Mirage's P.O.V I woke up well before the sun rose in the horizon. Standing in front of the huge glass windows, staring as the sun rose over the world, banishing the darkness of the night…it made me feel like I was born once again. My memories were still scattered, broken bits and pieces that I desperately needed to put together. The only memory I had intact was one that I could only wish I could have forgotten. My mother's broken body…the empty cavity of her heart… It was the only nightmare I remembered. Surprisingly, even last night's dream had been a beautiful memory. At least I hoped it was a memory. The prospect of not remembering was that it seemed almost impossible to decipher dreams from memory. Closing my eyes momentarily, I pressed my hands to my temples as the dormant wolf whispered into my ears. 'Let me out…' I could hear it from time to time, but I couldn't make the same mistake I had the first time. However, that voice was now dimm
Mirage's P.O.V The dining area was humongous. That was the first thought I had as soon as I entered the room. There was a huge chandelier on the ceiling and the kitchen staffs were arranging food in those different can thingies that they use for big occasions. It was like a freaking five-star hotel for all I knew. And I had never been to a five star hotel in my life, for all I could remember. The huge hall was again divided into two other separate areas off to the side. One was a smaller room with a glass door and the other was a huge veranda where several tables and chairs were arranged, shaded from the sun-rays with huge umbrellas. Not knowing where to go, I kind of stood there awkwardly, looking around the place to see if there was any familiar face or if someone would come to guide me to a table like an actual five-star restaurant. Someone came inside through the doors that led to the open terrace and it made me jump back in fear, even though the boy h
Mirage's P.O.V "I didn't expect you and Freya to start off on the wrong foot, honestly." Sarah told me as soon as Freya had left the room with Darcia. Apparently, they had both been summoned by the Alpha to discuss Alpha things. "And why is that?" I frowned at her. "I get that Julian is her brother, but I don't get why she had to be so rude." "How about I tell you something about the pack structure instead." Sarah ignored my question. "The Alpha is the head of the pack, just like our brain is the head of our body; the authorization centre that commands the rest of our organs to function properly and helps us differentiate between right and wrong." "Okay…?" I frowned at her detailed description of the brain, something that kids learn in like…middle school. "But at the same time, the head cannot function without the heart." Sarah placed her hand on her chest to indicate the heart. "An
Alex's P.O.V Even before I entered the Alpha's room, the atmosphere just seemed to be intensely tense; and the feeling just intensified tenfold as soon as I entered through the doors. I was already wondering why Alpha Charles would call me back here, now that I had been relieved of my duties, but when I saw Cameron and Freya both sitting on one of the couches next to the Alpha…I just knew that this had something to do with Mirage. Darcia patted the seat next to him and I had to say that I was a little surprised to find him here again. But if he was here, then I was guessing he was attending as Sarah's eyes and ears, while she was out there babysitting Mirage. "Alpha Krimson has requested to visit the pack." Alpha Charles dropped that bomb on us just as soon as I had taken a seat. "What?" Cameron looked at the Alpha with a frown. "Why?" "He gave us the antidote." Alpha Charles sighed. "Now he wants to study
Freya's P.O.V I held Julian's hand tightly as I knocked on Trisha's door. He was nervous, as I had expected, but it was the right thing to do. Trisha's mate, Leon was the one to open the door. The brunette haired, grey eyed man was the kindest wolf I knew, but he was also one of the pack's omegas, so he kept his eyes lowered whenever he spoke to Cameron or any one of the wolves with higher dominance. But today, he greeted me with a smile, meeting my eyes as he opened the door wide enough so I could enter. "Julian's here, I see." Leon gave him a wide smile as Julian lowered his head in embarrassment. "Come on in. Candice is in the playroom." Usually, a couple only has a mating ceremony at the age of twenty five, for both the male and female wolves or their non-wolf counterparts, but Leon and Trisha were already mated, only because Trisha had gotten pregnant early last year and Leon, who was already twenty seven at the time, had wanted th
Mirage's P.O.V The next day, I saw Julian enter the dining room with his big sister in toe; however, unlike yesterday, he was smiling from ear to ear while munching on a cookie. Freya on the other hand, was holding an adorable little child in her arms, who looked up at her like she was some kind of angel. And surprisingly, the devil was smiling down at the kid as well. "Ah! There comes Leah!" Sarah jumped up from her seat to welcome the little girl, who gave a squeal of joy as soon as she saw her. "Yes, yes, you little traitor." Freya kissed the baby's chubby cheeks before handing her over to Sarah. "Your mama was right, wasn't she? Leah has everyone wrapped around her little fingers." "Oh, hush!" Sarah landed a big fat kiss on the baby's lips. "You know we love being wrapped around your wee-wee fingers, right?" Sarah's impersonation of a 'baby voice' was hilarious. I think the baby thought so too, because
Mirage's P.O.V After a filling lunch and some conversation with Luna Malaya, I made my way back to my room around two in the afternoon. Luna Malaya seemed like a genuinely nice person, but she was also extremely busy. Apparently, there was a 'coming of age' party to be held in a week's time and she had come to borrow Freya for help on decorations. So, Freya had to leave immediately after along with little Leah and Julian. Somehow, I just couldn't find my footing here. Everyone was super nice, but it just didn't feel like somewhere I would belong. Was this what a pack really was all about? Having fun, gossiping and holding parties? No one seemed to be doing much of anything and yet, they were super rich. What did they even do for a living? I know I was new here, and I hadn't even met half of the people living in the pack, but it did seem like they might be people who enjoyed other people's income and just sat on their asses all day. I had almost made my way
Mirage's P.O.V The wind blew back my hair off my face and for the thousandth time, I felt grateful that I had remembered to tie my hair back. Otherwise, it would be a delightful mess to untangle tonight…not that it was going to be any better anyways. The vast sea stretched in front of me, the waters pure blue that was only interrupted by some sudden rock formations protruding out of the water like dark monsters. But the most beautiful view was the red-gold lights from the sunset over the horizon. "Have you ever been to the beach before?" Alex asked from beside me while he munched on a sandwich. "I don't think so." I told him, still looking out at the waves crashing onto the shore in wonder. "If I had, then this wouldn't have felt so fascinating." "Fair enough," I heard him say before I watched him bring the sandwich back to his lips from the corner of my eyes. Unconsciously, I found myself studying him once aga
Lilac's P.O.V It's been a long ride and a very eventful one at that and anytime I think about what Krimson and I have been through, I'm just grateful we had the strength to go through everything we went through and we were able to come out of it even stronger than how we were before. As the sun cast its warm, golden rays across the university campus, I found myself sitting on a bench, the weight of decisions pressing against my chest. The soft whispers of the leaves rustling in the gentle breeze mirrored the conflicted thoughts swirling in my mind. Krimson, my mate, had offered a future tied to our pack, an enticing prospect for many, but not for me. I gazed at the sprawling grounds, feeling a tug in my heart that wasn't just about academic pursuits. The university held promises beyond the textbooks and lectures. It offered freedom—freedom to carve my own identity, to explore knowledge that extended far beyond the boundaries of our pack's traditions. I yearned to brea
Krimson's P.O.V I woke up to the pale light filtering through the hospital room, the faint beeping of monitors sounding in the background. My vision was hazy at first, the events leading up to this moment a jumbled mess in my mind. As I blinked and slowly tried to focus, the first thing that became clear was Lilac's form, peacefully asleep in a chair next to my bed. Relief washed over me as memories flooded back, fragments piecing together into a coherent narrative. "Lilac," I whispered softly, my voice hoarse from disuse. She stirred slightly, a faint flutter of eyelashes against her cheeks, but she remained deep in slumber. The sight of her there, unwavering by my side, despite everything that had transpired, filled me with an inexplicable warmth. I couldn't help but recall the chaos of that night—the confrontation, the whirlwind of emotions, and then the blankness as consciousness slipped away from me. But here I was, waking up to her steadfast presence. It m
Lilac's P.O.V I watched Silver hurl accusations at me, adding to my guilt. I wanted to explain, to make her understand that it wasn't intentional, that the circumstances had shifted beyond my control. But words seemed to desert me in that moment as I grappled with the weight of her accusation. However, Krimson's voice echoed in the room then, commanding even though weak. "Silver, it's not Lilac's fault," he said firmly, his voice carrying the weight of authority. "I made the decision. I took action to protect." Silver's gaze snapped toward Krimson, her eyes filled with disbelief. "What are you saying, Krimson? You hated her, didn't you? Then why would you risk your life to save her?" Krimson shook his head solemnly. "No, Silver. I never hated Lilac, it was our circumstances that I hated. It felt like the Goddess had played a cruel joke on me. But I couldn't run away from a bond fated by the goddess herself, Silver. I had caused Lilac enough pain as it is…I
Lilac's P.O.V I nodded, my mind racing with the urgency of the situation. I moved towards Silver, hoping against hope that all of this worked. "Silver…" I called out to her slowly, making her head snap in my direction. "Please…you need to stop all of this." But Silver's face twisted in a sinister smirk. "It's too late to stop any of this, Lilac. This ends with one of us." "It doesn't have to be that way, Silvia." I shook my head, pleading with her. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Del approaching her steadily from behind her, while I kept on engaging her in conversion. "It does, Lilac." Silver snapped at me, turning her body around so she was facing me completely. "You don't understand-" It was all Del needed, for her to turn away, so that our plan worked. Without wasting a second, he came up behind Silver and wrapped his arms around her body, holding her in place as he took her by surprise
Lilac's P.O.V For a moment, time seemed suspended, the tableau frozen in an eerie stillness. Silver hesitated, her gaze flickering between me and Krimson, the dagger held poised in the air, its lethal purpose momentarily forgotten in the face of Krimson's interruption. "Step away from her, Silver," Krimson's voice cut through the tension, unwavering and authoritative. His stance was firm, commanding obedience without question. The grip of Silver's magic lessened, the pressure easing just enough for me to draw a ragged breath. My muscles protested as I struggled against the binds anew, though I didn't dare to take my eyes off Silver, her expression a maelstrom of conflicting emotions - anger, desperation, and a hint of something I couldn't quite place. "Krimson, you shouldn't be here," Silver's voice wavered, a tremor betraying the turmoil within her. Her grip on the dagger faltered, uncertainty clouding her features. "You know I couldn't stand by and
Lilac's P.O.V The air was thick with tension, a palpable energy that crackled around us like a storm waiting to break. "Silver, you're fooling yourself if you think you can wield that kind of power," I said softly, my gaze fixed on the gleaming knife in her hands. "You're not a true Silver Alpha Breeder, you never will be. You can't ever access my full potential." Silver's laughter cut through the serene air, a sound that held a hint of something darker beneath its surface. "Oh, you have no idea, do you?" Her eyes glinted with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. "You underestimate what a witch can do, what I can do. I'm part wolf, part witch. I'm a hybrid that is already stronger than both a wolf and a witch! There's nothing I cannot do, Lilac!" "You think I chose you to lead our pack because of some noble sentiment? No, Lilac." Her voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. "I chose you because I knew the stronger you became, the more that dormant p
Lilac's P.O.V My eyes brimmed with confusion and hurt as I confronted Silver in the dimly lit room I was being held captive in. "Did you…ever really consider me a friend, Silver?" my voice trembled with a mixture of fear and desperation, my heart aching with the weight of betrayal. Silver, her gaze heavy with sorrow and a haunted past, met my eyes. "I used to belong to a peaceful pack, a pack that had been my home since the day I was born," she began, her voice tinged with a raw emotion that spoke volumes of her pain. "We lived in harmony, in unity. It was everything to me." Tears welled up in Silver's eyes, reflecting the agony of memories etched deep within her soul. "Your father," she whispered, the words heavy with anguish. "He... he attacked our pack. In the dead of night, when darkness cloaked the land, he led a brutal assault." I felt my heart ache for the woman that I had once considered my biggest alley, but now, she had turned out to be my bigges
Krimson's P.O.V The night hung heavy around us as we tore through the city streets, the engine's roar mingling with the howling wind. Del and I were on a mission—racing against time to reach Silver's apartment. It was imperative that we find Lilac before anything sinister unfolded. "Alpha Krimson, step on it!" Del's voice cut through the adrenaline-charged air, urgency lacing every word. His grip tightened on the door handle as we swerved through the dimly lit alleys, the neon signs blurring into streaks of color. "I'm pushing it as hard as I can!" I shouted back, my eyes fixed on the road ahead. The weight of worry pressed on me like a leaden cloak. We had to reach Silver's place, and had to find Lilac safe and sound. Finally, screeching to a halt outside Silver's building, we leaped out of the car. Breathless and tense, we dashed up the stairs, each step echoing the pounding of our hearts. As we reached Silver's door, our hopes soared, but a hollow silence gre
Lilac's P.O.V As I slowly arose to consciousness, I found myself grappling with the weight of my heavy eyelids. My mind sluggishly pieced together the fragments of reality, pushing through a dense fog of disorientation. The air felt heavy, each inhale a laborious effort that failed to fill my lungs as it should. A peculiar lightheadedness swept over me, a disconcerting sensation akin to floating on the edge of a dream. My initial attempt to stretch my arms, to move, met an unexpected resistance. Panic flickered through my drowsy mind as the realization hit home—I was restrained. My fingertips brushed against something coarse and unyielding, confirming my fear. The sensation sent a jolt of adrenaline through my groggy state, clearing the haze momentarily. I tried to rise, only to discover the cruel truth of my predicament: bound, not just by ropes or chains, but tied firmly to what appeared to be a marble table. The cool surface pressed against my skin, a s