Keilah's POVI was sprinting through a dark forest, my legs burning with every step, begging me to stop. My chest heaved painfully, each breath sharp and ragged, but I couldn’t stop—not with the terrifying noise echoing from behind. I didn’t know what I was running from, only that something—or someone—was chasing me.The trees thickened, the shadows deepened, and before I knew it, I found myself trapped in a narrow, dark room. The walls were painted in a dark, unsettling red paint. When I reached out and touched the surface, the paint oozed into warm blood and started trickling down the walls and then pooled at my feet. A scream tore from my throat as panic surged through me. I jolted awake gasping, sitting upright so fast I nearly collided with the twins’ heads hovering nearby. Squinting against the harsh sunlight flooding the room, I groaned and stumbled to the window, pulling the curtain back to shut out the merciless light.Just as I closed the curtains and flopped back onto the
KEILAH “Cora, listen to me,” I said softly, placing a hand on her arm. “We’ll talk about this when I get back from Auntie’s memorial, okay? Right now, I need to be there. You know how important today is.”Cora nodded, her expression softening. "Alright. We’ll talk when you get back."She stepped aside and opened the door, giving me space to leave. I hesitated for a brief moment, glancing back at her one last time before walking past her and into the living room, where the twins were waiting eagerly.I bent down with a smile as both of them planted a kiss on each of my cheek. "Tell Grandma we said hi!" Avery said cheerfully."Yeah, and that we miss her!" Zoe added, her little face bright with sincerity.Cora chimed in from behind. "And please tell her that we love her. Tell her to forgive me that I couldn’t visit her this time."I nodded at them, smiling despite the heaviness in my heart. "Of course. I’ll make sure she knows."I slipped into my boots, tightened the laces, and headed o
KEILAH I stared at the mark on my neck, disbelief gripping me. My reflection wavered in the dim lighting of the bathroom, but the mark was unmistakable. Damien’s mark—had reappeared after all these years, as though it had never faded in the first place. My heart pounded so hard it felt like it would break through my ribcage.This couldn’t be happening. My fingers hovered over the mark, not quite daring to touch it, afraid that somehow, it might respond, or worse, grow stronger. Memories of Damien flooded my mind—his piercing eyes, the way his presence had always both frightened and fascinated me. I had thought those days were over. But the reappearance of his mark could only mean one thing.He was back.But why? And how?Panic surged through me as I stumbled back from the mirror, pressing my back against the cold bathroom wall. My breath came in shallow, uneven gasps, and my thoughts spiralled wildly. Was this a warning? A threat? What did Damien want? No—I had left that world behi
KEILAH The driver called out again, his voice more urgent this time. "Get back in the taxi, miss. This place isn't safe at this hour."I wiped the remaining tears from my cheeks and nodded, still feeling shaky, but I obliged, climbing back into the taxi. My body felt drained, like a puppet whose strings had been cut. “Take me to my address,” I mumbled, barely loud enough for him to hear.He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, frowning. “Are you sure you’re alright? You don’t look it. I’m guessing you ran off from that hospital without being discharged.”“I’m fine now,” I lied, trying to sound more convincing than I felt. My throat was raw, my mind racing in a thousand directions. I needed to be anywhere but there—away from the hospital, away from whatever was happening to me.The driver hesitated for a moment, still unconvinced, but finally sighed and turned the car around, heading toward my home. By the time we arrived, dawn was just starting to break, soft light creeping ov
KEILAH The man straightened, towering over the others around him, his movements deliberate, slow, like a predator sizing up his prey. His glowing eyes locked onto mine, and a deep growl rumbled from his throat, echoing off the alley walls. The others—seven, or even more of them—turned to face me as well, their gazes as cold and merciless as his.Panic seized my chest, but I didn’t back down. My legs felt like lead, trembling, but I stayed rooted to the spot. The stone had barely fazed him, only seemed to amuse the others. One of them—a tall man with a scar running down the side of his face—stepped forward, his lips curling into a sinister grin."You've got some nerve," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Throwing rocks at us? Little girl like you should know better."I clenched my fists, trying to keep the fear from swallowing me whole. My heart pounded so loudly I was sure they could hear it. But I wasn’t here to run. I was here for answers. So bring it on.The man's grin widened
KEILAH The thug grinned at the two other men in the room, and with a nod, they closed in on either side of him, sharing the same vile smirk. The air in the room grew thick with menace as they followed his lead. Then he turned his gaze back to me, his hand already tugging at his belt, slipping it from the loops of his pants with a menacing swish and a new wave of panic crashed into me. I knew exactly what that bastard was up to."Yes," he said, his voice low and malicious, "exactly what you're thinking. Why don't me and my boys have a little fun before you get the proper beating you wanted?”My mind screamed at me to move, to get up and fight back, but my body betrayed me. My legs were numb, heavy with pain, and I couldn’t summon the strength to stand. I tried to push myself up, but I collapsed back onto the cold floor, my entire body aching from the earlier beating.He unzipped his pants as he walked over to me, kneeling down to force my legs apart. I clenched my teeth, trying to use
KEILAH I took a shaky breath, still trying to make sense of everything. "How am I supposed to believe you?" I asked, my voice hard, though uncertainty was creeping in. "For all I know, you’re just making this up. I don’t even know who this council witch is. For the time I spent with Ralph, I've never seen her before. And you're not even from the Moonrise Pack to know anything about the council. Why should I trust a word you say?"Damien’s eyes flickered with impatience, and before I could go on, he cut me off. “I’m not here to make you believe me, Keilah," he said, his voice sharp and controlled. "I don’t care if you do or not. Just stay out of trouble because this is the last time I’ll ever interfere in your business.”His words hit me like a slap, but I refused to let it show. This was exactly what I wanted, wasn’t it? To never see him again? I forced myself to stay composed, biting back the angry retort I wanted to throw in his face. Instead, I straightened up."Exactly what I wa
KEILAH After cleaning off the dirt, I changed into a pair of clean, soft clothes, savouring the feeling of being less grimy. With my face now washed and the stinging ointment doing its work, I looked less like someone who had gone through hell and more like myself, even if bruised and battered. I took a deep breath, trying to shake off the last remnants of the strange encounter with Damien.When I walked back into the living room, I found him still sitting on the couch, his head leaning back against the wall, eyes closed. His large frame made the couch look comically small, as though it was built for a child, not a man—or rather, not a vampire—of his size. He looked... tired. Drained, almost. His skin seemed paler than usual, almost as if he hadn’t fed in a while.Do vampires even get tired? Or dehydrated?Whatever it was, I didn’t want to disturb him. I walked past quietly and headed into the kitchen. The tension in the air still lingered, but I could at least make myself useful whi
DAMIEN The crowd held its collective breath, and for a moment, the world seemed to freeze. Every eye in the field turned toward me, a weight pressing on my chest as I felt their gazes like flames on my skin. The woman beside me muttered under her breath, her voice trembling slightly as she whispered, "Holy God, I can't believe this."But I didn’t even hear her. My eyes were locked onto Keilah, every inch of me drawn to her, my breath shallow. She was there, real, in front of me. I could see her trembling slightly, the magic around her still buzzing with energy. Her eyes were wide, searching mine, and for the briefest moment, it felt like everything else in the world faded away.The Queen's voice broke the heavy silence. "Young man, step forward," she commanded, her voice soft but filled with authority.Without hesitation, I moved, the pull to her undeniable. The woman beside me—who had bound herself to me—took a step back, following behind as the others in her group murmured, but the
RALPH The moment I hit the ground—or whatever the hell this was—I knew something was wrong."Son of a—!" I barely got the words out before I was yanked down again, thick vines wrapping around my arms and legs like living chains. No, not vines. Roses.Giant, deep red, glowing roses.I thrashed, trying to pull myself up, but the damn things had a grip like iron. Every time I moved an inch, they sprawled higher, coiling tighter, dragging me deeper into their grasp. Their petals looked soft, almost beautiful—until I saw the teeth hidden beneath them, snapping dangerously close to my skin."That woman said the fae world isn't a joke!" I growled, struggling harder. "But she failed to mention the motherfucking sea of carnivorous roses!"A thorn sliced into my arm, and I hissed. Great. These things weren’t just strong; they were sharp as hell too.I twisted my body, trying to reach for the knife I stole from that fae’s house in Uganda strapped behind my back. My fingers barely brushed the ha
DAMIEN I blinked, my head spinning as the world around me came into focus. A crowd surged forward, their excitement pressing in from all sides. The golden gates ahead towered impossibly high, stretching so far up they seemed to dissolve into the silversheen skyline. Laughter and murmurs swelled like a tide, the energy crackling in the air. I turned sharply to the woman clutching my arm like an iron shackle. Her grip was too firm, too sure, like she was bound to me by something more than just flesh and bone. It was unnatural. My patience snapped. “What the hell did you do to me?” I hissed, keeping my voice low. “Dragging me here without me even realizing?” She barely reacted—just smirked, her amusement infuriatingly effortless. “No questions,” she said smoothly. “We’re heading inside. After watching the queen’s granddaughter, we can talk about you.” I ran a hand through my hair, frustration prickling at the edges of my mind. I should’ve been furious. I wanted to be. But somethi
DAMIEN A soft breeze rustled through the glowing leaves, carrying a scent both floral and unfamiliar. The air was thick with magic, an energy that pulsed like a heartbeat around me. Every breath I took felt charged, as though I had stepped into a world that was alive in ways I couldn’t comprehend.I straightened, brushing off the damp moss clinging to my clothes. Ralph was nowhere in sight, and I had no idea how far we had been separated.I turned slowly, taking in my surroundings. The trees stretched endlessly into the sky, their bark a deep shade of violet, their leaves shifting colours with each passing second. Strange, bioluminescent flowers bloomed at their bases, casting a faint glow onto the forest floor. The ground beneath me felt oddly soft as if the earth itself breathed beneath my feet.I needed to move. Standing still wouldn’t get me any closer to Keilah.A distant chime-like sound echoed through the trees, almost like laughter, but distorted. I tensed, scanning the shado
KEILAH Before I could even begin to think about what this meant, the door opened again. Two beautiful women entered, their dark hair flowing smoothly behind their backs. They wore elegant gowns, their movements graceful as they stepped forward and bowed lightly. One of them lifted her head and spoke softly. “Please follow us.” I hesitated. “Where?” “It’s the queen’s orders,” the other woman said gently. “We are to get you both ready.” I glanced at Garbie, still feeling the weight of the queen’s words pressing down on me. But I had no choice. With a deep breath, I stood and followed them.One of the women gently took Garbie’s arm, leading her in a different direction, while the other woman motioned for me to follow her. My heart pounded as I was guided down a long corridor until she stopped before a door and pushed it open. I gasped. The room before me was like nothing I had ever seen. The ceiling was a massive glass dome, revealing an endless, mesmerizing underwater world
KEILAH The queen reached for my hand again, but I quickly pulled back, pressing it tightly against my chest. "I’ll walk myself," I said firmly. The queen only smiled. "Alright, follow me." She turned to Aaron, who was still bowing. "You too, young man. Follow me." I reached for Garbie’s hand, gripping it tightly as we followed the queen. Aaron walked behind us, leading Varion. As we stepped forward, my jaw dropped. A long, gleaming walkway stretched before us, leading straight to the most breathtaking castle I had ever seen. The path was made of smooth, silver-white stone, polished so perfectly that it reflected the sky above like glass. It felt unreal, like stepping into a dream. On either side of the walkway, lush gardens bloomed with flowers I had never seen before—petals shimmering in iridescent colours, shifting as if they were alive. Glowing blue vines twisted up golden trellises, their faint light casting soft patterns onto the ground. A crystal-clear stream ran al
DAHLIA The air in the living room felt heavy as the door closed behind them. I sat down on one of the dark brown leather couches, crossing my legs, my mind racing.Jay sat next to me, his presence calming. He smiled at me, then gently kissed my cheek. It made me feel warm inside, and for a moment, I allowed myself to relax.“You okay?” he asked, his voice soft.I nodded and smiled faintly. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just... thinking about everything.”He studied me for a moment, then asked, “Do you think she’s Keilah’s mom?”I thought about it. The woman looked a lot like Keilah, but something about her didn’t seem to add up. She was too young to be Keilah’s mother, but... anything was possible.“I’m not so sure,” I said, shaking my head. “She looks young, but... it could still be possible. We can’t rule it out yet.”Jay leaned back on the couch, resting his arm behind me, his eyes drifting toward the hallway where Damien and Ralph had gone. “Do you think she’ll be able to help Alpha and Damie
DAMIEN Knowing exactly who Dahlia was talking about, I didn’t hesitate. I moved swiftly, making my way to the reception area. The atmosphere in the lobby was quiet, the hum of conversation low as I approached the desk. The receptionist gestured toward the guest area, and I followed the path, my mind racing with questions. When I reached the designated space, I saw her. The woman stood up as soon as she spotted me, her eyes sharp, assessing. Before I could say a word, she spoke. “We need to talk, but not here. If it’s possible, let’s go to my house.”I nodded, not wasting time. “Alright, but I’m not alone in this. As you saw yesterday, there are four of us.”She went quiet for a moment. After a long pause, she said, “Fine. If they’re trustworthy, you can all come.”I motioned toward the reception. “Give me a few minutes to clean up.”She shook her head. “I can’t wait here. Whenever you’re ready, find me at my house.”With that, she turned and walked past me. I watched her leave, eye
DAMIEN The moment I turned, my breath caught in my chest.The woman standing beside Isaac had long, dark braided hair and a slender frame. Even in the dark, I could see her features clearly. My heart pounded hard as I took in her face—she looked exactly like Keilah.My mind raced with the possibility—could she be Keilah’s mother? That thought sent a jolt through me. But I had heard that Keilah’s mother was dead.I glanced at Ralph, and when our eyes met, I knew he was thinking the same thing.The woman spoke in the local language, her voice sharp and questioning as she looked at Isaac. Her tone carried suspicion like she was demanding an explanation.Isaac responded calmly, gesturing toward us as he spoke. But whatever he said didn’t ease her anger. She replied in a harsher tone, shaking her head firmly, her expression set like stone.Isaac turned back to us with a sigh. “She’s not happy about us showing up at her house in the middle of the night,” he explained. “I told her what you