The next few days after the incident at the black and white ball was filled with silence. Layla folded up instantly, retreating back into her shell of silence. The uncontrollable shifting she went through coupled with the news Ren broke to her about her death took its toll on her and once again, she lost a lot of weight.She would sit by herself in the high balcony at the last floor of the mansion, or make a refuge at the roof of the mansion. A place she almost lost her life.Riven barely had time to be with her because he was so busy trying to keep Layla's identity a secret. Her shifting would rouse so many suspicions in the minds of the shifters that were present when she shifted. And her creature was different, totally different from every other shifter on the island. People were bound to start digging and they would begin to find out what she truly was. If they found out she was a Tribrid, it would be a disaster.The more Riven tried to make sure Layla's true identity remained a
TARTARUSHades stood by the blood altar he erected in the cave of torment. The cave of torment was a place in Tartarus, a place no soul ever wanted to witness. It was a bleak world, filled with the endless cries and tortures of condemned souls.It was in this cave of torment that Riven trapped Hades and the other deadly devils. Muttering strange words, Hades slit his palm with his claws and black blood spilled out, pooling at the centre of the blood altar that was erected."After so many centuries...", Belphegor whispered in a victorious tone. "We are finally going to be free"The other devils looked on as Hades took hold of the dagger smeared with Layla's blood and walked to the centre of the altar. "For so many years we have waited",he began to speak. "We have smarted under the pain of being held here, locked away like vile beasts. All because of that monster creature called Riven!"The devils growled furiously, remembering how they were locked up in Tartarus by Riven."Now the ti
"Finally we are free!"Hades bellowed as the earth began to tremble and shake violently. A large tear appeared in the veil separating the supernatural realm and Tartarus. Hellish creatures screeched and began to slam against the veil, wanting to escape.Suddenly the trembling of the earth stopped and the tear in the veil disappeared. The blood altar Hades erected crumbled and the knife holding Layla's blood disappeared instantly.The seven devils screamed out as they experienced an excruciating pain in the chest, bringing them down to their knees. The human forms they took on began to fade off and their real forms emerged. Black scaly skeletal body. Two massive horns on their heads and skin dripping with black blood. Their eerie red eyes glowed evilly as pain racked their bodies. Screams of agony could be heard as the pain became unbearable and the prisons in Tartarus began to shake and crumble."MAKE IT STOP!",Asmodeus screamed in agony as the pain reached a high crescendo and the e
"Kiss me... please",Layla pleaded.A lustful groan sounded from Riven as Layla's whispered plea caressed his ears. He shut his eyes that had turned bright gold from the passion he was feeling. His hands tightened around her waist and he pressed her soft curves against him, holding his beast back from losing control and claiming her."My sweet...",he whispered against her lips. "Are you sure about this?"Layla didn't know what came over her but what she wanted at that moment was to feel Riven's touch all over her body. The weeks he spent away from her had been torture and it made her body yearn for his touch. She wanted something more out of their relationship. Riven had been the perfect gentleman, never pushing her to do things she didn't want. Now she was ready."Please Riven",she pleaded again and kissed his nape. "This is what I want. Make me feel whole"Riven's eyes turned dark as his body shivered with pleasure. Whatever thin thread that was holding his sanity snapped the moment
Riven froze. His entire body went rigid with Layla's words and his eyes flickered a few times from black to gold. He released her slowly and tugged her dress upwards to cover the sweet sight of her breasts. With a muttered oath, he pushed himself away from the bed, away from her tempting scent and alluring body, and walked towards the window."Riven what's wrong?",Layla whispered from the bed, eyes still glazed over from passion. She rearranged her dress and was about to get off the bed when Riven stopped her."No...",he said shakily. "Stay where you are"Layla frowned and tears gathered immediately in her eyes. Wiping them away furiously, she raised her head and stared at Riven with hurtful eyes."You... you don't want me that way?",she whispered and despite her resolve not to cry, the tears spilled down her cheeks.Riven spun around and stared at her helplessly. Watching her cry with so much hurt in her eyes made him want to pull her into his embrace and hug her and kiss her until s
The ride on the horses was refreshing and filled with laughter until Layla began to feel sleepy. The cool island breeze and the long ride was enough to lull her and soon she was yawning."Time to return",Riven said and moved his stallion towards Layla. Suddenly his head jerked up and his eyes flared gold for a split second. Moving with the speed of light, he pulled his stallion beside Layla's mare and his hand shot out just in time and grabbed the arrow that whistled through the air towards Layla.Layla screamed and the mare reared up, kicking her feet upwards and almost throwing Layla off. It all happened so fast that no one noticed the arrow on Riven's hand until a few seconds later. "Alpha!""Take Layla back to the mansion. Now!",Riven commanded. Layla was still in shock and trembling as Caleb grabbed the reins from her hand and led the horse away, with the lycan warriors surrounding her. She turned to look at Riven but he had his back to her. She turned around, and as Caleb and
Layla woke up early the next morning to the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. She opened her heavy eyelids and yawned, staring around the room that was still dark. She could hear the chirping of birds and she knew it was daylight already. The room remained dark because Riven left the curtains down so her sleep wouldn't be disturbed.She was still wrapped in the warm blanket and the last thing she remembered was cuddling with the big golden wolf the previous night. It turned out Riven had been jealous of the way she cuddled the kitten and he wanted her to do the same with him.She let out a soft chuckle. Riven could be unbelievably childish sometimes. She didn't mind cuddling with him though. His fur was more comfortable than the bed and she couldn't wait to ask him to shift into his wolf form again so she could cuddle with him.Soon Riven emerged from the bathroom dressed in dark pants and a matching shirt. His hair was still damp from the shower and droplets of water fe
Layla's eyes widened in shock and she held her chest and stumbled back. She looked down at the spot where Ren stabbed her, expecting to see blood gushing out. She didn't know what it was and the only thing she saw was the bottom disappearing into her chest.Layla was even more shocked when she didn't feel any pain. Instead she felt warmth spread from her chest to the rest part of her body. She looked up Ren, waiting for an explanation of what happened. But Ren just stared at her indifferently, and the expression she had on meant she was waiting for something to happen."What did you just do?",Layla asked in a panicked voice. She touched the spot in her chest where Ren had stabbed her. She couldn't feel anything and she stared at the female shifter in horror. "What did you put into my body? Say something!"Ren rolled her eyes as if she was exhausted with Layla's overreaction."Relax",she said and grabbed Layla's hand again. "I wouldn't deliberately hurt you else Riven would kill me"La
The human realm, Kingdom Of Northville....The sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon and brightened the magnificent city of Northville, welcoming its citizens to a brand new day.At the edge of the kingdom, hidden among the wild flowers and surrounded by the forest of the willows was a fancy cottage.The front door of the cottage swung open and a white haired young woman stepped outside, holding a basket of grains."Kalista, don't forget to feed the chickens",a female voice called from within the cottage."Yes, mother",Kalista responded and twirled her way towards the metal cage behind the cottage. She hummed to herself along the way, holding up her dress and skipping lightly."Good morning, my little feathered friends",she smiled warmly as she got to the cage and crouched before it. The chickens squawked in anticipation for their morning meal, and Kalista carefully tipped the basket she held and poured out the grains into the feeder."Don't rush, there's enough for everyone",she
Six years later....Riven's mansion was filled with the sound of celebration and decorated with Christmas lights. Outside, it was blazing cold and snowing hard but inside the house, it was warm and cozy as a low fire burned in the chimney.There was a large Christmas tree in the middle of the living room, decorative lights twinkling like a thousand jewels. Beneath the tree, there were dozens of presents, boxes wrapped in fancy wrappings.It was Christmas.Six year old Xavier and Cade raced around the large living room, laughing happily as they were being chased my Clarissa, Caleb's three year old daughter. The boys totally adored her and they protected her from the bullying of the other shifter's kids. Clarissa had bright blonde hair like her father, but had her mother's sky blue eyes. Her smile was enchanting, the deep dimples on her cheeks giving her an adorable look.As the children raced around the living room, Layla watched them from the top of the stairs with a smile. She had
Three years later....Riven sprinted through the large halls of his huge mansion, racing towards his room at the top floor with a woman behind him.She was a doctor, a shifter who didn't want to belong to any pack, and prefered to live on her own. She had volunteered to help Layla in her delivery for a handsome fee.She was just a young werewolf, only two hundred years old with no sign of her mate yet."Alpha slow down",she chuckled behind him as she rushed towards the room where the Luna was waiting. "We still have a few more hours before the baby comes""The contractions are getting unbearable",Riven said over his shoulder but didn't reduce his hurried steps. In a panicked mode, he sent a mind link to his mate.[My love, hold on. The doctor is on her way to you][Oh Riven, hurry. I'm so terrified], Layla's reply made the beast in him more frantic and he flew up the remaining flight of stairs.He shoved the door open and hurried to the side of the bed where Layla was.Layla was sitt
Riven felt suddenly whole. He shut his eyes, forgetting everything else and focusing on the feeling of Layla's soft body close to him. His arms tightened around her, one hand reaching up to caress her hair. The scent of apples and roses, the scent he had grown so used to, flooded his senses and made him dizzy from relief. All of a sudden, everything seemed alright. All the years he had been wallowing in anguish and guilt sudden disappeared. It didn't matter anymore as long as his mate was in his arms."Layla",he whispered in her ear, burying his nose in the crook of her shoulder and breathing in her scent. The unique scent that belonged to only her. "Is it really you?""Yes, Riven",Layla whispered back to him, tears rolling down her cheeks when she answered him. "I came back to you, my love"The feeling was surreal and it still felt like a dream to him. Only the sparks of the mate bond and the softness of her body made him believe it was actual reality.He was really holding his ma
Years had passed since the last battle with the devils and the lycanthropes, and everything was finally back to normal.Riven didn't return to the hidden island, the only place he knew as his home. He decided it was time to start a new life somewhere else.He established a new territory in the human world, a city called DeVille . He built a much more magnificent mansion and the entire lycanthropes lived in peace just as they had been living in the hidden island.His business thrived, producing billions for him every year. Soon, Riven Qinn became the talk of the city. Men respected him, women adored and worshipped him, wishing they could catch the young handsome billionaire's attention.They had no way of knowing that Riven was centuries old, and he would never love another woman.Caleb was promoted to the position of Supreme Beta and Knox was the new Supreme Gamma.Over the years, majority of the lycanthropes were united with their mates and the Dark Creek Pack expanded as babies were
Xavier felt his breath bust out of his mouth. It was only then that he realized he had been holding it. Selene, the Moon Goddess was right in front of him?Without another word, he bowed his head to the ground, trembling from awe and immense respect. For the Moon Goddess herself to appear to him was something he couldn't fathom. He wasn't worth it. He wasn't worth to be in her presence.His lips trembled as he bowed his head repeatedly before Selene."Rise, Xavier",Selene continued in a soothing voice, the hint of an amused smile playing around her perfect lips.However, Xavier shook his head and remained on the ground before her."I know you're wondering why I have appeared to you",the Moon Goddess said. "You helped the lycanthropes defeat the war, even when you were part of the reason for the war in the first place"Xavier trembled from shame when he heard the goddess. He had indeed been a part of the cause. He had made a deal with the devil and deceived Layla just because he want
A week later...A week had flown by since the bloody battle with the devils and the demons of hell. The spot where the battle took place in Red River City was scorched and blackened badly and would forever be a reminder to people, both humans and supernatural creatures, of the day the devils almost took over the world.The desert creatures had exchanged polite words with Riven, congratulating each other for their victorious battle. And when the sultan tried to offer his condolences on Layla's death, Riven declined and wished them safely back to their realm.Left with nothing else to say, the sultan nodded respectfully to Riven and he disappeared with his surviving army. The surviving minotaurs returned to their realms while every other creature that had contributed to the victory of the war with the devils returned to their respective realms, leaving only the lycanthropes in Red River City.The City was in ruins. The dead bodies were piled in different sections and burned. The entire
Layla stepped out of the shield of energy into the burning red flames. She waved her hand and the shield thickened, keeping Riven and the other creatures within. The flames didn't harm her, as her magic was joined with the spirit beast.When Riven tried to hurry out after her, he felt his body bounce against the shield of energy. He was trapped within.His eyes widened as realization dawned on him."Layla",he called out to her through the shield. "Riven... it is time",Layla said in a sad tone. Tears slowly spilled down her eyes as she gazed lovingly at her mate. "I want to make this easy for you but I don't know how...""Please, my love. It can't end like this",Riven pleaded in a shaky voice. He didn't know when tears gathered in his eyes and spilled down his cheek. For the first time since he lost his sister, he cried. "Don't do this, please. Don't leave me. We can end this together"Layla felt her heart shatter all over again when she witnessed the way her mate begged her like his
Hades let out a terrifying scream and stumbled backwards. Black smoke seeped out from the cracks on his face as Layla's blood burned him. He swiped at his face, his sharp claws ripping the skin apart as he struggled to wipe the blood away from his face. This same pain also visited the other six devils as they wailed eeriely, their faces melting off from the contact of Layla's blood."I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!",Hades bellowed at Layla in a fit of scorching rage. The devil had wanted Layla's blood to curse her with blood magic but in the end, Layla had beaten him at his own game.The spell the devil had placed over the lycanthropes and the remaining creatures was broken and they could move again. They succeeded in destroying the remaining demons and pushing the rest into the crater of flames. It seemed the power of the devils greatly diminished after Layla's blood touched them because the creatures stopped crawling out from the crater. Seeing how distracted the devils were at that poin