"Where is she?!" My roar shattered the silence in the packhouse. All of the pathetic fools stood there with their little tails tucked between their legs like a bunch of cornered mutts. The Beta, Micheal Black stepped forward for a formal bow. His sly face looked up at me with questioning eyes."I'm sorry to say, Alpha. She is nowhere to be found however--""However WHAT?"He cleared his throat before straightening his back. "We have found her silver chains, discarded near the border, but also... two headless bodies of vampires not very far away."I'd been with that girl for over three years, and I'd doubt if she was even capable of hurting a fly, so ripping two vampires' heads off was out of the fucking question. Maybe some other, much bigger predator must've taken interest in her. My blood curdled. I'd rather have her die than her belonging to someone or something else. The witch's forest wasn't a children's playground, it was a place where the ominous forces of nature festered, so f
I dug through the forest, looking for vampire corpses, drunk on whiskey. Not my favorite thing to do. I let Reynard take form, in case we come under attack. You never knew what would come after your blood in these dark corners of the forest. I didn't trust Micheal Black. I could bet all my money that the prick of a Beta wanted Abigail to be as good as dead. So a better choice in finding her would be to get myself on the ground and search for her. Halfway near the border, we caught the scent of something fucking odd. Not odd, but almost foreign. Vampire bodies never decay, because they were immortals, at least, their bodies are, nor did they have scents like shifters or any other creatures did. Their bodies worked differently than hours. The only thing they felt were hunger and lust, real fucking cold-blooded killers. So the chance that the scent belonged to a vampire was pretty damn low. There was a shifter element to it – that familiar musk of earth and animal, the tang of adrenalin
The absolute last place I wanted to be was back at the main house, but duty called I guess. I braced myself as I walked through the door. One whiff told me everything I needed to know - the stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke still hung heavy in the air from last night's rowdy poker game no doubt. And where there's smoke, there's my mate Roy, Alpha Man-Child himself.Sure enough, there was Roy, sprawled out on the couch amid empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays, as if he did it just to spite me. But it wasn't actually him that made my stomach turn this time. Oh no, that honor went to the Beta's nineteen-year-old daughter Cassie, reputation ruiner extraordinaire.Yet there she sat parked on my mate's lap, dressed in scraps of fabric pretending to be clothes. Locking eyes with me, she had the audacity to smirk as she snuggled up closer to Roy, as if they were the happy couple and I was the unwanted wife. Roy of course ate up the attention, a smug grin plastered across his scruffy
I strolled into the bedroom, already over whatever hot mess was waiting for me this time. And get this - little Miss Cassie's scrawny butt was parked right there on my marital bed, scrolling through her phone like she owned the place.Seriously, this girl had some nerve shacking up in my private space. For a second, I wanted to rip into her trifling behind. But getting all emotional was exactly what she wanted. So I played it ice cold instead.I sashayed over, real nonchalant, and said "You're in the wrong room."Cassie glanced up with that sly grin of hers. "Roy told me to wait up in here 'til he got back. Had some pack biz to handle."I stopped myself from snapping at her skanky tail. Roy's played-out games were so tired by now. I just kept it breezy: "Yeah well I'm tidying up in here, so maybe continue your wait elsewhere, 'kay?"Girl took her sweet time getting off my bed, smirking the whole way like this was her territory now. As she slinked past, she whispered all taunting: "Don
I ran my fingertips over a tube of bold red lipstick before applying it to my lips, gazing intently at myself in the mirror. The vivid hue stood out starkly against my pale complexion.My red hair cascaded down to my shoulders in loose curls, framing my face. My dull blue eyes reflected back at me from the mirror with no sign of life or feeling. A smattering of freckles dotted my nose and cheeks, uninvitedly adding some color to my otherwise drab tone.I wasn't the fiery redhead that often portrayed us to be. No, I was far from it. Instead, I carried myself with cold indifference, my demeanor aloof and unfeeling. As Alpha Roy would call it 'As cold as the moon.'The mirror reflected my true nature - a stark contradiction to the stereotype that came with my fiery locks. But I didn't let it bother me. After all, appearances could be deceiving. And this one was no exception."Well, well, look who decided to get dressed up today."I kept my expression neutral as I capped the lipstick and
I tightly shut my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself as another burst of intense pain swept through me. Despite the joyous mood outside brought about by the ongoing Moon Festival - filled with laughter and cheerful tunes - I remained preoccupied with the unyielding discomfort coming from my lower belly.Afflicted by wrenching cramp-like sensations, as if being struck in the womb, I doubled over, earnestly seeking some remedy. Regrettably, avoiding this cyclic predicament seemed unlikely now. As the Luna of the Silver Claw pack, I had duties to attend to so having a break was out of the question.Frantically searching through drawers and cabinets, I rummaged around my bedroom, desperate for any form of ailment. My fingers brushed against empty containers that once held precious painkillers, now depleted due to my own carelessness. Panic set in; without medication, how will I make it through the night?With heavy steps, I dragged myself towards Ethan's quarters. He served
"You look fucking ridiculous teetering around like that." I gritted my teeth at Roy's remark as I carefully descended the staircase, each step sending a jolt of pain through my aching feet. It wasn't a piece of cake in those damned heels – they weren't designed for someone like me who favored practical shoes over stylish torturing devices. But Alpha Roy had demanded that I wear them tonight, asserting they lent an additional dash of sophistication to my attire.Despite hating to give in to his requests, particularly ones as minor but uncomfortable as shoe choices, I knew better than to butt heads with him. We were well aware of who wore the pants in our relationship. Thus, there I was, teetering on high stilts while keeping track of time, eagerly waiting to ditch them and exhale freely.Finally reaching the bottom step, I smiled weakly at Alpha Roy, hoping to appease him despite knowing full well how futile such attempts usually were. At least now I could focus on enduring whatever
Another bruise to hide, I thought as I pressed the pack of ice onto my swollen cheek. Things would only get worse for me the longer I stayed here. Roy was getting impatient for an heir. I would have begged him to impregnate another she-wolf from our pack, who was willing, like Cassie. The thought made me want to throw up.But at least then, he would've a chance at having a child to succeed him. However, I had a hunch that this type of arrangement wouldn't sit well with the Moon Goddess. We, as her followers, hold sacred principles regarding matrimony and familial bonds. The birth of a child outside of the mate bond would be deemed illicit and undeserving of continuing the bloodline of the alpha.I sure as hell did not want to conceive, even if he rejected me in the future. As long as he left me alone. The doorknob turned, and so did my heart. Roy swaggered in, reeking of booze and... whores. I should have just pretended to be asleep, because his once handsome face contorted into a
I dug through the forest, looking for vampire corpses, drunk on whiskey. Not my favorite thing to do. I let Reynard take form, in case we come under attack. You never knew what would come after your blood in these dark corners of the forest. I didn't trust Micheal Black. I could bet all my money that the prick of a Beta wanted Abigail to be as good as dead. So a better choice in finding her would be to get myself on the ground and search for her. Halfway near the border, we caught the scent of something fucking odd. Not odd, but almost foreign. Vampire bodies never decay, because they were immortals, at least, their bodies are, nor did they have scents like shifters or any other creatures did. Their bodies worked differently than hours. The only thing they felt were hunger and lust, real fucking cold-blooded killers. So the chance that the scent belonged to a vampire was pretty damn low. There was a shifter element to it – that familiar musk of earth and animal, the tang of adrenalin
"Where is she?!" My roar shattered the silence in the packhouse. All of the pathetic fools stood there with their little tails tucked between their legs like a bunch of cornered mutts. The Beta, Micheal Black stepped forward for a formal bow. His sly face looked up at me with questioning eyes."I'm sorry to say, Alpha. She is nowhere to be found however--""However WHAT?"He cleared his throat before straightening his back. "We have found her silver chains, discarded near the border, but also... two headless bodies of vampires not very far away."I'd been with that girl for over three years, and I'd doubt if she was even capable of hurting a fly, so ripping two vampires' heads off was out of the fucking question. Maybe some other, much bigger predator must've taken interest in her. My blood curdled. I'd rather have her die than her belonging to someone or something else. The witch's forest wasn't a children's playground, it was a place where the ominous forces of nature festered, so f
I was drifting in this weird fuzzy blankness when something nudged me. Not a gentle nudge, more like a punch to the gut - which shocked the breath right out of me. Suddenly my eyes opened and everything was blindingly white and freezing cold."Abigail." A soothing woman's voice beckoned me. It was the familiar voice of my wolf Bree. It'd been months since I last linked with my spirit wolf. Omegas tend to have weaker connections with their wolves, and mine only emerged when I was in a deadly crisis to protect her vessel from dying. Like, um, right then apparently?Was I dying? Oh crap, was this the afterlife? Maybe... I was dead already and this cold place was hell, but I thought hell was supposed to be hot--"Abigail!"Bree's voice sounded much closer, and a second later I felt something furry nudging my side. I turned my head - very sluggishly, like I was underwater - to see her luminous white shape blending in against the frosty backdrop."Where...are we?" My voice came out in a
I glared at the feeble little shifter lying motionless in the bed. "Well? What's wrong with the little wolf?" I snapped at Zelda, my maid.Zelda flinched under my withering gaze. Good, she should be afraid. Fear is the only way to keep the hired help in line."Fever, sir."I clicked my tongue. "As expected of an omega, they're too fragile." "Sir..." Zelda began hesitantly. I raised an eyebrow, daring her to continue. She swallowed hard. "The wolf...she has been starved. Forced to live on scraps. Her condition is terrible. If you drink her blood now, it could prove fatal."Fatal, huh? I dismissed the foolish maid with a wave of my hand. She knew better than to linger.Once she had scurried away, I turned my attention to the frail little wolf lying before me. Her tangled red hair was dull and matted. I had already removed the silver shackles binding her wrists and ankles. No need for those anymore. It was obvious she had been cast aside by her pack, left to waste away in the woods. Th
What is this... scent?Fresh blood, but it's different... Shifter blood, belonging to a female no less.The aroma drifted through the night air, teasing my senses with its enticing fragrance. A scent that stirred a ravenous hunger within me. This wasn't the typical mortal crimson that usually graced my palate. No, this was something far more delectable.Stealthily, I stalked through the Witch's forest, my footsteps like whispers against the damp earth. The shadows embraced me like an old companion, concealing my presence from the prying eyes of predators. This was my domain, my hunting grounds, and the inky darkness served as my cloak.The scent grew stronger with each step, beckoning me deeper into the woods.Ah... shifters. Those adorable little mutts. A low chuckle rumbled in my chest. These creatures, so proud and mighty, believed themselves above the food chain. Little did they know, their precious lifeblood was the ultimate delicacy, a rare vintage.Like caviars are for mo
"Bring the chains." Beta Micheal Black barked out an order.A couple of hulking enforcers stepped forward, silver manacles gleaming dully in the filtered forest light. This was really happening - they were going to discard me out here in the wild with nothing."Let's move it, sweetheart," one of them growled, hauling me forward with a cruel yank.I hissed as the cold metal bit into the tender flesh of my wrists, the enchanted silver already burning like hellfire. Michael stepped up, his beady eyes glinting with a twisted satisfaction."Those chains will prevent you from shifting into your wolf form," he drawled, smirking as understanding bloomed in my widening eyes. "Can't have our little Omega Luna--I mean, Ex- Luna running free in the forest, now can we?"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Without the ability to shift, to tap into my primal instincts and strength, I was as good as dead out here. The forest was an untamed deathtrap for a lone, defenseless woman.But that's exactl
The chamber fell deathly silent after my outburst. The pack members looked at each other uneasily, shifting their weight from one foot to the other. Suddenly, the doors burst open, and Emma, my mother-in-law, strode in, her face twisted with anger."Have you all lost your damn minds?" she shouted, her voice echoing in the hushed hall."Abigail's been our Luna for years, and she's served this pack with total dedication and loyalty. Yes, she made a terrible mistake, but are we going to throw her out like trash over one mistake?"Alister stepped forward. "A Luna's supposed to be a symbol of loyalty and duty to her pack and her mate. Abigail's actions have brought shame on us all. How can we expect our females to follow her example if we let her stay?"Emma met his gaze, not backing down an inch. "And what about the example our Alpha's been setting? Has he been a real paragon of virtue and faithfulness? We all know the answer to that. Yet we turn a blind eye to it while crucifying Abigail
From then on, I snuck into Ethan's quarters every time Alpha Roy was away. At first, I felt incredibly bad for what I was doing, but slowly, I relished in the forbidden. It was dark, and the sheer night dress I was wearing under the black cloak was barely shielding me from the cold. I knocked at Ethan's door. But it wasn't Ethan who answered it.My heart froze in place.Eyes stretched wide, I took in the frightening tall form of my mate. "Roy..." Roy's face morphed into a terrifying visage, his eyes burning with a fury that chilled me to the bone. Rage seethed from every taut muscle, his clenched fists trembling as if restraining an eruption of violence. When he spoke, his voice was little more than a guttural growl.If I turned back and ran, would he catch me?"You ungrateful little whore," He gritted out, stalking towards me, like he wanted to snuff the life out of me with those big hands of his. "I... I'm sorry," I pleaded. "Where's Ethan?"Roy's hand shot forward, wrapping it
Roy turned busy with pack duties outside the territory regarding some concerning news about Vampires trespassing the borders. Our pack was essentially in the middle of the woods, protected by walls. Somewhere beyond the walls was the vampire's council. They were one of the 'blessed creatures', much like shifters. Although they were small in numbers, they were extremely powerful and a menace.But for now, I was thankful Roy was away.My legs felt heavy as lead as I made my way to Ethan's quarters. Pack duties, that was my flimsy excuse to get away from Roy, but I knew better than Roy would rather spend time with his whores than his mate. I never thought of Roy's mistresses in a beneficial light, but now I was grateful for whoever she-wolf Roy was fucking. As long she kept him busy.I knocked three times.The door creaked open. The next second, I threw myself into Ethan's arms, and he swallowed me in a searing kiss before shutting the door behind him. My heart pounded in my chest so h