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
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 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