"Cause of death: wolfsbane and possibly pain," one of the councilmen read aloud, his voice echoing in the tense silence of the room. He paused, then read the words again, his brows furrowing in confusion as he tried to make sense of the information presented before him.He stared at the paper in disbelief, his hands gripping it tightly as if trying to crush the words printed on it. “How the heck did a rogue coat wolfsbane on its claws? That's impossible,” He half-yelled, frustration and confusion evident in his voice.As I mulled over the information, I couldn't believe it either, It is nearly impossible for a wolf, rogue or not, to come into contact with even a small amount of wolfsbane without suffering severe consequences. The mere thought of a wolf breathing in half a pinch of the toxic herb sent shivers down my spine. The mental and physical breakdown it would cause was beyond comprehension. It was like flirting with death itself.But then again, nothing was impossible in the wor
Latisha didn't reveal who was responsible for Natalie's demise, nor did she mention anything about the rogue. Instead, she simply suggested that tonight, being the night of the full moon, would be a fitting time to perform the ritual and lay Natalie to rest. So we all got ready for it. Damon sent words to everyone and I decided to pay Cecil a visit, Natalie's death did but her hard.Once dressed, I made myself a simple breakfast and took a moment to gather my thoughts before heading out to visit Cecil.Her home was a grand duplex nestled among lush greenery, with sprawling gardens and ornate architecture that spoke of old-world charm. The driveway was lined with majestic oak trees that looked similar to ours, their branches reaching out to create a canopy overhead.Pulling up to the entrance, I took a moment to admire the beauty and designs. I rang the doorbell and waited for her to open.“Luna, you made it just in time” Cecil greeted me warmly as she opened the door, she was dressed
After treating myself to some ice cream and snacks, and splurging on more dresses that made a very serious dent in my bank account, I ran into Victor at the snacks store. Turned out he had a meeting nearby and was waiting for his driver to bring his car over. When he saw the bags I was holding, he insisted on buying me even more things. So, by the time I finally got home, it was already four in the afternoon, my trunk was filled and so was the back seat of my car, and I had to rush to get ready for the burial.According to Berry-woods pack's tradition, when burying someone whose cause of death is still unknown or wasn't natural, wearing a bright outfit was considered a big no-no. It's like sending them off with the acknowledgment that we're still in the dark about what happened to them.It might sound weird, but I had the perfect outfit for the occasion, it was one of the dresses Victor bought for me was a bit revealing, with no sleeves and these small holes at the sides of the waist.
So the machines and everything else we needed would start rolling in within a week. We even discussed renting out the other hall and offices adjoined with this one if Elizabeth and Jennie decided to jump on board with us.In a week or two possibly after everything is settled, Cecil will go to file a trademark application with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for our brand and every. She suggested I went with her, saying I was reputable enough to handle it. But honestly, I wasn't too keen on the idea. I don't want news of me getting my way easy to be flying around, especially when it came to business matters.After finishing up some emails, I packed up my things and headed out of the store. Cecil, being the sweetheart she is, offered to give me a ride home and maybe even stop by for some hot tea.As Cecil locked up the shop, I waited in her car parked out front. The streetlights cast a faint, soft glow over the quiet sidewalk.I watched as Cecil hurried over, her b
Cecil's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth hanging open in shock.“You can't be serious,” she exclaimed, dropping the picture she had been holding.“I am serious,” I insisted. “Damon will be back soon, and I don't want to drag you into my mess.”I reached for her bag, quickly to usher her out before Damon came back. “You've already seen enough of my ugly marriage,” I added.“Ana, wait!” She protested, her voice pleading.“I'm sorry I didn't offer you anything,” I apologized, feeling guilty already. “But I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow or the next tomorrow—any day you want”Seconds of dragging and I managed to pull her to her feet, ready to escort her out before Damon returned.“You're taking me out the next we meet” She scoffed, probably in disbelief and then walked out of the room with me following closely behind. An hour after Cecil left, I was still sitting in the withdrawing room, lost in my own thoughts, when the sound of a car engine rumbled through the compoun
Cecil's eyes widened in disbelief, her mouth hanging open in shock.“You can't be serious,” she exclaimed, dropping the picture she had been holding.“I am serious,” I insisted. “Damon will be back soon, and I don't want to drag you into my mess.”I reached for her bag, quickly to usher her out before Damon came back. “You've already seen enough of my ugly marriage,” I added.“Ana, wait!” She protested, her voice pleading.“I'm sorry I didn't offer you anything,” I apologized, feeling guilty already. “But I promise I'll make it up to you tomorrow or the next tomorrow—any day you want”Seconds of dragging and I managed to pull her to her feet, ready to escort her out before Damon returned.“You're taking me out the next we meet” She scoffed, probably in disbelief and then walked out of the room with me following closely behind. An hour after Cecil left, I was still sitting in the withdrawing room, lost in my own thoughts, when the sound of a car engine rumbled through the compoun
Cold.Broken.Tired.These three words perfectly described how I felt, laying on the floor wishing I never jumped on the idea of getting married Damon when I found out he was my mate. My decision to marry Damon had been driven by desperation, by a longing for something better, I was tired of the physical abuse from my father and my stepmother that I eagerly agreed to marry him because I thought I was finally going to have a better life, a life where I don't get to sleep with one eye open, a life where every single thing I say or do won't be misunderstood, a life where my happiness, my health and my opinion actually mattered.But I got something else. Something perfectly similar to what I was running from. My wolf wasn't that strong to withstand the pain and heartbreak if I reject him so the thought actually crossed my mind but Ii never really dwelled on it. The walls were getting colder each passing minute so I knew the it was going to be night soon. This room had no window as it was
Cecil's expression was a mix of disbelief and sadness as she shook her head in frustration. “How could he do this to you?” she muttered, her voice tinged with anger. “All because of a woman.”I waved her concerns away, trying to reassure her. “I'm fine, really,” I insisted, though I could see the tears welling up in her eyes.She scoffed, clearly not convinced. “I can't believe I once had a crush on him,” she muttered bitterly, reaching for my cup of coffee and handing it to me.I accepted the cup with a short smile, taking a long sip to soothe my nerves. “You crush on everyone you see” I teased lightly, trying to lighten the mood.“How are you feeling?” Cecil asked again, for the sixteenth time.I couldn't help but laugh at her persistence. “You asked me that ten seconds ago,” I pointed out with a grin. “I'm fine, Cecil. Honestly. I've healed up, and I'm happy you're here”She suddenly went quiet, her sudden change in demeanor made me confused, and I watched in confusion as she jumpe