If he wanted to follow his desires, Oscar would surely join Era in bed. After all, it was his bed, his room. But Ursa convinced Oscar that Era needed rest. Despite her physical injuries and fatigue, she had also experienced shock several times. Sleeping together and other surprising scenes were clearly not good for her.
So, Oscar reluctantly moved to another room that Aaron had prepared. He lay down on the bed and stayed awake until morning.
Oscar gathered Philo, Aaron, and Ursa. They sat at a round table in the garden, where several delicious dishes were served, and ate breakfast together.
"So, Philo."
Philo had just picked up his fork and knife and was about to take the first bite, but Oscar spoke to him. So, he put the utensils back down.
"What about Mosha? Have you dealt with him?"
Philo nodded. "Yes, Alpha. They are no longer of this world."
"Good," Oscar said as he enjoyed his breakfast. "I'm sure he would continue to look for E
The Palace was silent, much like any other day. Silence enveloped it as if time stood still. Some people were visible, but almost without any signs of life. They breathed, walked, and worked almost without making a sound.Only occasionally did they speak, when curiosity arose and finally forced them to ask questions. Even then, only after making sure no other ears would hear."Have you seen her? I heard she's from the Avaluna village.""Oh, really? Avaluna Village? The village that never sees the sunlight? How is that possible? I'd rather think there are vampires there than werewolves.""Exactly, and honestly, I doubt that woman is the one. Ursa could be wrong, and—""Ahem!"The clearing of the throat ended the small talk. They turned reflexively, their eyes widening."Ursa."Ursa said nothing, but continued down the corridor. Her indifference made them look at each other with an uncomfortable feeling, and they resumed th
On the umpteenth day in The Palace, Era stopped trying to escape because the result would undoubtedly be the same—failure. In fact, she had tried to escape not once or twice, but several times until she got tired of it.The first attempt was, of course, the first morning in the palace. Era tried to escape, but instead ran into Ursa and Oscar. They had a brief conversation that ended with an uncomfortable feeling that left her restless for the rest of the day.In her second attempt, Era tried to use the window. After watching Rapunzel, she was determined to do the same. Unfortunately, her eagerness faded when she saw the steep rocks waiting for her below. Too bad, but she was not ready to die foolishly yet.There was also an attempt to take advantage of Aaron's kindness. They walked around the palace, and then she escaped after tricking Aaron. Unfortunately, she encountered a real wolf—yes, a real wolf—and fortunately, Aaron came to her
Oscar reached for his coffee mug. He inhaled the unmistakable aroma that warmly filled the air and indulged his taste buds with the first sip. A refreshing taste jolted him and his eyes cleared."Our sales growth has been steadily increasing for the past two quarters. With a more aggressive marketing strategy, we've managed to attract attention in the market, especially in the international market."Oscar put the coffee cup back on the coaster and asked the marketing director, Donald Hall."What about the competition? Are there any new trends we should be aware of?"Donald shook his head. "So far, we remain ahead, but I suggest we focus on product innovation. Competitors continue to try to approach our superiority in the premium market.""What about the new project we're developing? How is it progressing?""We are currently in the testing phase for the organic product line with a broader market reach," Donald replied, rolling the slide on th
"I must be dreaming. This can't be real."That's what Era thought when she opened her eyes. She saw the ceiling and it took her a moment to realize the situation.First of all, Era was in her room. This was not Oscar's room, and her memory went back thirty days to when she was rescued by Philo and ended up resting in the Alpha's bed. A day later, she managed to convince Aaron to prepare a private room. She managed to dash Oscar's hopes of spending the night together and used the situation to flirt with him.Second, Era was sure she had missed something. As far as she remembered, she was getting ready for the Sacred Ceremony. Ursa dressed her and they left. She even exchanged glances with Oscar before...Era winced. She closed her eyes tightly and held her head. Various uncertain flashes filled her mind, causing her pain."You're awake."Era opened her eyes. "Landon.""I hope we could meet under different circumstances," Landon said as
Era just hoped to lead a normal life. At least she did not want to experience strange visions every time she woke up.Just like what was happening now. Era opened her eyes and froze as a memory flashed through her mind."Let me go, Oscar! I said let me go! Let me be free!""You can plan, you can try, but you won't be able to escape me. Your place and your destiny is here, with me!"Era closed her eyes again. She did not want to remember this embarrassing moment. Even though she had gathered all her courage to jump through the window and face the rough stones below, what happened? Oscar foiled her plan too easily."Damn you, Oscar."A deep voice filled Era's ears, followed by a question."Did you just curse me?"Era's eyes widened instantly. She turned around and her eyes got even bigger. There was Oscar, lying next to her, shirtless, propped up on one elbow."Oscar. W-what are you doing here?"Os
Era finished her breakfast. The feeling of fullness filled her stomach and her face looked fresher. She leaned back in the chair in a relaxed position, then noticed that Oscar was silent for a moment, thinking about something."What is it? Why are you silent? Is something on your mind?"Oscar blinked, then shook his head. "Nothing. I'm just thinking about my schedule for today."Era glanced briefly as Oscar stood up."I'll go, and in the meantime, I'll instruct Ursa to take care of you. You have much to learn, and I'll remind you of one thing," Oscar said, raising his index finger. He emphasized his warning. "Do not even think of escaping. If you try to escape, I'll make sure I catch you and put you in the underground dungeon.""Underground dungeon?"Oscar grinned with a mocking expression. "If you don't believe me, go ahead.""Oscar!"Oscar left without paying attention to Era, who suddenly became agitated. He grabbed his paja
Era remained silent, watching as Julie rejoined the group of teenage werewolves. Upon reflection, this might not be the first time she and Julie had crossed paths. They had run into each other several times while Era was roaming the palace, and she noticed that Julie was a bit different from the other werewolves, who always seemed friendly and enthusiastic towards her; Julie was not.That did not mean Era was offended, not at all. Instead, she admitted that running the palace must be very tiring. Especially since, as she began to learn about werewolf life, she became aware of the Palace's problems to a certain extent.Oscar was not only supported by Aaron as Guardian, Ursa as Sacred Elder and Philo as Beta. There was also Julie, who took care of the Palace in her position as Gamma. In Era's eyes, Julie's responsibilities were similar to those of a housewife, taking care of all the household matters. So, she understood if Julie seemed tired and weary at times."S
"Are you sure?"Oscar knew that Philo was always meticulous. It was impossible for him to make a mistake on a task. However, he reflexively asked when Philo had finished reporting the information he wanted."I'm sure, Alpha. Amias is not a werewolf," Philo replied.Oscar squeezed his fingers. "What about his mother? Uh, Sylvie?""I don't know, Alpha," Philo replied, feeling guilty, then explained. "Sylvie died ten years ago. I checked the cemetery and dug up her grave, but there was no trace at all. Her bones were completely destroyed."Oscar growled. "Of course, you wouldn't find any clues. Surely her bones are completely crushed."Philo remained silent while Oscar thought. Then he gave an order."Summon Ursa."Philo nodded. "Alright."Ursa arrived about five minutes later. She glanced at Philo briefly, as if she wanted to know why she had been summoned. At the very least, she wanted to prepare.Unfortunately, Ph
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,
There was nothing Oscar wanted more at the moment than to make sure everything was all right. As soon as Dree left, he turned to Landon, who had been waiting patiently. "Check on Era right away. I want to know everything about her condition," he said.Landon nodded. "Understood, Alpha."Era, on the other hand, showed no resistance, even though all she really wanted at that moment was to rest. Her body felt completely exhausted and cried out to be laid down, but she decided to follow Oscar's wishes. After all, she knew that Oscar wouldn't feel at ease until he was sure that everything was really all right.Look, Era. Oscar has been staring at you the whole time. I bet he's counting the wounds on your body. I'm sure he's making sure the attacker feels ten times as much pain as you.Era started to deny her wolf spirit's words, but stopped herself when she realised the truth behind them. Oscar was staring at her—intensely, sharply, and with a focus that said more than any words ever could
Oscar's emotions were in turmoil. It was as if every emotion in the world, whether he had experienced it before or not, had suddenly appeared all at once, creating a whirlwind that made him dizzy.Oscar felt dizzy. His world seemed to sway, giving him the fleeting illusion that everything was unreal. Uncertainty accompanied every step he took, casting doubt on the reality of what his eyes now saw. Is this a dream?Negative thoughts began to cloud Oscar's mind, taunting his reason with doubts that seemed disturbingly logical. Is this really Era?Oscar growled, angry at himself for wrestling with two possibilities. On the one hand, he hoped that Era had returned unharmed. On the other hand, he doubted that nothing had happened while Era was outside the palace. The current situation was far from safe, and Era's life was in danger at any moment.The situation worsened when Oscar remembered Dom's earlier report. Era wasn't alone—she had returned with a vampire.Damn it, Oscar cursed under
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.