"We have a little unfinished business",Brandon grinned like a maniac.Beside him were two women. One was Lilith, the succubus Layla had seen running into the woods. She must have escaped into the human world too.The other woman was unknown, but from her appearance, Riven knew instantly that she was another succubus of hell."He actually fell for her because she looked like his mate",Lilith smirked while her hard eyes were trained on Riven. "You can read the alpha very well""Of course I can",Brandon chuckled. "We're old friends after all"He pushed himself from his large chair and walked closer to Riven."Tell me Riven, how did you know the succubus wasn't your mate?"So it was the succubus that appeared to him after taking Layla's appearance, Riven thought. He was sure she was the one that made him go through so much pain, and she must have used her demonic powers to bring him to this place.He glared at Brandon in hate, wondering how the vampire knew they had arrived at the human w
Layla's eyes were glued to the storm that kept raging outside the window. The rain hadn't reduced since the previous night and it made the entire atmosphere extremely chilly. The rain pattered endlessly against the windows and drummed against the roof in heavy fat drops.It had been two days since Riven mysteriously disappeared from the house and no one knew his whereabouts.That other night after he left for the last time to check on Layla, he didn't return for some time. It was when Annabelle had ventured into the kitchen for a drink of water that she saw the back door wide opened with the wind pushing the rain inside.At first, she thought it was the Alpha and his Luna that had gone out into the rain. But after a while and they didn't return, Annabelle hurried up to Riven's room and saw Layla still asleep with the covers wrapped around her.Riven was nowhere to be found.They knew Riven was the Alpha and thus, he didn't need to tell them wherever he was headed. But they also knew
"Something has happened to him right?",Layla sat down next to Ren while she bit her lips hard, trying not to let her tears out."That's just your fear Layla",Caleb tried to calm her. "I'm sure Riven is somewhere safe""Then what is wrong with his spirit beast?",Layla demanded harshly. "Look at it. It is dying""When did you see it this way?",Ren asked again."I summoned it from within me know if it was getting stronger",Layla narrated in a choked voice. "But... I was devastated when... I saw it this way"Ren and Caleb exchanged fearful looks which Ren tried to hide but Layla saw it nonetheless."Something is wrong, right?",she whispered tearfully. "Something terrible has happened, right?""Calm down Layla",Ren tried not to let the fear in her voice show. "This beast being weak does not necessarily mean Riven is in danger. He won't just be able to shift into his beast...""But if he can't shift into his beast.... then he could be in danger",Layla cried. "He won't be able to protect him
"Did you bring me here?",Layla softly inquired as she stared at the golden wolf in her palms. It had its eyes closed and she could feel the slow heartbeat through her fingers."But where is this place?",she softly asked again, staring at the large room where she stood. She had never seen this place before.As if in answer to her question, the door to the room slowly opened. Layla moved quickly and hid herself behind the curtain. Her eyes widened when she saw who stepped into the room.Lord Brandon and.... Cara?Why did the golden wolf bring her to a place like this? Was this the nest of vampires? Was Riven here?She cradled the wolf closer to her chest and held her breath as Cara walked passed the curtain and stopped with her back to it. She just hoped they wouldn't notice her presence. She needed to find out something about Riven's whereabouts, and she could get her answers here."Everything is moving according to our plans", Cara was saying. She had her hands folded and she tapped
Layla stepped back abruptly from the man that had treated her like dirt all her life. He had aged tremendously, great wrinkles lining his entire face with a bald head.What must have happened to him?, Layla thought. She thought witches could remain young forever with their numerous spells. How was uncle Parker looking so old and scrawny?"Stay away from me!",she snapped when Parker took a step towards her.Parker stopped when he saw the flash of gold in her ruby red eyes. He wisely stopped and raised his hands as a sign of surrender. Blood slowly crawled down his elbow from where Layla had slashed him."I mean you no harm, Layla",he said in a dried rustic voice. "I must say, I'm overwhelmed to see you again. You changed a lot""And you haven't changed one bit",Layla bit back at him. She wasn't the terrified girl she was years ago when she had been maltreated by him and madame Parker. If he tried to endanger her in any way, she wouldn't hesitate to drag him to a dark alley and finish
The way Layla mentioned her title and the strong tone she used was so powerful, just as a Luna was supposed to be.This sudden fierce side of hers was so strong that it brought down a lightning bolt from the sky and Caleb had to quickly step back to avoid being struck.He stared at her regrettably. Sometimes he forgot who Layla really was. He had become so close to her that sometimes he forgot his position and reprimanded her like his little sister.He had no excuses because no matter how much Layla looked up to him like a big brother, she was and will always be his Luna. If it had been another pack he addressed their Luna like that, he would have been severely punished by now."I'm sorry Layla. I was just so worried and panicked. I thought you left without telling anyone",he apologized and sighed deeply. "I'm sorry"Layla nodded and slowly walked past him into the house."Bring everyone",she ordered. "There is something I must tell you all"Instantly Caleb mind linked the entire shif
"It's a trap"Everyone in the room slowly looked up at Henrietta. It was a bit ironic for her to say that when she was the one that betrayed them first.Henrietta fidgeted under their looks. She couldn't blame them for staring at her that way. Right now, no one would believe if she said it was daylight.She already betrayed their trust."You once sided with the devils",Ren spoke out after a long silence. She narrowed her eyes at the witch. "So you must know their plans""I don't",Henrietta shook her head."You still have the guts to lie after you betrayed us",Xerxes backed up his mate and stood before Henrietta."I know I betrayed Riven and the rest of you",Henrietta sighed tiredly. "I don't deny it. I was blinded by what I thought was revenge""Revenge?""All these years, I thought Riven was responsible for the death of Emrys",Henrietta continued. "I was wrong. And I sided with the devils because I thought Hades could bring back Emrys"Another bout of silence reigned in the living ro
Layla walked under the shadow of trees towards the only source of light in the darkness. It was almost midnight and the sky was totally dark with no sign of a crescent moon. Even the few stars that managed to emerge were blurred with thick clouds.She readjusted the cloak she wore around her shoulders and made sure the hood covered her hair entirely. She looked back once, making sure no one was following her before turning around and continuing down the dark path where a dim glow of light waited at the end of the road.She was still a few meters away from the end of the road when six figures walked out of the darkness. They surrounded her and one blocked her path, stopping her from moving forward.The figure stepped forward and pulled off the hood of the cloak. Layla stared up at Cara with a disgusted expression. "Layla",Cara smiled viciously at her. She was dressed in a body-hugging jeans and blouse. She looked extremely pale, almost as pale as her blonde hair that flowed down her
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