ITHRAI haven’t received a word since the training two days ago.When Azriel informed me of our training session this morning, I didn’t know how to feel about it. When we passed the training grounds, I got concerned. “Where are we going?” I asked with a raised eyebrow.Azriel turned back, “You will not be training with the others today.”I couldn’t grasp the meaning behind his words, and I felt my guard build up. “What do you mean?”“The Alpha has instructed you will be training at a different spot moving forward.” His tone clipped. I didn’t like the sound of that, “Where is he? Will he be present?” I find myself asking. There was no way I was training without Zadok. If they wanted to kill me, then he should have the decency to do it himself. “Not that it is your concern, but he will join us shortly.” He answered. Without waiting for a response, he took a route I knew too well. He entered the farm, but I remained rooted to my spot.I couldn’t believe my eyes. “Beta Azriel.” A fe
ITHRA I fell to my knees with another blow to the head from Athaliah. Blinded by my bodily fluids and earth, I could hardly make out the frame of Azriel, who stood at the far end of the farm. “Get up.” Athaliah urged, dragging me by the hair. “Second lesson. Do not stay down for too long. Every second is valuable, and the more you stay down, the more dominion your enemy has over you.” She dragged me up and cut me short with another heavy blow to my stomach. My body erupts in pain, and I feel my internal organs struggle to keep up. Athaliah continued to drill her fist into my guts, and I tried and failed to prevent myself from it. It became evident that I didn’t have enough skills to defend myself. All my life, I craved power and went after everything that could grant me dominion over my enemies. I was already at a disadvantage. Born as a witch without powers. I tried all I could to get myself armed and ready to attack before they attacked me. However, I never thought there w
ZADOK“She can't survive the dark forest,” I muttered, gritting my teeth as I watched Athaliah beat Ithra to a pulp. “She's too weak.”“Exactly why she is training.” Shilhi said beside me, “She will do fine with enough training.” I got frustrated. “Can't you see? It will take years before she becomes good enough to survive the dark forest. We don't have much time.” “What do you propose we do?” Shilhi turned to me, “Last I checked, she is our only hope of getting into the dark forest. We don't have options.” Athaliah delivers a spin kick, and Ithra is on the floor, Almost lifeless. I could tell she was still alive by the faint high and low of her chest. She was breathing, thank God. For some reason, it sucked to watch her get beat up. Despite knowing it was for her good. I knew she would be attended to afterwards, but it didn't go well with me. “What is she doing?” Shilhi's inquisitive tone jolted me from my thoughts. “What did she say?” I looked to the field and spotted Athali
ITHRA“Ithra…” A voice called in a ghostly tone, “There is no more time…”I looked around the dark forest without fear. “Sarai, where are you?”“At the heart of the forest. Let's meet at the heart of the forest...”The voice returned to me. I nod and turn eastward toward the forest. I stare longingly at the mountain, “I’ll be there, just hold on!” I called back and started my sprint towards the mountain. Wait! The voice called back, Sarai’s voice. I come to a halt. “Take the book! Don’t come without the book! You need the book!”Confusion clouded my features, “What book? I don’t have any book.”“The ancient witches book. Get it, you’ll need it. You’ll need your powers…”At the mention of my powers, I felt a dark aura surround me. It immediately dawned on me the implications of her words. I still didn’t have my powers. I was still weak. “Get the witch’s book and get to the heart of the forest, Ithra.”“I’ll be waiting.”My eyes flew open, and my heart rate increased. It took a wh
ITHRAI hadn’t set my eyes on Zadok since the last time at the Greenhouse. Despite his sudden disappearance, he stayed true to his words. My training with Athaliah continued. Every day, I returned to my quarters with an aching body. One thing was sure - I was getting better. With my constant training, I got better at defending myself, alongside learning valuable skills to add to my offence game.I couldn’t lie. Athaliah was one hell of a teacher. She wasn’t my friend, and every lesson felt like an opportunity to show me how much of a weakling I was - compared to her. I took it with good faith, expounding my knowledge of her tactics and getting stronger. As time passed, her hits weren’t as defeating. In my current state, I felt I could take on a warrior wolf. As time passed, I discovered that l anticipated training every day. So much that I spent my nights sparring alone in my quarters in the dead of the night. This week was different. My training was cancelled without reason, pe
ZADOKMy jaws tightened as I saw Alpha Cole of the BloodMoon pack walking towards me with his flavour of the night. It was one of the reasons I despised social gatherings. I put on a fake smile and met them halfway. “Alpha Zadok! It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I thought you would miss this year’s ceremony too.”His words were a double-edged sword. “It’s hard to miss when I am the host. I’ve been quite busy these years. I didn’t realise I was causing an uproar by my absence.”“Nonsense! We are all busy, Zadok. We all have packs even bigger to run. Yet you don’t see us shying away from the public’s eye.” He gestured around the hall - as though aiming to drive a point. “One will think you are hiding something, especially with your status as an unmated Alpha wolf. Don’t you want to find your mate? Or perhaps choose one from the strong females that attend the ceremony this year.”“Don’t blame me if people find it hard to mind the business that pays them,” I force a chuckle,
ITHRAI watched in horror as Zadok took on the wolves that suddenly poured out of the bushes. He leapt to the air and midway transformed into a gigantic wolf that scared the wolves to a still. Within seconds, the air filled with bone-cracking sounds as the wolves transformed into their beast one after the other.What in the world?!My back found the oak tree behind me as I watched the confrontation between the wolves and Zadok's wolf. It was clear which wolf belonged to Zadok because it was the largest and most commanding. Not to talk of its demon-red eyes that struck a chord inside me. It's just training. I remembered the words of Shilhi and swallowed hard. If this was indeed the test she spoke of, I had every plan of acing it. She mentioned it would be a beastly test, but I didn't take her word to mean that. Without further contemplation, I joined Zadok in the fight, throwing myself in harm's way as I dragged a knife into the bowels of a wolf. Everything stilled as the wolf
ZADOK“They are coming! We need to run.” Ithra’s voice was panicked. As well as concerned. I managed to get on my feet, holding the bleeding gash on my stomach. With my movement, I felt pain all over again. “Why the hell was this taking so long to heal?” I mumbled, gritting my teeth in pain. “At this rate, you'll die before we get help.” Ithra's eyes fixed on my wound, which poured out blood. I could understand her concern, but I didn't have it in me to remind her I was an alpha and I couldn't die from loss of blood. With my delayed healing, I was losing blood and getting weak fast. The rogues used a silver weapon. Ithra helped me to an oak tree, and I relaxed, trying to preserve my breathing. “I'll just find some herbs to stop the blood.” She said and got up, “Try reaching out to the others with what you guys do in your mind.” My eyes perked at her words. Before I could ask what she meant, she was gone. Grudgingly, I tried to reach the others via mind link, all to no avail.
ITHRA’S POV I woke up with a moan. Zadok was between my legs. This has been the case since I was declared ready and fit to go home. I couldn’t believe I survived. And that with Logan intact - my little fighter. When I woke up, I was unable to use my body or legs properly, I remembered the relief I felt when the news broke that my baby had survived the poison given to me by Cole. They said he had a will to fight and three months down the line, he was still kicking and ready to come out - our hybrid baby. Zadok licked me and I let out a soft moan, “Baby...” “Good morning, Amore.” He said with his face between my legs. His breath caused a vibrating feeling down my cooch and I bit my lips in ecstasy. “Zadok,” I muttered, and his finger slipped into my core. A shiver passed through my body and I felt my baby kick. “I want you.” He said, “I want you in all the way possible.” I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands on my body. His fingers went in and out of me, increa
ZADOK’S POV I held Ithra’s hand while they attended to her. “How is she? And my baby?” I stuttered, unable to swallow. She looked too thin. Our baby bump was showing but she was yet to wake up. It’s been three days already. “Her body is weak, and the baby has been poisoned. We are trying to save their lives but the odds are not in our favour.” I got on my feet and held the shirt of the doctor. “You will save both their lives!” I roared in his face and he looked scared out of his wits. “You will save them both or I will have your head.” Azriel stepped in front of me, holding me back. “Alpha. You need to let them do their job. Staying here and scaring them out of their wits will only hinder the smooth operation and speed recovery of the Luna.” “What am I supposed to do?” I asked, breathing heavily. “What am I supposed to do when my mate is lying lifeless and I risk losing her and my baby?!” Azriel maintained silence. He knew I was at my wit's end and was capable of doing a
AZRIEL’S POV I figured out the best way to rescue the Luna that night. You can imagine my shock when I came to share my progress with the Alpha and found him gone with a note that he was taking a head-start. My shock grew when my spies in the Moon Light pack informed me of Zadok’s arrest and his close execution. I was already on my way with the warriors when Athaliah’s message of Zadok’s impending death was delivered. We got to the pack at midnight, and according to my three-month-old plan, we infiltrated the borders, clearing the guards while keeping a low profile. The heavens must have smiled at us because the entire pack was gathered for an announcement, making our entrance, swift and painless. By the time they were done crowning Athaliah Luna, we were mixed in the crowd, and brushing the dungeons for signs of the Alpha and Luna. Soon enough, news of our arrival spread and warriors were dispatched to the dungeons, seeking us out. It soon became a warzone, and I killed ever
ATHALIAH’S POV I was one step closer to my goal. I walked down the aisle with a faux smile, while Cole stood in the portal with an impatient look on his face. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the prisoners and I could understand that. A sudden assembly had been called to welcome me as the new Luna of the Moon Light pack. I heard the whispers. They couldn’t believe that I had climbed my way up to snagging the position of Luna. Thanks to Ithra’s sudden pregnancy, Cole decided she had been tainted and could not serve as his luna. However, he had every intention of making her his slave after killing the bastard that grew in her stomach. But of course, his crazy obsessive mind couldn’t deal with the thought of killing Ithra with her baby, so he sought ways to kill the growing child while keeping its mother’s life. Hence, her imprisonment in the dungeons, coupled with the timely administration of abortive potions. Live long enough and you will see a lot of things. In the thic
ZADOK’S POV “This is useless!” I banged my fist on my office desk. “I need to leave. I need to get her out.” Azriel, the ever voice of reason spoke first. “I understand your reasons. But we need to cover all bases before we rescue her from Cole’s hold. It’s one thing to sneak you into the pack, but It’s another to take her out in one clean try.” “I don’t care! I don’t care anymore.” I said, getting up on my feet. “If it will take a war to get her out, then rally the warriors. Because I’m done with this shit!” “We can’t go to war.” Azriel's tone was levelled. “That would be us sending people to their deaths with the risk of coming up empty.” “I don’t care what you think. I need to go back and retrieve her. If you are unable to come up with a plan, then rally up the warriors, we move in three days.” “We can’t go to war.” He said and I saw red. “And why the hell not?!” “Athaliah.” He said and my anger rose to an all-time high. “She is the new beta of the Moon Light pack and
ITHRA’S POV It’s been three months. Three months since he visited me, promising to return and save me from this insanity. Every day I woke up with hope, waiting for him to save me like he promised - only to be disappointed when night fell and there was no appearance of him in my room or the Moonlight pack. A lot happened this past few months. After my sizzling night with him, I decided to prepare. I woke up that morning, wore my clothes and pretended I couldn’t feel the ache or hollow between my legs that yearned to be filled by him. I went about my life like a docile bride, doing everything within reason to convince Cole I had submitted to him. The first few weeks were tricky, seeing he didn’t believe my act and thought I had something planned. However, as we approached the third month, Cole was convinced of my acts and took every opportunity to show me off as one whom he managed to bend to his standards. Kissing up to Cole had its ups and downs. For starters, I was no long
ITHRA’S POV I returned to my room from dinner with Cole, escorted by two guards. Dinner with Cole was painful. Listening to him yap about how I needed to be good to enjoy more of these ‘privileges’ with him made my stomach churn. I sat there like a moron while he fussed over me like he didn’t beat me a while ago. I could feel my sanity dwindling the more I remained here. Much more than anything, I craved freedom. Freedom that Cole has vowed never to give me. I was trapped in an insane nightmare that was my life. One would think I have suffered enough to experience peace but whoever wrote my story thought otherwise. We arrived in front of my door and they opened it, silently urging me inside the dark room. I walked in and the door was shut and locked. I sighed and felt the walls around me, looking for a light switch. Soon enough, light flooded my room, or should I say - my prison and the first thing I saw was a dark shadow standing by my window. Startled, I blinked, grabbing
AZRIEL’S POVThis madness ends today.I thought as I marched to Zadok’s office with proof of why we must rescue Ithra.Yes, I was beyond convinced she was the one. My instinct had once again been proved right and if the Alpha refused to take action this time, I would do so myself.She was my half-sister after all.I knocked on the door and Zadok ordered me in. His face was a wreck as always. I didn’t care. I was done doing things on his terms. If there would be any further proceeding with us, then he needed to get out of that self-depreciating slum or I would yank him out myself.Damn the consequences.
ITHRA’S POVThe sound of the metal door opening stirred me awake.“Rise and shine, Luna,” Athaliah said with a smile.I felt weak. Too weak to say a word to her.“Thankfully, your mate is better and he has ordered to have you out of here.” She said with a clasp and some men entered my cell. “Seeing you can’t help yourself, I thought to bring some guards to speed the transfer.” She added with a smirk and the guards picked me up roughly.I felt pathetic. I couldn’t even fight back as they roughly dragged me through the concrete floor, leaving me with bruises and scratches.By the time I returned to my room