"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 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
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,
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