Era was more than happy. She had convinced herself to agree with everything when it came to Oscar. Their interactions over the months had made her realize that arguing with Oscar was pointless. It only drained her energy, and besides, his wisdom had proven him right on several occasions.Now, the most important thing for Era was to end the conversation that had indicated a change in the atmosphere. The air around her began to feel different. Her body even began to show symptoms that had become familiar lately when they were alone together.Era cleared her throat and removed her hand from Oscar's. Then she rubbed her hands together, as if she wanted to erase the traces of Oscar that remained there. Meanwhile, she began to pray in her heart, hoping that there would be something to distract the attention so that the subject would soon change.Fortunately, Era's hope was soon fulfilled. The festivities made it impossible for her and Oscar to withdraw from the crowd for long. Their private
The night grew late. The party, once lively and full of laughter, began to quiet down. Some had decided to retire, tired and sleepy.One of those who stayed was Oscar. He paid no attention to the clock striking three in the morning. He continued to enjoy the camaraderie, even though Era had left the party an hour ago."Alpha."Oscar turned to find a glass of beer aimed at him. He took the drink with a nod. "Thank you.""I should be the one thanking you, Alpha," Dom said as he sat down. His hands rose and rested on the table. "I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve you, Alpha."Basically, every member of the pack would be proud to serve his Alpha and Luna. Oscar acknowledged that, but he sensed something different in Dom's tone. There was an undercurrent of intimacy. So, he immediately prodded Dom with a question. "What's on your mind?""I heard a myth once, Alpha."Oscar's eyebrows raised. Now, upon reflection, Dom seemed to be overly obsessed with all sorts of myths. He sil
Era put aside her amazement at Oscar's enthusiasm; she had her own agenda for the day. Some of it was related to her new role as Luna, and some of it was personal.The first thing Era did after breakfast and getting ready was to review the pack's weekly reports. Often this was just a formality since the pack was in a safe and controlled state.Next was an agenda that required Era to leave the palace. The destination was a hospital built specifically for the health needs of the Xylvaneth Pack.Era's arrival was greeted with great enthusiasm. The Pack—whether they were medical staff, regular employees, or even patients—were ecstatic at her arrival. They chatted and discussed many things. Most importantly, she didn't forget to encourage the patients to get better soon.Era left the hospital with indescribable emotions. As far as she could remember, no one had ever greeted her with such enthusiasm. Not many people would look at her with such sparkling eyes. For the first time, she felt all
A sense of excitement greeted Oscar's return that night, at ten o'clock to be exact. His nostrils flared, expanding, and contracting with the joy that unexpectedly surged in his chest. A broad smile broke across his face as he calmed down and inquired, "So, you mean Era is worried about my health?"Aaron nodded, trying to hold back his own smile. "It seems so, Alpha.""Ahem!" Oscar cleared his throat again, this time scratching the tip of his temple with his index finger. "I didn't expect her to be so concerned about my health."Aaron remained silent, just enjoying Oscar's beaming expression."Alright. I guess I should see Era as soon as possible. I don't want to worry her for too long," Oscar concluded with an irresistible urge. He had to meet Era as soon as possible. "Good night."Oscar left Aaron and Philo without further ado. His original intention to discuss the work with Philo in the office was completely forgotten.This time, Aaron couldn't help but chuckle. When Philo exhaled
It was still fresh in Era's mind that she had once felt reluctant to leave the Xylvaneth Palace. However, upon reflection, she had indeed intended to leave at that time, and had even promised not to set foot there again. So, she wasn't at all surprised when the reluctance she felt that morning worsened as she prepared to leave for the Celestial City.As a student, Era's status required her to leave the palace temporarily. There were several things related to her final research and preparation for her graduation in the fall that she needed to take care of. So, she planted the idea in her mind that the sooner everything was done, the sooner she could return to the Palace.Era left the palace at seven in the morning, and of course, Oscar accompanied her to Celestial City that day. As usual, Oscar would make sure they arrived safely in Celestial City. Meanwhile, Seth was already waiting for their arrival.The smooth and uneventful journey ended shortly before eleven in the morning. At tha
Era decided not to dwell on Gerald and Barbara's strange behavior. There was something far more pressing to deal with at the moment—the strange looks from her fellow students. They were clearly staring at her with a different intensity than before.Her forehead was furrowed. Their eyes darted around. Then Era's voice questioned Seth in a hushed tone. "Is it just me, or is there something different about the way they look at me, Seth?"Seth sighed as he scratched the tip of his temple with his index finger. "Actually, that's what I wanted to tell you," he said, causing Era to turn and look at him curiously. "There's been some news circulating around campus lately, especially after the incident that happened to you in Arbora Forest."This time, Era's steps stopped abruptly. Her expression changed. She looked at Seth with a horrified expression. "Don't tell me that..."Oh no! Era couldn't even bring herself to finish her own sentence."You're right," Seth said with a helpless nod. Obviou
As it turned out, there was another thing Era had to take care of besides her research data and graduation preparations, namely her part-time job at Central Perk & Pour. This cafe, quite popular among young people, had been her lifeline before she met Oscar.Era decided to quit. She thought the sooner the better. Besides, she needed to focus on completing the final processing of her research data.Era's reasons were logical, but still caused surprise, especially for Audrey Perry. It seemed difficult for her to accept the fact that Era would soon quit."Are you serious, Era?"Era nodded as she closed the door to her locker. "Of course I'm serious, Dree. I handed in my letter of resignation earlier. So, this month will be my last month working here. Besides, just think about it. The boss has been very nice to me because I haven't been to work for over two months. Logically, I should have been fired by now, right?"Dree couldn't help laughing. "You're right. You should have been fired, b
Not long had passed and these moments would surely fade away soon. This thought briefly crossed Era's mind as her workday came to an end and she and Dree strolled through the night streets together.The chill of the night air was beginning to feel different, a clear sign that the season was about to change. Era zipped up her jacket to cover her neck, which was beginning to feel chilly. Meanwhile, Dree beside her seemed unaffected, her jacket unbuttoned and occasionally fluttering in the night breeze.Era narrowed her eyes and looked at Dree, her forehead slightly furrowed. "Don't you feel cold?""Cold?" Dree repeated, as if she had to confirm Era's question while also looking back. Then she smiled faintly and shook her head. "It doesn't seem too cold yet.""Really?" Era asked.Dree nodded. "Besides, how can you not like the cold when you've spent most of your life in Avaluna Village? Isn't there hardly any sun?""You're right," Era grumbled, memories flashing through her mind. She rea
Oscar's face was hard, reflecting tension and determination. Yet his breathing remained steady, as did his heartbeat. He was in complete control.Only one last fight remained. When the night was over, everything would be settled.A knock at the door pulled Oscar out of his thoughts. He blinked once and turned to see the door open. Philo and the others entered.Oscar said little, just as he had before. He emphasised to Dom and Bogy that the palace had to be guarded to the utmost and that they had to be alert for the worst. They couldn't let their guard down—there could be another pack lurking in the shadows, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.Then Oscar turned to Philo and Thad. "We're leaving now."With determined strides they moved through the corridors of the palace. They hurried while the helicopter waited on the helipad—its spinning blades creating strong gusts of wind.Oscar boarded the helicopter in a single bound, followed closely by Philo and Thad.The door closed. The
Never before had time tormented Era so cruelly. Every second had become a dagger that slowly carved into her soul, leaving invisible wounds. Minutes bled into hours in an endless loop, trapping her in a fear that refused to subside.Two nights had passed, each bringing its own terror and uncertainty that held Era in an unforgiving grip. She was desperate, clinging to Oscar's promise in the suffocating silence.Era lay in the dark those nights, her eyes closed, but never really asleep. She stayed awake, unable to surrender to rest as her mind swarmed with worry for Oscar's safety.Sleep was impossible. The only thing Era could do was pretend and wait in the dark for Oscar's return.Now it was the third night. This was the last night, the one that would decide Oscar's fate in a fight to the death.Era sat motionless on the bed, her back pressed against the headboard. A blanket was wrapped around her, but it did nothing to dispel the cold that had settled on her skin.The bedroom door cr
Slowly, Era's consciousness floated to the surface, as if drawn from a dark, formless depth. Her body felt light, as if suspended between dream and reality. Yet something kept trying to hold her back. A heavy sensation enveloped her eyelids, refusing to let her fully awaken.Warmth enveloped Era's entire body. It caressed her, embraced her, almost masking the faint throbbing pain in several places.The sensation was no longer painful enough to make Era wince, but just enough to remind her of everything that had happened. Growls, roars, claws—flashes of memory spun through her mind, pulling her further out of the void.Sounds began to creep into her consciousness. The soft whirring of medical instruments, the steady rhythm of someone's breathing. Then a familiar scent—a mixture of spices and cinnamon—filled her lungs, reminding her of Ursa.Era, wake up.The whisper pierced the depths of her heart, coming from something that had always been with her—the wolf spirit that never left her
The cool morning breeze drifted gracefully in through the wide-open dining room window, carrying the scent of dew mixed with the aroma of herbal tea from a porcelain cup. The diaphanous curtains hanging from the window swayed gently to the unceasing rhythm of the wind.Sunlight crept in, illuminating the long table set with an array of delicious dishes—steaming slices of roasted meat, freshly baked bread with a crisp crust, and a neatly arranged plate of fresh fruit.At the head of the table, Freddy sat leisurely. He had a sharp silver knife in one hand and a fork in the other. He sliced his steak slowly, savouring the sensation of each tender fibre being cut cleanly, but in reality, his mind was elsewhere.Something felt different. Freddy could feel it. The usual serenity of his morning had been replaced by an underlying tension.Freddy’s body tensed instinctively. His knife struck the plate with a little more force than necessary, and his fork trembled slightly at times.A feeling o
The dim light still covered the sky as Oscar stood at the window of his study. His eyes gazed far into the trees swaying in the morning breeze, as did his mind, which had been wandering restlessly.The scent of wood and the early morning dew seeped through the cracks of the window. It should have provided a sense of calm, enough to ease the tension in Oscar's body. Unfortunately, this time it wasn't enough. He needed more than just a beautiful morning to cool the fire raging in his chest—revenge.Oscar's sanity was hanging by a thread. He had never been one for patience, and now his self-control was being tested. The situation was truly against him, threatening to blind him with rage.Oscar’s blood was boiling. Heat radiated from every pore of his skin. His rage had ignited beyond reason, leaving only one desire in his mind—to wipe from this world anyone who would harm Era.Oscar pressed his lips tightly together. His face hardened into a dark, angry red. The veins on his body tensed,
The night was still thick, accompanied by an unusual stillness that felt heavier than ever. The cold grew sharper, seeping into the bones, stained by the scent of damp earth and lingering traces of blood in the air.A thin mist hung low over the ground, weaving between the towering trees on either side of the road. It dulled the senses, obscuring vision until the glow of portable lights flickered to life, illuminating everything without exception.The darkness stirred. The scene once shrouded began to unfold, revealing the grim reality that lay before them.Shattered glass littered the tarmac. Jagged pieces of metal gleamed in the dim light. Era's car lay in the middle of the road in a devastated state—its side crushed beyond recognition, its bonnet shredded and deep claw marks scarring its entire body, silent witnesses to the attack that had taken place hours before.Amidst the wreckage, Bogy and Irene stood with unwavering concentration. Their sharp eyes scanned every detail left at
The silver-white glow of the ceiling lights dimmed automatically, adjusting to the late hour. It created a hushed atmosphere, punctuated only by the low hum of medical equipment. A precious silence, meant to allow exhausted bodies to rest.Unfortunately, Era couldn't rest as she was supposed to. Her body was tired, her bones felt shattered, but the weight on her chest was so heavy that she couldn't bring herself to lie down.Sitting on the hospital bed, Era remained still, a thin blanket draped over her legs. Her back was propped up against a pile of pillows, but there was no sense of comfort. Her fingers lay limp in her lap, revealing the IV line embedded in her left hand.Accompanying Era was Oscar, standing near the window. His back was to her, his sturdy silhouette framed in the dim light. Dressed in a black shirt, he still couldn't hide the tension that wrapped around his body, a clear sign of the turmoil that raged inside him.Era knew that she should say something. She should e
There was nothing Landon could do. When it came to magic, all his medical expertise was completely useless, and Oscar was painfully aware of that.The pallor on Oscar's face grew worse, his expression resembling that of a lifeless corpse. His heart seemed to have stopped and his blood felt as if it had frozen. He was numb, and the only sensation left in him was terror.Magic had never been good for anyone, especially werewolves, and this knowledge was driving Oscar dangerously close to the edge of his sanity. His breathing became erratic, his body trembled and his eyes darted around wildly, as if searching for the answers he desperately needed. The mere thought that Era's life was in danger hit him like an endless storm of despair."Damn you, Freddy. I swear I won't stand idly by," Oscar growled in a deep, threatening voice. Every word he spoke was laced with unmistakable anger. "You will pay dearly for what you've done."For Era's sake, Oscar would do whatever it took to make sure Fr
That was exactly what Era hoped. She didn't want to stay in such a pitiful state for too long. So of course she listened to Landon's advice. She would get plenty of rest and make sure she recovered as quickly as possible.For Oscar, however, things were a little different. Landon's examination was indeed complete, and the results were reassuring—Era wasn't seriously injured and her life wasn't in danger. Still, his vigilance didn't waver in the slightest. So, he turned to Era and said, "Landon's right, Era. If you feel the slightest discomfort, no matter what it is, tell him immediately. Don't even think about keeping it to yourself.""Oscar," Era murmured melodically, rolling her eyes dramatically before continuing. "Maybe it's time for you to calm down. Landon's already examined me." She shook her head, not the least bit surprised by Oscar's overprotective behaviour. "I'm fine and..."Something crossed Era's mind, leaving her words hanging in the air. Her expression changed as well,