Era wouldn't be hypocritical; of all the people in the world, Amias was the one person she never wanted to see at her graduation. The reason was simple: Amias had never been a father to her.The difference in treatment between Amias and Sylvie made all the difference to Era. Not only had Amias never been a caring, understanding, and protective father in her life, he had been the opposite. Amias was the embodiment of a cruel and heartless father. As a result, she was often tortured, her body full of wounds, and eventually the hatred grew on its own.Only Sylvie took care of Era and loved her. Only Sylvie gave her affection with full sincerity. Sylvie's presence gave her a spirit. That was how she endured the difficult days with an ironic curiosity. How could a kind-hearted person like Sylvie have a cruel husband like Amias?Era couldn't understand it. To her, Sylvie deserved a much better man than to sacrifice her life by marrying Amias. Because in Era's eyes, or maybe in everyone's eye
Now that Amias thought about it with a clearer mind, he could conclude that the bouquet was not the only luxurious item Era possessed. Even her clothes, shoes, bracelets, earrings, and necklace exuded an undeniable luxury.Amias rubbed his hands together before slipping them into his pockets. For a moment he looked around at the quiet surroundings. Era had led him to a secluded corner of the campus, away from the crowd."So, he really is your new boyfriend?"Era took a deep breath. "That's none of your business. The important thing now is to tell me, why did you come to see me?"The first suspicion came to Era's mind. She guessed that Amias' reason would not be far from money. After all, she didn't expect any other reason, knowing Amias' nature only too well. Amias was a drunkard, a gambler, and a drug addict.A cynical expression appeared on Era's face. "Do you want money? Or do you want to sell me again to pay your debts?""You're really something, Era. How could you talk to your fa
Oscar once again proved his principle: when it came to Era's safety, there was no room for risk. He did not want to take any chances. So, he decided to take Era back to Pondera E.V., back to The Palace, right after the graduation ceremony ended.On the other hand, Era did not resist. Usually, she would try to reject Oscar's behavior, which she considered excessive, but not this time. She also didn't want to take any risks because the situation seemed to be more complicated than she had initially thought.The incident with Amias shocked Era because she had never imagined that those who were spying on her would go so far. It turned out that simply watching her was not enough for them; they were willing to cross the line.In fact, Era despised Amias to the lowest point of her life. All she wanted was to sever all ties with Amias. But this was not the way. She couldn't let others suffer because of her, even if that person was Amias."Era."Oscar's voice broke Era's reverie. Her focus, whi
Philo quickly drove away from the palace towards Avaluna Village after receiving orders from Oscar. He did not waste any time. It only took him about ten minutes to get ready—just change clothes—and pack his equipment into a bag.The day had changed by the time Philo arrived at Avaluna Village. He was greeted by a thick fog and drizzle that dampened the rest of his short journey.Philo aimed his car at the Ross home. He thought it would be the best place to start the investigation, since it was there that Amias had been visited and beaten by unknown people.The car didn't stop right in front of the Ross house. The caution that was ingrained in him made Philo act with full consideration. He didn't want to attract the attention of the villagers, even though the area was quiet at the time. There might still be one or two people out there who could spot him.Philo left his car at the hospital after pretending to enter as if to visit someone. He slipped into the darkness of the night and s
"Then who is he?"Era broke the short silence that had fallen after her confession. She had waited, but Oscar hadn't said anything to her. Instead, he kept looking at Philo with a look that only deepened her confusion.The situation was indeed disturbing. Era was well aware of that, especially since she was the object of all this. She didn't want to be kept in the dark. She wanted to know every bit of information available, at least so she could anticipate who she was up against.So, Era looked back and forth between Oscar and Philo and asked, "You both know them, don't you?""Yes," Oscar finally replied, taking a moment to catch his breath. "Philo has been investigating. Most likely he is a werewolf from The Elven Pack."Era frowned. "Elven pack?" she repeated uncertainly. "I don't know them."Oscar nodded. "Of course you don't. You only know the Xylvaneth Pack."Era narrowed her eyes. "Are you mocking me?""Not at all," Oscar replied quickly. He wiped his face briefly. "In fact, it
Seth wouldn't have considered the idea if Irene hadn't brought it up. Until then, he hadn't noticed anything unusual about Dree. She seemed like any other girl to him. Now, thanks to Irene's words, everything about Dree made him question her true nature.First, as the flirtatious waitress had pointed out, something that Seth had initially thought was ordinary now seemed unusual: Dree's pale skin and slender frame. He had assumed it was just her body type, her genetics. But now he shuddered at the thought. What if Dree's genetics were vampiric?Secondly, as Irene had mentioned, it seemed rather strange that Dree had such a strong instinct. It was impossible for a normal human. Now Seth found it strange that he hadn't noticed any werewolves watching them that night, while Dree had been very aware of them.Third, hmm. Seth's eyes narrowed as he reached for his napkin and wiped his mouth. Vampires liked blood, didn't they? Was that why their cheeks always seemed to turn rosy?Seth cleared
As long as Era was in Celestial City, Seth kept watch over her. He never left her side until she was safely inside her apartment. For Seth, there was no place in Celestial City that could be trusted for safety other than the Avalon Gardens apartment.Seth really did carry out Oscar's orders as best he could. Even when Era didn't want to be guarded, he cleverly watched over her from a safe distance, ensuring her safety one hundred percent. One way he did this was by following Era home after she finished working at the cafe.Now that Era had returned to The Palace, Seth realized that there was no harm in continuing to follow that route. He thought that maybe one or two members of the pack would still think that Era was there. If that happened, he might get some valuable leads.Seth turned the wheel and made a turn at an intersection where the streetlight was broken. He looked at the flickering light and shook his head, thinking that the twinkling stars were much nicer.Thoughts of twink
Seth took a long breath as he watched them go. Then he quickly returned to the car, coinciding with the appearance of a motorcycle gang having fun."Seth!" Dree exclaimed as Seth entered the car. She quickly assessed Seth's condition. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"Seth shook his head. "I'm fine.""Oh, thank goodness." Dree's eyes closed dramatically as she breathed a sigh of relief. "I was really worried." After a moment she opened her eyes again. "I was really scared because just by looking at them, you could tell they were really evil. They could have hurt you."Seth added, "And hurt you, too."Dree was stunned. Seth's words made all the words that had been on the tip of her tongue instantly disappear."So, would you mind telling me what happened earlier?"Dree blinked. The question managed to snap her out of her daze. She cleared her throat and shook her head. Then she told everything that had happened."They asked about Era's whereabouts, and since I didn't know, I told them that
The sound of a heavy thud echoed as a brown-maned wolf was violently thrown to the arena floor. It whimpered quietly, but a second later it rose quickly. Strengthening its initially wobbly legs, it then leapt, intent on retaliating against the golden-maned wolf that had made it the object of ridicule for the past ten minutes.The golden wolf dodged effortlessly, as if the brown wolf's attack was nothing, completely harmless. It showed no fear and instead continued to attack with bold courage.The golden wolf's movements were very agile and nimble, causing its mane to flicker and shed shafts of light everywhere. It seemed to light up the dimly lit battle arena. Its attacks were precise, full of accuracy and power. As a result, the brown wolf was cornered, and the spectators were filled with awe.The golden wolf's claws sliced through the air with incredible speed. The brown wolf could not dodge. It chest was ripped open. It blood vessels burst.But the golden wolf didn't stop. It contin
The previous nights had indeed been painful. Era was always worried about the condition of the people around her who were experiencing bad things because of her. But at least she could still sleep, even if she woke up feeling tired. Now, on the contrary, she couldn't even close her eyes for a minute.Era's feelings were truly uncertain. Even words like anxious, uneasy, worried, or scared couldn't describe her feelings now. She was adrift, trapped between waves that kept trying to pull her into an endless ocean.Era gave up. Trying to sleep was useless. Closing her eyes only made her more exhausted. So, she got out of bed.There was only one thing Era could do now, and that was to occupy herself. She had to distract her mind. She had to keep herself busy or the clock on the wall would explode from the constant staring.Era grabbed her pajama robe and quickly put it on. Then she left the room and wasn't surprised at all to find Aaron there."Luna," Aaron greeted as he folded the newspap
Oscar was determined not to let Era's worries and fears come true. So, he made the most of the time he had left. He trained diligently, perfecting all the techniques and strategies he had learned over the years. He wouldn't let any weakness get in the way of his goal. He had to return with his life intact.However, Oscar didn't just focus on himself and the upcoming fight. He wouldn't neglect something far more important, even more important than his own life.Oscar gathered several people in his office. It was just before they left for Riverdale Bluffs.Everyone gathered. Tension hung in the air. Their faces were filled with apprehension."Tonight," Oscar began, looking at each of them. His expression showed utmost seriousness. "I am going to Riverdale Bluffs with Philo, Thad, and several warriors. Although this is a one-on-one fight between me and Nicholas, no enemy can be trusted. So, vigilance is paramount."Oscar was determined to fight with determination and not allow Nicholas t
District Marindale, more precisely in the Falindor Forest—Ryloston Pack Palace.Freddy was inhaling the aroma of an 18-year-old single malt whisky that had just been poured into a rock-cut crystal glass by Peter McKay—watcher—when Bernard arrived. He knew that Bernard must have important news. But that didn't mean Bernard's arrival should interfere with his desire to relax.The crystal glass turned slowly. There was a soft clink as the ice hit the sides, creating faint ripples in the whisky. Freddy closed his eyes and savored the first sip. So did he, not wanting to miss a single taste sensation in every drop of whisky.Bernard, understanding Freddy's nature and character, decided to remain silent for a moment. He stood still, not saying a word until Freddy finally spoke."How is it, Bernard? Any news from Xylvaneth?"Bernard lifted his face slightly. He watched Freddy, eyes closed, still enjoying the whisky. "Nothing, Alpha."The spinning of the crystal glass stopped. Freddy's relaxe
Getting enough rest was never the answer to Era's anxiety; she had proven that. No matter how often or how long she slept, it didn't make her feel better. In fact, it only made her feel worse. When she slept, she was trapped in nightmares, and when she woke up, she was faced with a grim reality."Oscar?"Era looked around to find the room silent. She was alone; Oscar was not there.A heavy feeling made Era catch her breath. It was as if hundreds of tons of weight were trying to render her powerless. However, she managed to move her body, albeit with great difficulty. She got out of bed and at the same time Aaron entered the room."Luna." Aaron approached and helped Era. "How are you feeling?"Era winced slightly. She sat down and Aaron quickly prepared a glass of warm water. "I've never felt so bad, Aaron." She accepted the warm water and took a few sips. "According to Landon, I'm fine. I just need to rest, but why does my body feel completely powerless?"Aaron took the glass back and
Era remained silent as she felt the change in the atmosphere of the room. She cleared her throat, took a deep breath and scanned her surroundings. She saw Philo, who had just said something completely absurd. I am the last descendant of the Selunar Pack? Impossible.Era then turned to Dom. She remembered that just moments ago, maybe only a few minutes before, Dom had asked her about the possibility that her parents were not her biological parents. How could he ask such a strange thing?Finally, Era looked at Oscar. She paused for a moment before finally speaking in a low voice. "No, Oscar." She shook her head. "That's not me. I don't know anything about the Selunar Pack. It's completely unfounded gossip. I am the daughter of Amiass Ross and Sylvie Blair."This time, Oscar said nothing. He just stared at Era intently without blinking. His gaze was unreadable, which made Era feel uncomfortable.Era bit her lower lip. She tried to control herself as the discomfort made her act strangely.
Day after day passed with increasing agony. The Palace of Xylvaneth was filled with an atmosphere of tension. Not only Era and Oscar, but everyone felt anxious and on guard for any possibility that could happen at any time.Era tried not to think about the terror the Ryloston Pack had caused. She knew that Oscar had already ordered Philo to go to the Ryloston Pack's palace. So, all she could do now was wait for news from Philo.Unfortunately, bad thoughts kept creeping in and trying to shake Era's composure. What if Philo's arrival only made the situation worse?Era.Era blinked. The voice of her wolf spirit echoed in her head. I am really scared.Calm down. There is nothing to be afraid of. Oscar will take care of everything.Era winced. I know that. Oscar will take care of everything, but I am really confused as to why this is happening. Dad and Dree have already been affected. What if the same thing happens to others?Era, calm down. I promise you; everything will be fine. This wil
Philo understood, four in the morning was not a usual time to check out, but that was exactly what he did. All his belongings were neatly packed into a 20-inch suitcase, and then he left the room. He took the elevator down to the lobby and checked out with the desk clerk. Then he left the hotel.Philo's car moved smoothly through the still empty streets. His intention was to reach The Palace as quickly as possible. He had to report his findings as soon as possible.Philo stepped on the accelerator. The car's speed increased and suddenly his phone vibrated. At the same time, the dashboard screen lit up, indicating an incoming call, and the name displayed made him pull over immediately. He pressed the green button on the touchscreen and answered the call."Philo."Philo's brow furrowed slightly as he answered. "Hello, Alpha." Oscar's voice sounded different, indicating tension and anger. So, he asked quickly, "What is it, Alpha?""I order you to go to Ryloston Palace immediately."That
It was not unusual for Oscar to reassemble Dom and the others after the attack on Irene. He questioned Irene thoroughly, making sure nothing was overlooked. He made sure that nothing was done hastily.Oscar wouldn't keep quiet, that much was certain. Irene wasn't hurt, but the actions of the Lynoria Pack were like a blatant confrontation, an act that shouldn't have happened. Therefore, he made sure there would be a response to any form of threat they faced."Not just intercept and attack," Oscar growled after hearing Irene's full report. His face reddened, indicating immense anger upon realizing that his emissary had been sneakily attacked. "Even a single word of mockery must be answered."If anyone understood the terrible consequences of war, it was Oscar. He had felt the sadness and agony of war, convinced that nothing good could come of it. Loss was an inevitable price to be paid by all parties. So, he vowed to avoid war as much as possible.Oscar hated war, but at the same time he