ZADOK “She’s right, you stubborn human! Are you trying to kill yourself?” My wolf, Kir, said in my head. I mentally rolled my eyes at his ridiculousness. “Stay out of this, Kir. I have no time for your side talks.” I replied to him through my mind, and he snickered. Rude. “I don’t know, okay?!” Ithra threw her hands in the air. “All I know is that I am cold, and you are in no position to get us through this Valley.” “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” I asked, tired of the arguments. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s get going.” I walked through the snow and felt my bones shake from their marrow. I clenched my teeth, feeling partially numb in my feet. Shit. The map depicts the journey through the Cold Valley as a short one. I’d heard a lot of people died in this particular valley, and for a while, I wondered why and what monster lived in this part of the forest to warrant such a high death rate. There was no monster at all. The monster that killed many travellers
ZADOK I felt my body weaken, and I felt at the brink of death. “What are you doing?” I asked Kir, panicking within me. “Since you have refused to submit to me, I will show you how weak you are without my help.” My body felt like chards of ice were pricking my skin. It felt like the cold increased - so much that I fell to my knees. My legs couldn’t carry me anymore. “What is wrong with you?!” I heard Ithra’s panicked voice from afar off. I could barely keep my eyes open. My insides were freezing, and every single organ was failing. It felt like I was in a cold room. Every single fluid in my body was dried, dead. My heartbeat slowed, and I could taste death. “Can you see how weak you are against me?” Kir asked. I heard the anger in his tone. I didn’t answer. I didn’t speak. It hurt too much. Was this what Ithra was going through all this while? How was she surviving? “Remember this the next time you choose to disregard me,” He growled. “You are as weak as a human without
ZADOKThe ride with Ithra was joyous and filled with hearty laughter. Despite being relegated to the back of the fun, I derived joy seeing her lay freely in Kir’s fur as he took us through the cold Valley. At some point, I felt stupid for not allowing Kir to take the reins earlier. He was more suited to take us through the Cold Valley than I will ever be. “I see you are getting wiser, human.” Kir’s voice intruded my thoughts, and I tried not to be offended. “I didn’t realise you were paying attention.” I said bitterly, “Last I checked, you shut me off without a care.” “Jealous?”I near damned coughed blood at the audacity of this wolf. “Jealous?!” I said incredulously, “What in the world am I supposed to be jealous about, Kir?” “Me.” He said it so casually that I felt like smacking his head. “We are the same person, so it’s not feasible,” I said before Kir, feeling a sense of accomplishment afterwards. “Good to know you’re learning.” He said, and once again, put up the mental
ZADOKThe ghoul threshed till it was a few feet away from me. Ithra’s face was red from holding her breath for so long. I couldn’t describe how I felt the more it came close to me with its deathly cold aura. Just when I thought it was all over, the other ghoul exclaimed. “I hear it! It certainly came from this way.” It said, sniffing the air. “It’s a bear!”The ghoul stood away from me and said, “Who cares about a bear when you can find something more profitable.” It sneered, “I’m close to finding what it is. I can feel it right underneath my nose.” My heart seized at its comment because we were right under his nose. “If you are not interested in partnering with me, just say so. Enough of your stupid acts. Are you trying to get on my nerves?” The other one said, sounding offended. I heard a tired sigh, “But I feel there is something here. Please give me a few minutes before we go after the bear?” It asked, shocking me with the sincerity in its tone. “I will not give up another k
ITHRAI couldn’t believe my eyes. Golden coins, sparkling jewels, mirrors, and other priced artefacts simmered in their millions. A hidden treasure cave! “Calm down,” Zadok said, “Remember, we don’t touch anything.” He swallowed, “We will be fine if we don’t touch anything.” He repeated, but my jaws were on the floor, and I didn’t think they were coming up soon. “How did this get here?” I asked the question that plagued my mind. “Just how many years has it been hidden here?” “I don’t know. Perhaps a thousand years?” He suggested, sounding perplexed. “Who knew there was something good in this forest? No wonder people risked their lives to come here.” Zadok took a step forward, and I followed him. “I don’t think there are any records of this place in the dark forest. There would be more people seeking to try their luck at wealth assuming there was such information.” I stopped by a treasure chest sitting on a rock, “It feels so unreal.” I said, eyeing the glittering contents. “Wha
ZADOKI watched in horror as the dragon took Ithra farther and farther away from me. “Wait! Please! Don’t kill her!” I screamed with all my might. Praying that the dragon heard and reconsidered its decision - All to no avail. Instead, the dragon took her up to the roof of the cave and threw her into what seemed like a reef at the top of the rocks. “Not yet.” I heard the cackle of the dragon. “Sometimes, it gets lonely over here. I mean, it’s once in a thousand years before I can meet visitors in the dark forest.” he snickered, “And that’s not because there haven’t been a lot of them, but because they weren’t lucky enough to get here.” The dragon descended and sat proudly on the mountain of treasures. “So you can imagine my surprise when I saw two suspecting individuals threading my territory with every plan of crossing over without saying hi.” “Let her go,” I growled, not in the mood for his story time. The dragon hissed, “I’ll be careful if I were you. Because even if you haven’
ZADOK “Leave me alone!” The Sirion screeched as I dragged it to the entrance of the cave. “Wrong answer,” I said, brimming with anger. “You are going to tell me how to get back into this cave and rescue my partner from that dragon, or I swear it, you will breathe your last today.” The Sirion struggled from my hold to no avail. One thing about the Sirion was that it was powerless against people. Its power lies in its knowledge and ability to transform into anything. It was a very rare being that used its knowledge to preserve its life in dire situations. Everyone needed a Sirion at some point due to its rareness and wisdom. People tended to keep it hostage and force it to serve their purposes. Over time, things changed, and for a mysterious reason, The Sirions received the ability to escape from the hands of their captor after answering a question as decided by the captor. “You already know the truth. There’s no going back in the dark forest, Just going forward.” It snapped.
ZADOK“No! Please don’t take me there! I only just escaped!” The goblin cried as I dragged him towards the cave, carrying his bag at my back.“I don’t care. I need to get my partner, and if catching a jewellery thief will get the desired result, then so be it.” “The dragon doesn’t care about this. I got it out a few decades ago. He has long forgotten about it!” The goblin explained, but I didn’t care. “Let’s find out then.” I dragged the goblin to the front of the closed entrance, holding him down tightly. I stood till I realised I didn’t know what to do.“I told you,” The goblin said, “I hold no value to him, neither do my possessions. Let me go already.” I stayed silent, looking at the closed door, waiting for some miracle to enable me to trade the goblin - All to no avail. My shoulders sank, and I contemplated if the goblin wasn’t valuable enough to recover my Ithra. Just when I thought it was over, a rumble rocked the cave, and slowly, the rocks that blocked the entrance roll
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