One unexpected thing for Era was that Seth was still in her apartment unit even though three hours had passed. She had just come out of her room after calming down and wanted to get a glass of water to calm the remaining agitation in her chest. Her destination was the kitchen, and that's where she found Seth, sitting on the kitchen island with a bowl of snacks.
"Seth."
Seth smiled. "You finally came out of your room. I was waiting for you and wondering what you wanted to eat. So, I prepared some food. I hope you'll find something you like. Ah! You're a vegetarian, right?"
"Yes, thank you."
Seth nodded and Era decided to go to the dining area. She was quite curious about the menu Seth had prepared and was surprised to find the three-meter-long dining table full of food.
Era gasped with her mouth wide open. "Seth."
Footsteps made Era turn. Seth was approaching her, not forgetting his bowl of snacks. Seth's face looked innocent as he aske
Philo frowned as he noticed Anne hurrying toward him. He saw the secretary's face pale, her lips quivering, and beads of sweat forming on her forehead. His immediate conclusion was that Oscar was in a bad emotional state.Philo's hunch was correct. Anne explained that Oscar had suddenly become angry and ended the ongoing discussion. Now Anne tried to find out the reason for Oscar's anger, including asking Philo.Philo remained silent, although he again speculated inwardly. He suspected that it had something to do with Era, and it turned out that his suspicion was correct once again.Before Philo could talk to Anne, his phone rang. It was Oscar giving him a clear order."Prepare the helicopter immediately, Philo. We're leaving for Celestial City in fifteen minutes."Philo didn't get a chance to say anything because Oscar abruptly ended the call. Still, it was enough of a hint for him. He sighed and reassured Anne,"Don't worry. Mr. Oscar is not angry with you."Anne furrowed her brow,
The ride back to the palace was relatively safe and controlled. Philo, who had prepared to listen to Oscar's complaints, didn't hear a single one from the Alpha. Oscar seemed calm, occasionally whistling as he alternated between looking at his phone and the scenery along the way. It wouldn't be wrong to guess that Oscar was in a good mood right now.Philo narrowed his eyes. His speculation went further; this must be related to the phone call Oscar had received earlier.Era's name came to Philo's mind again, and he was one hundred percent sure that the call Oscar had received was indeed from Era. He let out a long sigh. Instead of complaining, he praised, albeit sarcastically. She was the one who made Alpha's mood bad and she was also the one who made Alpha's mood good again.They arrived at the palace. The car stopped in the courtyard and a guard opened the car door for Oscar. Oscar got out and so did Philo."You did a great job today, P
Ever since the dramatic tragedy in the Lunaria Forest, Era's thoughts had been consumed by a restless night's sleep. To this day, she often asked herself, if she hadn't ventured into the Lunaria Forest, would any of this have happened? Would she have been able to live as peacefully as before?Then a thought made Era grimace. Memories reminded her that she had never really lived a peaceful life. Somehow, chaos always found a way to disrupt her existence.Era came to believe that even without the dramatic tragedy in the Lunaria Forest, her life would still be chaotic. It was only the form of chaos that might have been different.But that didn't mean that Era was experienced enough to deal with such situations. In fact, she never seemed to adapt, even though chaos had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember. So, it was understandable that she felt confused by the stares of her friends when she arrived on campus that morning.Era stopped her steps. As she looked around,
Barbara cursed Madeline the whole way. Her cursing only stopped when she saw Gerald with his friends and then her tirade ended. She quickened her pace and approached them."Gerald."Gerald raised his face and sighed dramatically, closing his eyes. He cursed inwardly. How could Barbara come to the campus and see them in such a bruised and battered state?"Barbara."Barbara pulled out a chair and sat down. She looked briefly at Gerald's friends before they all scattered. Turning to Gerald, she asked, "What happened to you, Gerald? I heard this was all Cooper's doing?"Gerald felt ashamed. Never in his life had he been so beaten and bruised by defeat. It was understandable that his face was flushed. "The news you heard is true. This is all Cooper's doing."Barbara had hoped that the news she had heard was false. But all hope vanished when she saw the signs of struggle on Gerald's face and body. Unfortunately, Gerald's words were even more shock
The morning came and Era woke up earlier than usual. The reason was that she had a meeting with Madeline scheduled for that day. Just like their brief discussion yesterday, the research team, consisting of her, Madeline, Clara, and Frida, would meet to discuss the research plans to be carried out.Era got out of bed immediately. She grabbed her hair tie from the bedside table and hastily tied her hair back. After that, she wanted to prepare breakfast quickly, but her phone rang, causing her eyes to roll dramatically when she realized who was calling her so early. It was Oscar.Era guessed that Seth had told Oscar about yesterday's events. So, she prepared herself and promptly answered Oscar's call before her phone exploded. She was sure that Oscar wouldn't stop calling until she answered."Hello.""Hello, Era. How are you?"Era decided to entertain Oscar while she made breakfast. "I'm fine and still alive. At least I slept well last night.""Um." Oscar hesitated for a moment. "Is some
A voice startled Era. She widened her eyes. "Seth.""Good afternoon, Era," Seth greeted with a bright smile and took over the cart. "Let me push it. Um. Where are you taking this?"Era shook her head at Seth's antics. "Of course, I want to take it to the library. I want to check it out.""Ah! You're right!" Seth's smile widened even more, then he gestured for Era to lead the way. "Let's go! Up front."They walked to the library desk. Seth placed all the books on the table, and the librarian quickly and efficiently scanned the loan."Thank you. Oh, can we borrow the cart for a moment?" Seth asked, looking at the badge hanging around the librarian's neck. "I hope you understand, Miss Lewis. These books are very heavy.""Oh, of course. You may borrow them, Cooper." Helma Lewis nodded enthusiastically with sparkling eyes. "No need to hesitate."Seth smiled. "Thank you, Miss Lewis. I'll return it soon."Era was amazed at Seth's attitude. Seth chuckled as they walked down the aisle, leaving
For a moment Era didn't react. She didn't respond to Oscar's words because her mind was filled with various question marks of disbelief. Did I hear it wrong? Did Oscar just allow me to leave without Seth?Oh, damn it, Era. It seems that Oscar loves you.Era blinked. She asked her inner wolf soul. W-what? What did you just say?Oscar loves you.Era's face turned pale. Unconsciously she murmured, "That can't be."
The village of Runevale was one of the villages on the outskirts of Celestial City that was well known to the wider community. Situated in a valley protected by hills and surrounded by exotic forests, it was an enchanting wonder. It exuded an aura of peace and elegance that was hard to find elsewhere. In addition, in the center of the village was a town square that served as the social and economic hub that was the pride of its residents.The town square boasted historic buildings with stunning rural architecture. There was a decorated square filled with colorful flowers. In addition, the traditional market filled with vendors selling fresh vegetables, fruits, and local handicrafts created a lively and colorful atmosphere.
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,