years but we got tired of it and demanded for freedom, seeing that we have been working for a lot of years.He agreed to release us but we had to do one last job.”“Stalking me?” Aurora raised a brow at him.“Keeping tabs and getting information from and about you.” He corrected me.“That’s practically the same thing.”“It was supposed to be a simple task,
“I knew that you would be shameless about it but I didn’t expect that you would show it as deep it runs in your veins,” Aurora scoffed. “It must feel good to finally step out of the suffocating mask that you have been keeping yourself under for the past years.”“There’s no need keeping the pretense after everything is already out,” Stephanie replied, her voice had switched to the gentle voice that she had always addressed people with before and Aurora almost wanted to kick her face for it.“You have been with Maverick for the past eight years or so, I am sure that you are part of the people that helped them form the way to prevent Aurora’s twin soul from taking over her body, if your aim was Aurora all along, why the hell did you not just take her that time?” Ferix mused loudly, staring at Stephanie who had gone to rest her body against the wall, her arms folded across her chest.“It was because the time wasn’t right, it wouldn’t be of any advantage to me if you ended up staying at th
Ferix stared at Aurora with shocked eyes, then to Stephanie who was sitting with a confused expression on her face. He didn’t understand why she was treating Stephanie like this, if it had been him, he wouldn’t have had a hard time wrapping her head around this.‘Was her twin soul acting up?’ He couldn’t help but wonder in his head.“Wh…What are you doing?” Stephanie asked, staring at Aurora with an upset expression which made the latter scoff.“At this point, you are still denying it?”“I have no idea what you are talking about!” Stephanie exclaimed. “I know that you don’t like me for some sort of reason but aren’t you supposed to have something concrete if you want to take your anger out on me?!”“Something concrete? I am sure that what I have is more than concrete. You know too damn well what I am talking about.” Aurora moved closer to her and grabbed her jaws, tightening her hold and making Stephanie groan, Ferix just sat to the side and not bothering to say anything—it would be j
Aurora sat on a steep rock as she stared into the water body that was in front of her, a jar containing the fetus and another small jar that coined some green swirling liquid that glowed lightly in the early evening light.It was the remedy for those controlled by the puppetry art, she had set off and practiced for a lot of time before she was finally able to get it, she had been worried that she might not be able to find a cure before the witches take action—who knew that she would do it right after that thought crossed her mind.She had just taken a minute to sit and assemble her thoughts, take a breather from the usual tension that seemed to be wrecking her body more nowadays.After she followed Maverick's words and started seeing both her and the other Aurora as one, she had been able to feel her on a very personal level.Sometimes, it even felt like they were one single person. Their thoughts align more and they are able to communicate better—it almost feels like a communication
The witches arrived at the entrance of Left Green Woods, but to their surprise, they didn’t have to enter the manor because Maverick was standing out and the Manor door was shut.He glanced at them and paid no more attention to them again, his posture and position suggest that he was waiting for them but his attitude suggested otherwise.Daphne furrowed her brows as she stared at the door. “Why the hell would he keep the door locked, there’s no way we are entering now. Master instructed that we mustn’t let him close the door at all cost.”Rosa rolled her eyes at the woman, she didn’t like her because she didn’t have a good relationship with the Mistress. “Man shut it locked before we even arrived at this place, I am sure that the master can’t blame us for it. The only thing left is for us to go back and report.”“Lycan King Maverick, we would like you to come with us,” one of the sages started but Daphne cut him off.“Don’t start, Ivy, you don’t tell people like him to come along calm
Phoebe stared around as she was being led towards the Mistress’s office, when she arrived at the entrance of the castle, she didn’t have to tell them about who she was before she was told to come along.It seemed that he had informed them that she was coming, she didn’t know why he didn’t tell them straight away but it wasn’t necessarily a bad thing for her.If she played her cards well, she would be able to turn everything in her own favor.The castle was fairly beautiful but also dark at the same time, it was a stereotypical dark place that one would expect a witch to live in. It seemed that this Mistress is such a cliché person.The man in front opened a door after knocking and fast enough, they were in the study and in the presence of the Mistress herself, there was also a lady standing by her side.Phoebe found a seat without being invited to sit in one, she studied the expression on the Mistress’s face and didn’t like it one bit, it was weird—but she couldn’t figure it out so sh