After I had cried my heart out, I returned to the Estate, found something to eat in the kitchens, and retreated to my room for a hot bath. I felt calmer, steadier like I could push away the sadness if I tried hard enough. Candido wasn’t home, so it made it somewhat easier. I didn’t have to catch the scent of his cologne in the hallway and think about what I wouldn’t have with him.I sunk into the bathtub and closed my eyes.My feelings aside, the situation with the former Alpha King was troubling. How had vampires managed to infiltrate the estate? Weren’t their guards? Secret passageways to escape by that only pack members would know? Wasn’t the former alpha king a great warrior?I frowned and sat up. Was Candido’s father actually the former alpha king? The title referred to the alpha of the biggest pack with the biggest territory, but the Full Moon Pack had been much smaller before Candido took over.The Full Moon Pack was one of the oldest packs, one of the first that was mentioned
He quirked an eyebrow at me as I stared up at him and licked my lips. My mouth was draw and I felt that heat from back in the forest rushing through me. His eyes started to fill with moonlight, though he didn’t move.Then, I thought of Sibyl and pulled back. I didn’t know what to do with myself or what to say. I wanted to ask about the vampire, about his father, about the woman in the photo too, but I couldn’t manage the words.“Are you okay?”My lips twitched. “Why wouldn’t I be?”I reached for the glass, letting our hands brush against each other. I felt the zing of attraction shoot through me as I pulled the milk towards me. I lifted the glass to my mouth and started to drink. He never took his eyes off me. The moonlight in his eyes didn’t fade as he watched me.When the glass was empty, I offered the glass back to him.He didn’t move. For a moment, we just stared at each other. The hyper-awareness returned anew and my eyes trailed over the skin of his chest. I heard his heartbeat
I watched the investigation develop for an hour before it was clear that everything else would have to come from the autopsy reports. They found a total of thirty bodies. There were signs of a struggle, but none of the victims were vampires. Whether that was because vampires really turned into ash when they were killed or if they just escaped with their wounded, I couldn’t know. Every victim was drained of blood, but their wounds didn’t make complete sense.Some of them had neat puncture wounds. Others looked like they had their throats torn out by a wild animal that also drank their blood. Aside from how they died, who the victims were and how they died would tell me a lot. For now, all I could tell was that there were at least two attackers. Based on the attack styles, it was possible that there was more than one kind of vampire out there.The more I looked, the more I felt like the quick message I sent to Armageddon had been more like a pre-brief. He didn’t reply to me, but I didn’
I chased after Candido for what felt like hours. We ran around the Estate several times before we left the nearby area and went further into the forest. We didn’t talk, but I felt the tension between us fading. When I caught up to him finally, at the edge of a stream he turned to me, his chest heaving. His eyes were bright and filled with moonlight.“Your turn,” he said. “I’ll give you a ten second head start.”“Ten seconds?” I cried back away from him. “That’s hardly fair!”“You’re wasting time,” he said, leaning forward with a predatory smirk. “Make it a good hunt, little one.”I shivered. I wanted to protest, but my body turned sharply, obeying before I could think more about it and taking off into the forest. Maybe I had used a bit of my power, but I couldn’t be sure. That hyper-aware feeling was growing fainter the farther I ran, but soon, it started to grow stronger again. I turned sharply, taking off across a river, jumping from rock to rock to confuse him before running into t
Several weeks passed since I learned about Candido and Sibyl’s engagement. While he left the Estate relatively often, he was always there for breakfast, dinner, and to train with me. For a while, it felt like I could forget that it was even happening.The investigation of the Moon Shadow attack, the other attacks on werewolf land, the book, and what was happening on campus were all on hold. No more damage appeared in the school and things were oddly quiet.“What are you thinking about so hard?” Candido asked.I lifted my head and smiled across the table at him. Allen was gone. We were all alone at breakfast. It felt a little bit like a date except we were in out pajamas. I chuckled.“You need more fun pajamas.”He quirked an eyebrow. “I’ll leave the fun pajamas to you.”I laughed. “You’ll cave. I’m going to buy you something with… penguins or something for you.”“Penguins?” He asked. “No.”“Cats?”“No.”I grinned, “Penguins and cats. Got it.”He rolled his eyes. “I’m not wearing anyth
Sibyl growled at me as she passed, gesturing to her guards. When they were gone, I lifted the phone to my ear.“I’m reporting this to His Majesty.”“Wait,” I said, taking a deep breath. This wouldn’t be enough. Candido’s honor would push him to try and fix our problems with each other, not back out of the deal. “Just wait for it. Could you pick me up lunch? I’m going for a run.”“… as you wish, Miss Hedy.”I walked outside, dropped my bag on the stands of the running track, and broke into a run as fast as I could manage, hoping to focus on something more than my anger.Sibyl was evil, and she was blaming me for everything that was going on with Candido. While I was happy that things weren’t going well for her with Candido, I couldn’t help but be frustrated because Candido was too honorable to back out of this marriage.As I finished my run, I slowed to a stop several feet away from where I had left my bag.In place of the leader of Team Gamma-2 or the guard that followed me around sch
I turned over the discovery and pushed the analyst team in my mind. It had been a few weeks since the analysis was complete, but there still wasn’t any further progress. There had been more murders across the territories, and they had all been getting closer and closer to Candido’s territory. There had been over twenty cases, and if they were all connected to the death of the former alpha king and the Blue Moon Pack, wherever they were, then it was just a matter of time before I figured out the bottom of all of this.I crossed the room to my closet to figure out what I was going to wear tomorrow and stopped as I caught sight of myself in the mirror. I had been so preoccupied with the investigations that I hadn’t been weighing myself or measuring my waistline. My clothes were hanging off me now, a full size too big, at least if not more.I pulled out a pair of jeans and slid into them, happy, and a bit horrified that there was so much space in them. If only I’d been paying more attenti
After the little celebration, Candido walked me back to my room and said goodnight. I wouldn’t be drinking milk mixed with his blood any longer. I was at once grateful and a little sad. It felt like I was losing just a bit of the connection I had with him. It felt like it was just the beginning of losing that connection too. First, it would be the blood. Then, I wouldn’t see him as much. Then, he’d be married to Sibyl. Even if he wasn’t married to Sibyl yet, I still hadn’t gotten him to see me as more than just a little girl. Sure, there had been some heated moments between us, but that had all been instinct. The wolf in him recognized me as a woman, but he didn’t and that was the problemI huffed, trying not to think about it too much more. I opened every bag he’d brought. There were casual dresses along with a few cocktail dresses. I wondered if he planned to take me out more often. I did notice that the clothes were in different colors than they had been when I was bigger. I didn’t
She cocked an eyebrow. “They might be related, but there’s no way to know if they’re compatible.”“They’re both golden wolves. That should be enough.” I swallowed. “I don’t care what you have to do, you have to keep him alive.”Her eyes drifted down to Candido with an odd expression on her face. “I’ll see what I can do,” she looked up at me. “But… there will be a hefty cost.”“I don’t care,” I said. If Candido was really being used to stabilize Solare, whatever that meant, then I had make sure that he had enough life force, that his body still remained, after that was done to wake up. “I developed a drug that strengthened wolves,” she said. “I have a feeling that it would at least help.”My eyes bulged. “You’re… You’re the one who made the drug for the vampires.”She smiled. “I am. And?”I growled at her. “You’re a traitor.”Her smile turned cold. “And you aren’t the alpha king’s mate.”She cocked an eyebrow. “Given the state of the world, do you think they’ll care?”“Of course, the
“It was unsure if my Beloved King would have ever risen again and to what world,” she said. “It was for the best that I changed the path.”“We’re mates,” I said again. “We’re mates. Nothing you say can change that.”“Mates,” she scoffed. “A tool for conquest. Were you not listening? The vampiric power you inherited from your mother was the only reason you could fake the moon mark. The white fur you inherited from your father turned platinum because of it. When you were no longer a vampire, after Cillian had drained the last of that power out of you, you were just a plain werewolf…”“I don’t believe you,” I said. “I won’t believe you. You’re just trying to trick me.”“Your real moon mark vanished the night that your mate died trying to protect you.”I saw the senior diving in front of me and jerking as the bullets hit him in the chest. “Him?” I growled. “No. I can’t believe that.”“Neither could your mother,” she laughed. “By the time you met your grandfather, I had already been makin
I pushed at the wall, trying to get over there and drag Estella away from Candido. Then, Vanessa appeared dressed in a wispy gauzy red dress. She looked younger than the last time I had seen her. Two younger men followed her, chatting with her though I couldn’t make out what they were saying. They were dressed in red tunics. Then, I saw Claire and Francium striding towards them in red. They were holding hands. Her hair was gathered up in a flower wreath as they smiled together. They looked so happy together as they sat beside Candido and Estella. Soon, I saw other people. I saw Claire’s parents and the people I remember dying over the course of the war. They sat together in a circle around Candido and Estella, chatting happily. “Don’t be happy!” I yelled, banging on the wall. “Claire! You’re supposed to be my friend! Get her away from my mate!”No one even noticed I was there. They laughed and chatted, welcoming other people as they came to join them. Everyone else was wearing red,
Weeks passed, and in that time, I made the remaining people do what needed to be done. They fixed up the building Candido and I were in. While they couldn’t get the water or electricity working, there was a roof and the floors were cleaned. They brought me food when they came to check on Candido and busied themselves with trying to contact whoever else might be alive. “Miss Hedy.”I looked up, glaring at them. “How many times have I told you to call me luna?”The man lifted his head. “Until the king confirms it, I would never disgrace the position that way.”I glared at him. “Then, I suppose you’ll be tried for treason, then.”His eyes narrowed as two people entered the room. “You’re supposed to be regent, right?” The woman asked. “You have some authority.”I lifted my head. “I’m luna.”She pointed at the man beside her. “Then tell this man that I want nothing to do with him and he should leave me alone.”“We’re mates!” He growled. “You’re not going to leave me.”“There is no mark,”
When I opened my eyes, I knew I wasn’t awake. Candido wasn’t there with me. I was seated across a long table that I had never seen before. The windows were all made of stained glass. Moonlight filtered through the colorful glass and sent the colors splashing everywhere. At the other end of the table was the vampire king. He was darker than I remember, but his hair glowed the way it had in that castle. The crown on his brow twinkled with light. To his left, like an odd reflection, was Marius. His blonde hair didn’t glow, and he didn’t wear a crown, but looking at the two of them it was so obvious that he was related to the thing. Their eyes glowed the same. I clenched my jaw and glared at them both. “Where am I?” I asked. “If you think you can change my mind about—”“The time to change your mind has long since passed, Hedy,” the vampire king said softly. His lips twitched into a small smile. “The time to make different decisions is long since over.”He took a deep breath and shook h
I shook my head. “You’re lying. You have to be lying. How would you know if the door was closed?”He laughed. “It was closed to her and all the other traitors. No child of Lunae who still walks in the Goddess’ grace would be turned away from returning home.”I swallowed and shook my head. “She never got Candido’s grandfather or father… I imagine she’s burning with jealousy that you’re so close to what she wanted,” he smiled. “Or maybe she’s proud that you share the same tastes.”“None of that matters,” I said. “I’m not a vampire. I never was. I’m a werewolf. I’m Candido’s mate. Tell me what you plan is. What are trying to do? If you’re trying to hurt Candido, I’ll never forgive you.”He laughed, throwing his head back. “Why would I give a fuck about your forgiveness, traitor?”“I— ““You’re even worse than Hedwig in some ways,” He laughed. “At least Hedwig mourned Candido’s father and grandfather. At least she was faithful in her pursuit. You jumped at the chance to get as close to f
I fell to the ground, choking. For a moment, I imagined Candido stroking my hair like we were in one of the parlors at the Estate before the war. I could almost hear him reading a book to me, some book that I was supposed to read for class but didn’t want to. I didn’t remember the words. I wasn’t even paying attention to his words or the book. I didn’t care. I just loved that he was spending time with me. It was all that I wanted. It was all that I had ever wanted. I closed my eyes and let myself sink into the memory. Slowly, the darkness faded. I felt his lips on my forehead then he was gone. It was so cold. I shivered in the wind that picked up over the mountaintop. I opened my eyes. Dawn was coming over the mountain. I shook and rolled over and tried to get up. I could see Candido there. His fur was still golden. He hadn’t turned back. He didn’t move. I crawled toward him. “Candido?” I whispered. “Candido? You can’t be gone… She promised me. I… You promised.”I got to him and we
“Fuck!”I rolled over and tried to see what was happening as I sucked in breath after breath. I choked, trying to catch my breath as I saw a glint of silver cut through the air. The man barely choked as his head tumbled through the air. His body went up in flames. Then, I saw Raven’s face. Her eyes were filled with blood-red light.She walked toward me. A flash of silver went by me and the gag loosened. I spat it out and my hands fell apart like the cuffs were broken. Her sword was aimed at me. Her expression was cold as she looked at me. Her hand trembled. Tears streamed down her face. Her jaw trembled. Then, she lowered her blade. I couldn’t believe it. I looked around, searching for someone else, but there was no one. It was just the two of us behind the barrier. Then, the wall of light shimmered and started to fade.I heard a stroke of thunder and turned as lightning fell from the sky and slammed into the side of the mountain. I smiled. Candido was using his power and winning. W
The fury simmered behind the tears in her eyes before she turned back to the group. They talked a little longer When they broke apart, none of them came my way. Most of them went with Wren, but the man with bandages headed toward a different truck. I eyed him suspiciously. What was he doing separate from the rest of them? Were the rest of them going to Candido and leaving him behind? Where were they going?I looked across the way as Harper and Wren and the others looked at me, glaring. Their eyes were filled with red light. They drove away, never taking their eyes off me. One of the women was crying. I looked over at the bandaged man as he hauled himself onto the back of the truck, still leaning to one side. Then, the truck I was in started to drive away. I turned back to see where were going and knew we were headed toward the mountain from my vision. My heart started to race. It seemed like we were heading to the end of the war now.“Black Team,” someone said. “En route to Gold Tea