Era looked at Oscar with a victorious gleam in her eyes. Her chin lifted high, showing arrogance. She enjoyed Oscar's poker face for a moment as she reached for a glass of milk.
"How about it, Oscar?" Era asked after enjoying her first sip of milk. She briefly wiped the milk residue from her lips with the tip of her tongue, eliciting a growl from Oscar. "Will you keep me imprisoned in the palace like a typical selfish man or will you let me continue my journey to achieve my dreams like a true gentleman?"
Oscar's eyes narrowed. He met Era's gaze with an expression that defied interpretation. There was a hint of amusement at the corner of his lips. "I can assure you that I am both a selfish and a gentleman."
A startling answer. Era did not stay on top for long. Now she planted her feet firmly on the ground and asked, "What do you mean?"
"You'll find out later," Oscar replied as he continued to eat. He gestured to the breakfast spread with a knife in his han
In truth, Aaron was not too busy. The tasks Oscar had given him a few days ago were not too onerous. Everything was manageable, but that did not mean it did not take time and energy.Aaron traveled to the Celestial City. There were several important things he needed to take care of regarding the upcoming end of the summer vacation."How is everything going? Is it all done?"Aaron nodded. That night, at exactly eleven o'clock, he was summoned by Oscar. So, he went to Oscar's office and reported all the results of his work, even though his not-so-young body was already screaming for rest."The apartment, car, credit cards and all of Era's needs are ready, Alpha."Oscar left the product development proposal he had been studying for the past hour. Now there was something more important than the latest innovation in the organic food industry.Aaron handed him a tablet. He showed various photos of the appearance of the apartment, the car, and all
Eight in the morning. The car Philo was driving had left the palace. It was accompanied by Aaron, Era and Oscar. While Aaron accompanied Philo in the front seat, it was different for Era and Oscar. They were in the back seat with a partition installed.Era kept reminding herself to keep her emotions in check. Instead of worrying about Oscar, who kept staring at her throughout the ride, it was better to remember the events of a while ago, especially before she left the Palace.Era had never imagined that her departure would make the inhabitants of The Palace sad. The werewolves surrounded her like ants swarming with sugar. They offered prayers and wishes, mostly hoping that she could finish her studies quickly so she would not have to leave the Palace again. They also asked her to visit The Palace often and to keep in touch with them.Era felt a bit amused. She was not going to a distant part of the world, just to Celestial City. Strangely, they acted as if she w
The vibration of the phone on the conference table caught Oscar's attention more than Donald's ongoing presentation. He signaled for Donald to continue, while he smiled mischievously and looked at who was calling him that morning.Oscar remained calm. He answered the call and immediately closed his eyes for a moment. Era's voice echoed in his ears, making his eyebrows furrow and his eardrums ring."Oscar!"Oscar sighed. He maintained a calm demeanor in front of the staff. "Oh, Era. Good morning to you too. I didn't expect you to call me so early. What's up?""Good morning? Hah! What are you really up to? Seth is here. Don't tell me you hired him to spy on me."Oscar's eyes scanned the room. The meeting participants were looking at him, so he decided to stand up. "Wait, I have a more important call than the innovation of organic horse breeding."Oscar stepped out of the meeting room and looked for a safe place to sit before
On the first day of the new semester, Era felt that her life was beyond redemption. No matter how hard she tried to avoid Seth, he persistently followed her. Everywhere she went, Seth was there.Era stopped in her tracks. For a moment, she closed her eyes and tilted her head back. She mentally counted to three, then turned around. She saw Seth pretending to read an article on the bulletin board."Seth."Evidence that Seth was pretending became apparent as he immediately looked up when Era called out. A moment later he approached Era enthusiastically."What's up?" Seth asked eagerly, ignoring the confused looks of some of the onlookers. "Do you need anything? Do you need my help? Just say the word and I'll do whatever you say."Era hoped her patience would last a little longer. "No, Seth. I don't need anything. I just, um, you know?" She glanced around and found that her uneasiness was justified. People were looking at her with obvious confusion. "I
"Oh, come on, Oscar. Could you at least tell Seth not to follow me around? You know? He even waited for me in the toilet."Oscar's laughter echoed, and Era had to take the phone away from her ear for a moment. She did not want her eardrums to burst from Oscar's disgusting laughter."Well, it seems he took my order literally. I told him not to take his eyes off you."Era slapped her forehead and reflexively sat down on the sofa. "That explains his behavior."Oscar laughed again."So how about it? Can you change your order to Seth a little bit? Oh, please, Oscar. I don't want to be the center of attention. Seth has been making it really hard for me to breathe this past week."Oscar's laughter faded and was replaced by a rhythmic sigh. "Does this mean we have an agreement?""What do you mean?""Your request earlier, does that mean you no longer object to Seth's presence and duties? Is that true? Because that'
Eyes closed. Body pushed back. Era ignored the slight pain when her head hit the toilet wall."You and Gerald have no relationship anymore, Era. So don't act like a little girl. Stop tempting Gerald," Barbara said, her forehead furrowed as Era took a long breath and opened her eyes."I'm tempting Gerald? Ck. Don't be ridiculous, Barbara. I'm not tempting Gerald. So let me go."Era decided that she did not need the toilet at that moment. She wanted to leave immediately and avoid trouble as much as possible.However, it seemed that Barbara did not share the same thoughts as Era. She grabbed Era's chest and pushed her back against the wall."I didn't tell you to leave. I'm not done talking to you," Barbara said.Era tried to ignore Barbara, but she couldn't. Even when she didn't respond and tried to leave again, Barbara insisted on her anger and trapped her."What else, Barbara? I told you, I'm not seducing Gerald at all. In fact, he cam
All the laughter stopped. Everything froze and they exchanged glances, then looked at Barbara, who was in shock."W-what did you just say, Era?"Era's jaw stiffened. She stared at Barbara sharply and without blinking. "Bitch.""You—""Only a bitch would act like that," Era cut in quickly, then continued. "You're a low girl. You have no manners at all. You and Gerald are a perfect match. You're both like animals."Barbara's friends were astonished. They were shocked by Era's words. Some of them even had to swallow their spit. Barbara must be really angry.More than expected. Barbara had never been cursed like that. People were always afraid of her. But Era dared to curse her to her face, as if she wasn't afraid at all."It seems like you really want trouble with me, Era."Era growled. "I'm not afraid of you, Barbara.""Oh, good," Barbara grumbled as she handed her phone to one of her friends. Her hand was free and s
Oscar's feelings were restless. He could not put it into words, but he was sure that his fear was real. So, he looked around with an uncertain focus. His mind was spinning, trying to figure out what could be wrong at this moment.Era!The voice of the wolf' spirit echoed in his head. Oscar froze. He absorbed the sensation of this name and then examined the restlessness that plagued him. His heart felt uncomfortable as it beat.There was a knock at the door. Anne entered with a file. However, Oscar immediately raised his hand and signaled for Anne to leave.Anne understood and nodded. She promptly obeyed Oscar's order and the door closed again.Oscar did not waste any time. He grabbed his cell phone and immediately called Seth."Hello, Alpha."Oscar did not need a formal greeting when his mind was in turmoil. So, he bombarded Seth with questions. "Seth, where are you right now? Are you with Era? How is Era? Is she oka
The voice crept into Era's ears like a sharp knife, slowly slicing, creating invisible wounds that burned every nerve. It made Era's heart pound violently through words that carried an implied threat.A chilling sensation appeared, piercing Era to the bone and freezing her. Her body stiffened completely, unable to move in the face of the terror that gripped her.The atmosphere changed instantly. The air grew heavy, thickening within seconds.The walls of the corridor seemed to close in. They moved slowly, pressing mercilessly against Era, suffocating her with their closeness."Era, are you listening to me?" The voice came back, softer and yet sharper. It brought a wave of fear that crawled over every inch of Era's body, making her breath catch and her blood run cold.Era's hand holding the phone began to sweat, and the perspiration only got worse. That voice was no ordinary threat—it was a certainty of the disaster soon to come.Era’s throat tightened. Her tongue felt numb. Yet she
Oscar lay motionless on the bed. All of his wounds were hidden under layers of bandages. His chest rose and fell slowly, each breath sounding labored, as if his body was still fighting the exhaustion that consumed it. He looked exhausted. A pale hue colored his face, one that usually radiated the strength of an Alpha. Even his once strong fingers now rested limply, as if surrendering to time.Beside Oscar sat Era, who had been at his side the whole time. She sat close to the bed, her fingers lightly stroking the back of Oscar's bandaged hand.The worry inside her was relentless. Fear hovered like a specter, always looming. No matter how many times Landon and Philo tried to reassure her, Era couldn't calm her mind. For her, the only way to get all the dark thoughts out of her head was to see Oscar regain consciousness.For this reason, Era stayed close to Oscar. She wouldn't go anywhere until he woke up. She even refused Aaron and Ursa's pleas for her to rest. It was impossible for her
The darkness of the night began to fade. The glow of the full moon was no longer as bright as it had been. The sky gradually shifted, leaving a gradient of purple that slowly turned into orange streaks on the horizon.The morning breeze carried the scent of damp leaves and fresh dew, soothing the weary souls that had endured the long and harrowing night. Sunlight began to creep through the tall trees, illuminating tired faces now covered in gratitude. The atmosphere, once tense and heavy, gave way to a deep silence filled with meaning.The Lunaria Forest felt desolate. The scent of earth mingled with the metallic taste of blood, leaving haunting traces of the battle that had just ended. Tall trees, usually standing proudly, appeared damaged—some with broken branches from the fury of the brutal clashes.In the midst of all the destruction, Era felt a surge of emotion well up in her chest. Her heart pounded wildly—not with fear, but with an indescribable relief.Era’s tired eyes scanned
Instinct had already sounded its warning. An uneasy feeling clung to Oscar's mind ever since he received Nicholas' challenge to a fight to the death. He knew there would be parties trying to take advantage of the situation, and his suspicions proved correct. Information leaked. No one knew who was behind it, but the supposedly private fight to the death at Riverdale Bluffs had turned into a spectacle that drew a large crowd. Oscar couldn't even keep track of which packs were present.Unfortunately, the problem didn't end there. Bad news arrived just as Oscar was preparing to face Stephen. The palace had been attacked by the Phydaron pack. As a result, Oscar left the arena in a hurry. He ignored Stephen's taunts. It didn't matter if he was branded a coward for leaving the fight. After all, he didn't owe Stephen anything, and what mattered most was Era's safety—his top priority above all else.Oscar jumped effortlessly into the helicopter, followed by Philo, Thad, and the Warriors. As
Throughout her life, Era had witnessed and endured countless chaos. Her life had never been peaceful. More often than not, problems would come crashing in and leave her life in shambles. But of all the turmoil, none was more terrifying than what she was about to face.Era was shaken. The chaos wasn't just the physical destruction or the deafening noise—it was far more than that. It carried with it the threat of death everywhere, a fear so palpable and overwhelming that it felt like invisible chains wrapped around her entire body.The air grew heavy. Pressure from all sides. Amidst the relentless cacophony, Era felt small, fragile and utterly powerless.The Palace of Xylvaneth, long a symbol of strength and protection, was on the verge of collapse—both literally and symbolically. The tremors that rippled through the ground, emanating from the battle in Lunaria Forest, seemed like a harbinger of the disaster that was about to unfold there.The rumble of wolf paws pounding the earth in t
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