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
Gerald walked quickly to the toilet. He entered and found Barbara sitting on the floor with tears streaming down her face. She was crying miserably."Gerald."Gerald's eyes widened. He hurriedly approached Barbara in panic and confusion. He saw the source of Barbara's pain—her palm. "Barbara, what happened to you?""Era, Gerald," Barbara replied, still holding her right hand. She showed Gerald her bruised palm. "She's the one who made my hand like this."Gerald snarled with a hint of disbelief. "E-Era?""Yes, Gerald. She stepped on my hand. She's really cruel and heartless.""How dare Era do that to you, Barbara. I won't forgive her," Gerald roared angrily. It seemed like he had an additional reason to teach Era a lesson. "Calm down, Barbara. I will avenge you for sure. Era will bear the consequences for hurting you like this."Barbara nodded. "Thank you, Gerald.""Now, let's go to the hospital right away. Your hand needs
"Remember what I said, contact me immediately if anything happens. Do you understand?"Era rolled her eyes. "I understand, Oscar. Now, can we finish this conversation? I can't stay away from the cash register for too long, and besides, if Seth told you everything, I'm sure he also told you that I'm fine. Isn't that right?"Silence. Oscar did not answer and Era didn't really need an answer."So please, Oscar. Stop calling me about trivial things. I have a lot of activities and I can't answer your calls all the time."Only Oscar's growl echoed in Era's ears, nothing else."Fine then. I'll end this conversation, Oscar. Have a nice day."Era ended the call without saying more. She quickly put her phone in her pocket and left the toilet stall. She took the time to wash her hands at the sink before actually leaving the restroom.As Era returned to the counter, Seth stepped forward from the line and pulled out his wallet. He glanced
The bright morning sun was the perfect start for Era. She got out of bed and immediately began her activities, accompanied by the rhythm of the music. Occasionally, a humming sound escaped her lips, a sign that her mood was good.By nine o'clock, Era was ready. A backpack slung over her shoulders, she walked to the bus stop. She wanted to go to the campus, and reflexively her thoughts turned to Barbara.Era's cheerfulness and enthusiasm for the day immediately faded. When Barbara's name came to her mind, she had only one question. Was Barbara okay?Era did not feel guilty about Barbara. After all, it was all because of Barbara's own actions. But that did not mean that she did not think about it at all. On the contrary, she wanted to know about Barbara's condition. She also hoped that Barbara had not suffered any serious injuries, and that would be a warning for her.Arriving at the campus, Era hurried. She looked around the parking lot and could
"We have formed an additional research team to support the organic food industry project. According to the plan, the additional research team will join the main research team early next month. So—" Oscar raised a hand, signaling Donald to stop his explanation. Donald fell silent, worried, wondering if he had just made a mistake. Sweat began to form on Donald's face. He looked at his colleagues, then at Anne, but no one could give him any clue as to what was going on. Was Oscar angry about his latest explanation? Donald tried to dismiss the frightening possibility. Making Oscar angry was the most dangerous thing in the world, especially if his anger was caused by incompetence. So, he always made sure to do his job as well as he could. Just like this time, although it seemed that Oscar did not see it that way. Oscar's expression showed anger. His face looked stern and his jaw was set. Veins began to bulge on his forehead as sweat slowly trickled down.
The silence and peace of the night was shattered, shattered by the chaos that had thrown Xylvaneth Palace into turmoil. Every inhabitant of the palace, no matter who they were, moved in inevitable panic.Footsteps echoed through the corridors. Desperate cries erupted everywhere. The Omegas exchanged pale-faced glances, unsure of what to do but obey the constant barrage of commands ringing through the air.Amidst the chaos, Oscar stood tall in the main hall. His golden eyes burned with rage, scanning everyone around him as if looking for someone to blame for what had happened.Oscar had just woken up, perhaps ten minutes ago. His wounds were completely healed. He felt strong again, as he had before. Unfortunately, this brought him no joy.Era was gone. She was not at his side when Oscar awoke. She hadn't even been to the palace kitchen to meet Aaron.At first, Oscar assumed that Era was resting in her room, deliberately trying not to disturb his sleep. But he was wrong. He didn't find
Now the throbbing wasn't just in Era's head—it had reached her heart as well. An indescribable feeling surged through her chest, leaving her stunned for a moment.With her head bowed, Era's gaze remained fixed on a few strands of hair in her hand. At that moment, she couldn't decide what was worse: the fresh wound or the fact that the attacker had only taken her hair. Although the attacker hadn't hurt her, that didn't mean his actions hadn't had an impact. On the contrary, the incident unleashed a whirlwind of thoughts in her mind."Era."Dree's voice snapped Era out of her daze. She blinked, then looked at Dree with an expression that defied explanation. Her voice quavered as she spoke, a clear sign that she was suppressing a storm of emotions. "Dree, couldn't you go after him?""I wanted to, but I couldn't," Dree replied, exhaling helplessly. "Didn't I tell you earlier that I sensed someone's presence? Unfortunately, I couldn't pinpoint their location. And yet, nothing escapes my si
Now in wolf form, Era stood tall and unyielding, her sharp gaze fixed on her attackers. She radiated a powerful aura that was both intimidating and unshakable. With a ferocious growl, she lunged forward and slashed at the first wolf with her sharp, formidable claws.The first wolf howled in pain and was thrown aside. This enraged the others, who roared furiously and charged again.Era didn't falter. She deftly deflected a snap bite aimed at her neck, twisting her body and narrowly avoiding the sharp teeth in a matter of seconds.Their claws clashed, sending sprays of blood into the air. The sound of their struggle tore through the night, a deafening cacophony of snarling and tearing flesh. The battle raged on, brutal and relentless, with no room for mercy.Era moved with agility and precision, meeting each onslaught with fierce resistance. Though surrounded, her fighting spirit remained undimmed. She refused to allow fear to enter her mind.But fending off a pack of trained wolves was
The clash of metal echoed, followed by a violent jolt that almost caused Era to lose control. She growled in frustration and quickly turned the wheel to steady her car, which had almost skidded off the road.Era glanced into the rear-view mirror. There she saw a massive figure with glowing green-yellow eyes running parallel to her car.Era’s body instantly froze. It dawned on her that it wasn't a human, but a wolf, and certainly not an ordinary one. It was much larger than a normal wolf, its dark fur shimmering in the moonlight.Era swallowed hard and gathered her courage. She shifted her focus back to the road, trying to assess the situation, but at the same time more massive shadows emerged from either side of the forest. They moved quickly, bursting through the undergrowth, stalking her car like a pack of hunters closing in on their prey."Damn it!" Era cursed, gripping the wheel tightly. She stepped on the accelerator, deciding that fleeing the pack of wolves was her best option.
Era stepped out of the Opulence Bistro; her breath ragged. The sound of her sneakers scraping the pavement matched the rapid beat of her heart. The cold night air had no power to quell the fire of anger burning in her chest."Bastard," Era muttered, her lips pressed tightly together. Her frustration was so intense that it felt suffocating. She glanced back at the entrance of the Opulence Bistro for a moment before continuing on to her car. "I shouldn't have met him."You're right, Era. You shouldn't have met him. Didn't I tell you not to go? Oh God, I don't know what will happen if Oscar finds out what you're doing now.Suddenly Era's eyes closed dramatically. She responded to the words of her wolf spirit. Be quiet. I don't want to talk now.Era felt so stupid. How could she trust Freddy? She had been so naive, thinking that meeting him would lead to him releasing Amias.It wasn't that simple. The realization hit Era hard. Even if Freddy had Amias, that didn't mean he would just let h
Freddy was still in the Opulence Bistro. He stood in the corner of the room and stared at the table where he had met Era earlier. His wine glass was still there, its contents untouched.Freddy's breathing was heavy. His chest rose and fell with uncontrollable emotions. He could barely contain himself when Bernard finally arrived, his head bowed."Bernard," Freddy growled, his face flushed with anger. His hoarse voice made the air around them feel sharp and tense. "You really made a fool of me!"Bernard mustered the courage to speak. "Alpha, I—""You said the potion would take effect in ten seconds. But what happened?" Freddy's eyes widened in anger. His jaw clenched as the memory of what had happened earlier rekindled the fire of his anger. "The potion was useless. Era wasn't affected at all."Bernard looked stunned; confusion evident in his gaze. "That's impossible, Alpha. The potion—""Enough!" Freddy snapped, his anger spinning out of control. Reflexively, he grabbed Bernard by the
A grin appeared on Freddy's face. His happiness was written all over his expression. He casually leaned back in his chair and let the satisfaction flow through his entire body.Era's voice still echoed in Freddy's mind, repeating over and over like a victory melody. The wave of satisfaction became almost overwhelming, making it impossible for Freddy to hold back. A small laugh escaped his lips—a soft chuckle, but full of meaning.The plan had gone smoothly, even better than Freddy had imagined. His threats had backed Era into a corner. In the end, she had no choice but to follow his orders. Era had moved exactly as he had wanted.The room seemed to warm up, radiating an air of triumph from every corner. Freddy rose from his chair and walked to the large window that framed the dark night sky. He slipped both hands into his pants pockets while his eyes stared far ahead, brimming with confidence.Freddy had won the first stage of the game. The euphoria filled him with a passionate burst
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