SerenaIn the middle of the heartfelt conversation, one of Roman's men arrived with Alexei trailing behind. Seeing him, I couldn’t help but feel angry.I stormed over to Alexei, frustration bubbling within me like a raging typhoon. My eyes demanded answers, but his nonchalant smirk only fueled the fire."Where the hell have you been?" I demanded, my voice sharper than intended.Alexei shrugged, that infuriating smirk never leaving his face. "I don't really feel like talking about it."My temper flared. How could he smirk like that when everything was falling apart around us?"We don't have the luxury of your silence right now, Alexei. I need to know where you've been. Did you even have a single clue about what we had been through? We’ve been through hell! And now you’re—”“Well, I’ve been through hell too!” he retorted. I could see how desperate he was in suppressing his anger. “Please, just leave me alone. I can’t deal with this now.”I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my emotio
SerenaOur wedding preparations happened in a rush, with only a few hours to pull everything together in a quiet forest clearing. Wildflowers, hastily gathered, lined a makeshift aisle leading to an altar crafted from woven branches adorned with whatever blooms we could find. The night rushed upon us, urging us to finish the preparations before darkness settled in.Roman and his group, wearing simple clothes, quickly helped. Damon, dressed up but showing signs of our lives as banished wolves, stood at the makeshift altar. I wore a dress with leaves and flowers, standing beside him under the stars.Roman, the venerable leader of the camp who took us, assumed the role of officiant. His eyes bore into ours with a mix of solemnity and warmth.As he started the ceremony, he raised his hand, capturing everyone's attention."Damon and Serena," Roman began, "today we stand beneath the open sky, surrounded by the very essence of nature, to witness the binding of your
SerenaThe next day dawned with a heaviness mirroring the weight in my heart. As I walked through our makeshift camp, I noticed Alexei sitting alone, his usual lively eyes dull and clouded with sadness. Guilt gnawed at me for the harsh words I had spoken to him the day before.Approaching him, I hesitated before sitting down beside him. "Alexei," I began, my voice softer than before, "I... I didn't mean to hurt you yesterday."He glanced at me, pain and understanding in his eyes. "It's alright, Serena. You had every right to be angry."But it wasn't all right, and I knew it. There was more to his sorrow than just my words. "No, it's not just that. I can see you're hurting, and I'm sorry for what Tori did to you."Alexei's gaze dropped, and he sighed. "I thought she was different, Serena. I trusted her above anything else. But she betrayed me too. She dumped me like a trash, as if I was nothing in her life."My heart sank for him. I could feel the weight
DamonThe morning sun painted the campsite in warm hues, casting a serene atmosphere over our makeshift breakfast table. Ashford and I huddled together, plates filled with campfire-cooked eggs and bacon. The enticing aroma blended with the earthy scent of the surrounding forest. Tents stood nearby, and the gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze created a peaceful backdrop.Absentmindedly, I stabbed at my eggs with a fork, my thoughts far from the cheerful banter that usually accompanied our morning meals. Sensing my somber mood, Ashford attempted to inject some humor into the atmosphere."You know, Damon, these eggs taste better when you're in a good mood," he teased, a mischievous glint in his eyes.I mustered a half-hearted smile. "I'm just not in the mood today, Ash."Curiosity etched on his face, Ashford prodded further. "What's eating at you, dude? Tell me."I sighed, my gaze drifting across the camp where Serena and Alexei were engrossed in conve
Serena"I'm so freakin' bored," I complained silently, the echo of my frustration bouncing around the quiet corners of my mind. Remus, my spirit wolf, responded to my whine, surprising me because he rarely let me hear his thoughts."Why not take a walk through the camp, Serena? Sometimes, a change of scenery can lift the spirits," Remus suggested.I sighed, sensing his presence in my thoughts. "I guess you're right, Remus. Let's take a walk," I agreed. After informing Ryan of my plans, he directed me to the safer western part of the camp and let me be.My pregnancy had kept me from training, and others, maybe out of concern, were unwilling to let me help with the daily tasks within the camp. It left me feeling restless and useless, wanting to contribute somehow but unable to."I wish there was something more interesting to do," I shared with Remus.He responded with a soft growl, a sign of understanding. "Who knows, Serena? Maybe we could encounter some
ToriAlone in my room, a single lamp cast a soft glow. The air smelled faintly of vanilla, a scent that used to bring joy. Now, it only deepened the loneliness as I replayed the hurtful scene of pushing Alexei away. A tear slid down, heavy with regret.My room, with faded memories, felt like it had witnessed everything. The creaking floor echoed the weight in my heart as I grappled with guilt for hurting Alexei, Serena, and Damon. Shadows danced on the old carpet, reflecting the mix of feelings inside me.Outside, the night was quiet, interrupted only by leaves rustling and cars passing. The moon's gentle glow filtered through the curtains, casting light on my teary face. My room, once a safe place, now felt like a cage of mistakes, trapping me in the sadness of what I'd done.I kept asking myself, “What have I done?” and yet, I knew deep down that if given a choice, I would do what I had done with a heavy heart.Yes, as much as people would not
SerenaAlicia's hands moved gracefully over the well-used cards, each shuffle making my heart race. The afternoon sunlight touched her weathered features, giving her an otherworldly glow, almost ethereal. As the cards were laid out, their edges showed the marks of time. Alicia’s eyebrows creased as she continued to lay out the cards one by one."Be cautious, Serena," Alicia spoke softly. "If you choose the path your heart desires, a challenging journey awaits. Loss will linger in the corners of your life, sacrifice will be your guiding light, and death will follow your every step."The shabby hut seemed to absorb her words, and a chill settled within me. The air held a sacred silence, interrupted only by Alicia's deliberate words. "Yet, if you face the challenges bravely and move through the shadows with determination, a reward beyond mortal understanding awaits you. A love that goes beyond the limits of time and space, destined to echo through a million lifetim
DamonI stared into the crackling flames of the bonfire, my mind still clouded with frustration at myself for how I had acted earlier. I knew I shouldn't have lashed out like that, but the unwanted jealousy always seemed to rear its head whenever Serena was around another wolf, especially Alexei. It was a struggle I hadn't fully come to terms with yet. I always lose myself whenever I saw my wife talking to him.Lost in my thoughts, I didn't notice my Dad approaching until he stood beside me."Mind if I join you?"His eyes reflected understanding and I scoohed sideways to make room for him. In his hands, he held a mug of beer, offering it to me in a silent gesture of companionship. I accepted the mug, taking a sip as the warmth of the beverage eased some of the tension within me.“You know, your mom and I had a rule when we argued. We vowed not to let our misunderstandings last. We figured out how to be humble and fix things, making sure we didn't let a
SerenaIt had been three years since Damon became the Alpha of the Blood Rose Pack.“That’s all for today. You can now go.”The members of the council nodded their heads as they took their leave. We had just concluded our quarterly meeting, and things were going great so far with the pack.As the Luna, my main task was overseeing the departments, making sure things were running as smoothly as possible. With Damon dealing mainly with pack security and our vassals, administrative tasks were left to my care. It wasn’t easy, especially with a bunch of paperwork involved, yet over time, I learned to get the hang of it.As I was fixing my things, I noticed a white envelope containing an invitation. It was from Alexei and Tori. Little Oliver and Rina were celebrating their third birthday tomorrow, and as their godmother, I wouldn't miss it for the world. In fact, I had already bought gifts for them, which I was excited to give.Just the
Tori’s POV"Where's your Alpha, Ollie? He promised to stick by me, but he's nowhere in sight!" I complained to the Beta of Wolf Valley, holding my big belly that looked like I'd swallowed a watermelon. No surprise, 'cause I'm carrying Alexei’s twins."Chill, Tori! The Alpha will be here soon. He's on his way," Ollie reassured, though he looked pale and about to faint."Goddess, I'm gonna give that guy a piece of my mind! Swear to the moon deity, never sleeping with him again!" I said, feeling another pain. Lia, my sweet sister-in-law, helped me sit."My nephews are ready to meet the world, Tori. Let me help you deliver them," Lia encouraged, touching my belly. Tears filled my eyes as I looked at her. I gritted my teeth through the pain. My twins wanted out, but I wouldn't let them out until their dad was here. We promised each other that he would be by my side during my delivery. But where the heck was he?"Come on, Tori. Don't be stubborn. Your
Serena"I hereby convene the official council meeting of the Blood Rose Pack."The moment Damon's authoritative voice echoed through the room, every pair of eyes shifted towards him, signaling the commencement of the assembly. I couldn't help but feel a surge of pride witnessing him in action, orchestrating the council with a confidence that reflected his newfound status as the alpha."I sent a notice to all council members on time, and it will be kept as part of today's meeting records. Lannie, do we have enough members for a quorum?" Damon asked, looking at his secretary.She nodded in confirmation, presenting a folder containing the details of the agenda for today. I noticed that everyone already had their copies neatly arranged before Damon's arrival. As he perused the contents, Lannie began reciting the names of the council members, a routine task in these gatherings.Even though Damon had led many council meetings before, today felt different. I could
SerenaI hurried to the location of Moonlight Hills, almost stumbling over the rocks beneath my feet. Time was running out, and I needed to reach the site before it was too late. The Trial of the Moon was expected to end in death, and while I hoped it would be Romin, a part of me worried for Damon.“Hurry, Serena! Damon needs you!” The voice of my wolf echoed in my head, adding to the weight of my concern. The twilight's cold breeze stung my skin, but the chill inside me was more unsettling. I shouldn't have left Damon. I shouldn't have abandoned him when he was lost and needed me the most.What if it's too late to reach him now?Tears threatened to escape, and I hastily wiped them away. Running down the hill, I resisted the urge to let out a loud sob. This wasn't the time to cry. Blood Rose needed me, and I was determined not to let them down.Climbing a large boulder, I tried to witness the ongoing fight. Scanning the ground, I spotted the pack. People clustered tog
DamonEarlier today, I asked the moon goddess earnestly to show us kindness. I begged her to free the Blood Rose pack from Romin's control. Now, I was in this situation, and I could no longer turn my back.We were in a very special place, Moonlight Hills, where our ancestors used to settle their problems under the Trial of the Moon. The people of Blood Rose gathered to watch this fight, knowing it would only end when one of us was no longer alive. But I didn't feel bad about it. Romin had done many bad things in his life, and just sending him away or putting him in prison wouldn't be enough. Taking away what he wanted the most, the Alpha seat of Blood Rose, seemed like a fair way to seek justice. But of course, the plan was to kill him, knowing that he would continue to torment our lives if I would let him live after this.Finally, a shofar, an instrument made from a ram's horn, was blown, the signal we were waiting for to start the fight.Romin's transformation into his
SerenaAs I ran, tears streamed down my face, blurring my vision. The family I hoped would love me had shattered my world, revealing their role in making my life feel like a living nightmare.Beta Janus, once a figure I considered a father, now fueled my hatred. He separated me and my mom from our group, leading us to the sinister Mathide, the source of all my troubles. Then there was Romin, driven by a relentless desire for power, who betrayed his own twin, causing chaos, especially for Damon and our pack. Thoughts of them stirred a potent hatred within me.Amidst this turmoil, I couldn't contain my emotions any longer. I shouted, causing Ashford and the other she-wolves with me to halt. Power surged through me, and Remus, the eerie voice in my head, smiled.“You’re ready, Serena. It is time to claim your destiny,” he whispered with pride. The words only fueled my desire, and I couldn't help but be thankful for him.Still in our wolf form,
DamonThe Trial of the Moon, an ancient rite, held the promise of revelation through a fight to the death among wolves. It was an old way to settle disputes between high-ranking wolves, and the last of its kind was done almost 300 years ago.Romin, with a scoff, ridiculed the gravity of the tradition.“The Trial of the Moon? You want to settle this matter through that ancient tradition?” he mocked, his laughter echoing through the stillness.Erik, a former Delta, stood unwavering in his defense. “Why not? If that is the only way for your treachery to be discovered. Under this trial, the moon goddess will surely favor that one that is telling the truth. And I am confident that after this, Damon will emerge victorious.”Romin's amusement soured, replaced by impatience. “Joke time’s over. Time to end this madness.” He signaled his men to attack, plunging the surroundings into an imminent clash.As the tension in th
DamonRomin's sneer deepened, his eyes gleaming with a cunning spark. He poked at me, stirring up the already charged atmosphere."Your father? But I am your father. I didn’t steal anything from you. In fact, you owed me everything, even your life."I felt a surge of anger and disbelief, my fists clenching involuntarily. Romin's manipulation cut deep, and the crowd's murmur intensified, torn between allegiance and doubt. His deceitful words echoed in my ears, adding a layer of personal betrayal to the growing conflict.The crowd buzzed with confusion; conversations exchanged like hidden secrets. I retorted, a self-assured smirk dancing on my lips, "I am not mistaken, FATHER. Or should I say, Uncle Romin?"The words lingered, like a sudden jolt of electricity zipping through the group. The onlookers wore expressions of curiosity, their eyes reflecting unspoken questions bouncing around in their minds. Some, more seasoned, pieced together the puzzle fast
AlexeiThe night air was thick with tension as we stormed the pack house. Shadows danced along the walls as we moved swiftly, with our mission occupying our thoughts. Damon, determined as ever, began his climb to the balcony where Romin awaited.I could hear the echoes of my wolf spirit, a growling reminder of the atrocities Romin had committed. The desire to personally punish him burned within me, but I knew it was Damon's right, given the role Romin played in his tragic past.I found myself in the west wing, facing down guards one floor below the impending confrontation. The clash of fur and fang echoed in the air, punctuated by the occasional howl and the thud of bodies hitting the floor under the silence of the night. The plan was clear – my team and I had decided to scatter, each of us taking a different route to maximize the chaos and take down as many guards as possible.As I maneuvered through the dimly lit corridors of the west wing, I encountered