The scent of burning tobacco filled the air, thick and suffocating, as Dad and I were standing in the corner of the hall room. It clung to my senses, mixing with the heavy musk of dominance that always surrounded Alpha Hornet. The flickering lanterns cast restless shadows along the walls, making the dimly lit lounge feel smaller than it was. The crowd was all busy with their own discussions. It wasn’t a secret that Alpha Hornet was furious with me—and with his once-obedient son, who had suddenly defied him. Being the Alpha’s son’s assistant had always meant something significant. It was more than just a title; it was a promise of status, a guarantee that I would one day become Luna. I had worked for that recognition, and my father had supported me, knowing how much power it held. But something had changed. Someone was rewriting the past. Jonathan never spoke of Carolina before—not until I was already carrying his child. He had been so focused on having a child with me, keeping
The air in the meeting hall was thick, suffocating, as if the very walls pressed down upon us, demanding submission. But I refused to yield. The weight of my decision settled in the room, a presence of its own, lingering like an inescapable reality. I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palm, grounding myself. The tension in my muscles coiled tightly, yet I stood unwavering as I lifted my chin, meeting the cold, calculating gaze of Alpha Hornet—the man who had made me toil endlessly for his son, forcing me to bear the brunt of his failures. His reaction was immediate. His face contorted, disbelief flashing first, followed by irritation, the kind that simmered beneath the surface, restrained yet unmistakable. “I choose the secret mission, Alpha,” I declared, my voice steady, unwavering. A sharp silence followed, as if the very air had been sucked out of the room. Jonathan inhaled sharply beside me. When I flicked my gaze toward him, I caught something unexpec
The moment I faced Jonathan, a wave of disgust, anger, and loathing crashed over me. But it wasn’t the kind of conflicted rage that made me question whether I had ever loved him. No—what I once felt for him had been mad, blind devotion. And now? Nothing but contempt. Yet, the irony of my heart lay elsewhere. The moment my eyes landed on Hades Wraithborn, walking into the grand hall with another woman draped on his arm, I was stunned. It felt like a slap across my face, delivered with his sheer arrogance. A silent, unspoken promise between us—broken. A wound I hadn't even acknowledged until now—ripped open. Finding a mate? Hah. If that’s what he was after, I would stay far away. As I should have from the very beginning. But then, why did this betrayal sting? Why did it twist in my chest like a knife—sharp and merciless? I had killed for this scumbag next to me. I had stained my hands with blood—my own hands—only to stand beside a man who had never deserved me. A voice pul
I could feel his heartbeat against my back. Not even an inch separated us. The moment his deep voice echoed in my ears and his broad chest became an unyielding wall behind me, the mate bond roared to life, spreading heat through my veins as if I were falling into a firepit. But unfortunately, Hades couldn’t feel it. No, I should say—fortunately. "Seems like it’s a trap, isn’t it?" His whisper brushed against my ear, his warm breath making me flinch. "Wh-What?" I stammered, turning to face him. Big mistake. I barely had a second to react before my forehead brushed against his lips. My breath hitched. My hands flew up in reflex, pressing against my burning skin, but it did nothing to cool the heat crawling up my neck. Hades blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting me to turn. His grip on the rogue’s neck loosened just enough for the bastard to lunge at me from behind. "GRR!" His claws tore through my uniform. But— "Such a nuisance." The impact was instant
His chest pressed against mine, his arms snaking around my waist. Our bodies almost collided inside the thick foliage as the muffled sound of footsteps grew closer. Two guards roamed the area, their sharp eyes scanning the darkness, desperately searching for the source of the sound I had accidentally made. I held my breath. Through the small gaps between the leaves, I could see their boots treading dangerously close. Just one more step—one wrong move—and they would see Hades’s back. “Maybe just some animals. I can’t see anyone here. No scents, either,” one of the guards muttered in frustration. “That makes sense. Who would come here when everyone is in the ballroom?” They hesitated for a moment before turning around. Only when their footsteps faded did I realize how tightly my lungs had been caged. A heavy sigh escaped my lips, and my muscles finally loosened. Then, it hit me. I was still in Hades’s grasp. I flinched. “Ah—” My voice barely made it past my throat. “Let’
Jonathan, The heavy oak doors shut behind us, enclosing the two of us in the grand yet suffocating meeting room. Before I could even catch my breath, a sharp sting exploded across my face.SLAP!My father’s palm connected with my cheek, sending a shockwave of pain through my jaw. The force of it echoed through the chamber, but the only sound that followed was my own harsh breathing. My vision blurred for a second before I clenched my fists, grounding myself."You useless fool!" His voice cut through the silence like a whip, filled with scorn. My face throbbed with the imprint of his fingers, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing weakness. "Are you trying to ruin your future?" he seethed, stepping closer, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. "What did you see in that woman? I have spent years building our dominance, and you dare to defy me over a petty thing called love?" His voice dripped with disgust. "I love Carolina!" I shot back, my own rage simmering beneath
Elysia, Black hair cascaded down her waist like silk, crimson eyes, and skin that looked like a shimmering pale moon in the distant sky. I was too astonished to say something as the lady in her navy blue gown walked towards us. Her smile resembled Hades', and for certain reasons, I knew who she was. "Hades! You were supposed to dance with me and let me meet my savior! You traitor!" Hades grinned. But before answering her question, his long arm slipped behind me, holding me by my waist. "Sorry, Halia! I think I found the right person who deserves the first dance!" My eyes widened as I turned towards him with a confused, tilted head. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked, trying to slip away from his grip around my back. But his grip tightened as he looked straight into my eyes. "Let me introduce her, Halia. This is Commander Elysia Celeriac, the woman who saved you and your little pups!" "Oh my!" Halia gasped. "That was quite rude of me." She approached me with her charmi
"Sir Wraithborn! It's inappropriate! Please—!" My voice was barely audible as I tried to move away from him. Ella stirred up. No matter how much we tried to avoid the mate bond, we couldn't. The spiraling heartbeat felt like a huge fan of this situation. Hades's eyes sharpened with his lips pressing on my shoulder. "You shouldn't have run away from there! You made me worried!" Worried? He was worried about me? "I apologize!" I tightened the grip around my body. "Please don't cross the line here," I muttered, pulling myself together. My lips quivered as he grabbed my arm, pulling me toward him. "You don't seem to have any fever! Your wolf is fine. Then what happened?" I looked at him, shyness creeping onto my face. "I apologize for that sudden action—" "No!" He cut in smoothly. "It happened before as well. You seemed to lose consciousness every time I—" And I heard nothing. It was like a short circuit. I felt the world collapsing again, so closely, like it was turning u
Hades,The moment the flickering lights of daylight hit my eyelids, I opened my eyes. A smile spread over my face when the moments of last night suddenly rushed through my mind unexpectedly. Her touch, the way her body curled against mine, and the quiet comfort of her breath against my neck—it all came back like a warm breeze. Assuming that my little mate would be next to me, I turned.But instead of seeing the sight of my little mate, I felt a cold, empty side next to me. The sheet was still slightly crumpled, her scent faint but lingering like an afterthought. A low chuckle escaped my throat. She was an early bird and I underestimated her. It was so like her to wake before me and slip out quietly.Throwing the blanket away from my body, I decided to head to the bathroom first and then to the kitchen or the gym. However, as the blanket hit the other side of the bed, a soft crinkle caught my attention. My vampire instincts, sharp and ever-alert, instantly honed in on the unfamiliar
Hades, Her pulse It thrummed beneath her delicate skin, a steady rhythm that sent shockwaves through my body. Each beat echoed in my skull, syncing with my own erratic heartbeat. The scent of her blood curled through the air, sweet and intoxicating, igniting a hunger so raw that it clawed at my throat. A primal need crashed over me. Instinct. Hunger. Desire. It overrode everything. I forgot that I wasn't only a werewolf, I was something else too. Something dangerous. Ruby stiffened beside her mother, her sharp instincts picking up on the change. Her bright eyes flickered to me, widening slightly, cautious and wary. Elysia, however, remained unaware. She reached out, her fingers grazing my shoulder, her eyes filled with pure concern and worry— But I snapped, “Don’t touch me!” The words ripped from my throat, harsher than I intended. I jerked away from her touch as if burned, my entire body rigid with restraint. Elysia blinked in surprise, confusion flickering acr
Hades,"Master!" Dallas stormed into the room, his face burned and his body tense. He looked around, scanning for threats or disapproval, but his discomfort was obvious. At the low table, Ruby had been occupied with her crayons, coloring something with deep focus. At his sudden entrance, she froze mid-stroke. Her wide, bright eyes landed on him, flickering with curiosity for only a brief moment—before twisting into rage. "You evil woman!" Her tiny voice rang out like a battle cry. The air around her crackled, and without warning, a small burst of fire shot from her mouth, aimed directly at Dallas. Dallas barely had time to react. He flinched, stumbling back in surprise and immediately darted behind me for protection. Elysia let out an amused chuckle but moved quickly, wrapping her arms around Ruby and pulling her close. "Calm down, Cupcake," she murmured, pressing a reassuring kiss to the top of her head. "It’s not the bad woman. It’s your brother, Dallas." Ruby blinked
Elysia,The city lights flickered beyond the tall windows, their glow casting elongated shadows across the room. I lay in bed, my body burning with fever, every limb aching from the poison coursing through my veins. The dull roar of the bustling streets below felt distant, almost like a memory I couldn’t quite grasp. Beside me, Ruby slept peacefully, her tiny chest rising and falling in steady rhythm. It was astonishing how much power she wielded. To have taken down a female beta wolf without a single scratch was something even seasoned warriors couldn’t claim. And the teleportation—swift and precise—was proof of her immense strength. I should have expected nothing less, but even so, her abilities left me in awe. Yet, despite all that had happened, a nagging question remained in my mind. How had they found us? Hades had been tending to that woman since earlier. I had never seen her before, nor did I care to know her, but she was clearly of some importance. I could only assume sh
I ran as fast as my small legs could carry me, the weight of my mission clear in my mind. The woman had hurt my Mommy. She was so strong, so terrifying, yet now, she would face me, Ruby—the little dragon who would protect my mother at any cost. Mommy… She was in danger, but I was going to save her. "Mommy!" I called out. I burst into the room, my eyes frantically searching for her. And then, there she was. Mommy’s eyes fluttered open as soon as I entered, her gaze filled with emotions I couldn’t quite read at first. But there was something warm, something deep in her eyes that made the world feel right again, something that softened the ache in my heart. “Ruby!” she whispered, her voice weak, but full of love. “My star…” Her arms reached out toward me, trembling, but they were still strong, still loving, even though she was in pain. I rushed to her, my little body colliding with hers as I wrapped my arms around her, pressing my face against her chest. “Mommy! Are you okay? A
Ruby,I followed the scent, my tiny steps quick and purposeful. It was faint, but unmistakable—the lingering trace of the woman who had dared to hurt my Mommy. My tiny fists clenched, my heart pounding with fury. I would find her. I would make her pay.The night was still, the usual sounds of nature silent as if the world itself was holding its breath. But not me. I was too angry, too determined to be still.As I ran, my feet barely touching the ground, my mind was clear. No distractions. No thoughts except the image of my Mommy, weak and helpless and covered with blood. It burned in my chest.The scent led me further into the forest, and after what felt like an eternity, I caught sight of her. The woman was walking slowly, unaware of the danger behind her. She was in her human body. Perfect for me.I crouched low, just out of sight, my heart pounding in anticipation. She was mine.Stealthily, I approached, moving swiftly through the trees. I didn’t need to be silent. I didn’t need to
Dallas, The earliest memory I had was standing on the riverbank, watching my siblings transform into fish. Their bodies shimmered under the morning sun as they disappeared beneath the surface, their movements seamless, as if they belonged to the water itself. I didn’t know how to do it. My sister, whose face I could no longer recall, grabbed my arm. Her touch was firm, her voice insistent. "Concentrate," she urged. "Think of yourself as a fish." I tried. I truly did. But all I remembered was the overwhelming rush of water engulfing me. I was swept away, tumbling, drowning, falling into something unknown. When I woke up, I was no longer myself. I didn’t recognize my form. My body felt foreign, my limbs unfamiliar. I couldn't remember what I had been before. I only knew one thing—I could change. Into anything. Into anyone. That was how my life began. Then, I met her. She kept me in a vast room, a library filled with endless books. Shelves stretched high, packed with stori
Elysia,The distinct bitterness of oleander still lingered in my mouth, coating my senses with its deadly essence. It was the second poison I had recognized, almost immediately after the first. Oleander was ruthless—it weakened the heart, slowly breaking down its strength until it faltered completely. Heart attacks, heart failure, an excruciating end that left no room for recovery. Yet, I was still here. Maybe my father had been right when he claimed we were immortal, something beyond the reach of death’s cruel grasp. But I didn’t feel that way. I could sense it in my chest—the way my heart struggled, the faint numbness creeping through my veins. I felt weaker, more fragile than ever before. But I wasn’t afraid. Hades knelt beside me, his hands steady but his expression filled with concern as he finished treating my wound. He was a strong healer, one of the best, and I could no longer feel the sharp sting in my stomach. The pain had disappeared under his careful touch, leaving b
Ruby,Dragons are intelligent creatures. Mommy told me that. Our brains develop faster than any other species. We learn things quickly—how to speak, how to understand, how to protect. But the most important thing dragons know is that we must do anything to protect our mothers and children. Mommy said I was born six months ago, but I was with my birth mother for a long time before that. My brain grew faster than my body, but I was still a baby. I was studying every day to understand my Mommy better. Mommy said studying would help me grow up faster, and I wanted to grow up soon. I wanted to be big and strong so I could protect Mommy forever. Today, a lady came to our house. She talked a lot, too much. Mommy looked uncomfortable with her. She didn’t like the lady, but she was kind. She listened and stayed patient. Mommy was a good Mommy. She never hurt people unless they were bad. But something was strange. Usually, I could smell everything—blood, food, even the change in people’s