The final chapter of my present challenge has come.Those words reverberated in my head continuously. In less than thirty minutes, Astra and I were in the arena with the whole pack seated in the stadium, watching quietly with worry on their faces.I couldn't give Astra time to come up with another scheme, that was why I refused to shift the date of the duel. My body still felt a bit heavy from the new power my father gave to me, but it was light enough for me to move about effortlessly. Gemma fetched me a new outfit from my closet since what I was previously wearing was uncomfortable. She brought a pearly purple long-sleeve thumb hole yoga crop top, grey high-waisted Capri seamless leggings, and a pair of black Nike Air Max trainers.Astra changed her outfit too. It was suspicious how she was dressing moderately but that's none of my concern. I paid full attention to her as she talked to a lady. It was the same lady I saw in Hendrix's office the first time I went there. What was her n
Astra continuously swore as she nervously scratched on the pink leggings she wore. She thought everything would be settled once her father pushed forward with the mating ritual. Even if the defective clause was figured out later, she would have already become his mate and the Luna of the pack, so it was a good thing. She didn't expect that things would turn out the opposite of what she planned. Not only did her rival figure it out on time, she gave off a hint that she knew all along.Astra was even more disgusted with how she easily fell for her provocation. She should have forfeited the challenge and returned to their pack to prepare for war. It was a no-brainer that once the contract was broken, Hendrix would attack them and wipe them out from the face of the planet. It was a long overdue debt. She should have followed her father's advice and returned to either prepare or escape.Dammit! How did it come to this?She was terrified of what Hendrix would do to her family. She knew he w
Astra shifted into her wolf with the speed of light. It was the fastest transformation Sapphire had ever seen. She didn't have enough time to watch the transformation take place because the next second, Astra's wolf, Stella, rammed into her like a rocket-boosted battering ram. Sapphire didn't have time to react and was sent flying into the air, but she spun her body and shifted midair.Zinnia growled as her paws touched the arena floor and puffed through her nostrils, releasing crimson glory steam like an angry bull. Stella charged forward again before she could get used to her surroundings and went straight for the kill. Her target was her heart. To Stella who was now confident she had poison in her teeth, if she couldn't successfully rip out the heart of her opponent, the poison would spread directly into her heart.If it was any of the she-wolves she had fought with in the past, she would have succeeded, but Zinnia had good reflexes. She knew she couldn't avoid the attack so she du
Astra drew air into her mouth and screamed, manipulating the sound of her angry scream into that of three banshees wailing. Zinnia struggled against the vines to stop them from snapping her in half, but with the scream blaring into her ears, she felt her head go blank and overwhelming pain consume every fibre of her body.Sapphire saw that her wolf was disoriented. It was difficult and painful for her too, but she needed to win. It was their fault for not finishing this sooner. She couldn't give Astra a slow and painful death like she wanted.First, she remembered the sensation she felt when her father passed the new power onto her. She remembered every painful sting, the hot sensation of her blood flooding her inside and her heart overflowed. She pulled out the energy from her heart and spread it across her body.Astra's eyes widened as the energy from Sapphire's body suddenly changed. The red aura she was emitting turned even darker with black hues. She suddenly found it difficult t
I groaned as I snuggled up to Apple for warmth. I was cold. Cold to the very fibre of my bones. My blood felt like water under a frozen surface, only thicker. My body was heavy and solid, like ice on a cold winter night. I still wasn't sure what happened to me or what kind of power I displayed, all I knew was that I used my father's power, defeated Astra, and almost got killed—not that I'd have died—by her father and pack members, and I was freezing to death.My teeth chattered from the cold and frost breath puffed out of my mouth and nostrils. It felt like I was going to die. Apple wrapped me up in a sweet-smelling coat with white bear fur, but it wasn't enough to stop the cold.I flinched when I heard a powerful howl. I snapped my head around to see that it was Drix and soon enough, the rest of the pack members howled in response. Despite my freezing body and the tears blocking my vision, I could still see his magnificent form. It made me feel pride that the person radiating with un
"You're absolutely right. That would have been the case, but what if it isn't? What if just like you, Astra did worse to her pack members? What if they are suffering under laws that make no sense and because they have no choice but to obey, they do it? It's widely known that a lot of packs hate the members of Calon Falch because of their alpha. He also has a strong hold on other wolf packs as well. For someone from Calon Falch, escaping would be impossible because no one would accept them. Not just because they don't want trouble from the alpha and Astra, but because they would rather skin their pups than have them live in their pack. Think about it," I looked around, observing their faces.I didn't feel as cold as I was a few minutes earlier. It was either the effect of the skill was wearing off or it was because Hendrix was holding me. I noticed that my words were sinking in so I continued. "Tell me, how would you feel if your pack is invaded and your pups are massacred? What do chi
"You already know what I want, Jewel,""I'm t-tired,""Well, of course! I'm not stupid!" Huh? I opened my eyes and blinked puzzledly. He sighed and then proceeded to remove his belt. What the… "I just need you to lend me your body,"My what?"H-how?""Just stay right there, I'll handle the rest," I closed my eyes with a surprise squeak when he pulled his cock out. I didn't get to see it fully but the brief image was imprinted in my brain. I wiggled with discomfort, twisting my nose as the smell of his arousal was making me uncomfortable. My hands and legs were still imprisoned and I had zero strength to push him away."What are you doing?" I managed to ask without stuttering."Open your eyes if you want to find out," I didn't, at least, not until he ripped off the fur coat. I yelped but he didn't stop there, the little dress Apple summoned for me was ripped off and tossed away too."Hendrix!""Relax, just your body,""Isn't that the same thing?!" I cried."No, it's not. I'm sorry I'm
The sound of an alarm blaring made me scream as I jumped up from the bed. Someone jumped next to me screaming too. We looked at each other and screamed at the top of our lungs. I couldn't remember where I was or how I ended up in bed with a girl. My mind was in disarray.The girl suddenly stopped screaming and facepalmed. "Damn, my head," she groaned. "Stop screaming, Sapphire," sapphire? Oh, Sapphire! That's me. My memories returned with a heavy thud in my head. I dropped my face in my palms and groaned too."What's with the damn alarm?" I grunted."Beats me," Scarlette grumbled. It has been a few days since the defeat of Astra and while the news spread, Everett and half of the warriors, including Earnest and most of the Guard-Gifted, went to their pack alongside Apple. Hendrix had been avoiding me because of his breaking self-control and I'd been busy dealing with the grateful pack members. They didn't hate me like I thought they would, which surprised me to the bones.After Calon F
Gillian returned from the mission and was extremely enthusiastic. He lifted me and spun me around, causing me to squeal with excitement and surprise. He put me down after three amazing spins and hugged me so tightly I saw stars.Drix snarled and the next second, I was snatched away from Gillian and he narrowly missed a claw slap. Gillian jumped back, raising his hands in surrender. "Whoa, calm down. I'm only hugging my friend,""You're registering yourself for a beating," out of nowhere, a scrawny girl with unkempt hair jumped in front of Gil, spreading her hands wide and creating a shield with her body. That startled Drix and me, and we looked at her confused."Stay away from Charming or I'll bite you!" The girl was probably my age or older and had a death wish growling at an alpha. She also smelled like… she didn't smell like a werewolf. I'd never perceived anything like her before, but again, she was a victim of a sick experiment. Still, there were a few reasons why a girl or anyon
I pressed the suitcase hard with my weight and managed to click the lock. I sighed as I stood up straight, putting my fist on the side of my waist and wiping the sweat out of my forehead with my other hand. "Phew!" That'll be all for shoes. Now what else am I missing?I looked around, calculating everything I packed and what else I needed. Hendrix sighed for the umpteenth time. He claimed I was overdoing the packing but he didn't understand. This vacation was important to me. A girl can't be too prepared. I need to make sure I have everything and anything. "We can just buy whatever you need if you end up missing something. We'll only be staying there for a week, Sapphire. You've packed more than enough,""We might stay longer and Scarlette and I are going to explore. We already have our bucket list, and Vecoria has hers too. I'm in charge of making sure we have everything ready– hmm, what else have I not packed yet?" I mused thoughtfully, completely forgetting that I was talking to so
"So it's not like I'm getting my powers back but someone like you," she nodded. "What use will that be?" I asked as the chains fell off."Zircon has been sleeping for too long, milady, please wake him up." I rubbed my wrist. "He knows a lot about curses so he'll know how to destroy the sword," "I still don't see the use," I grumbled.‘Oh fucking hell! Why are you so unnecessarily stubborn?!’ I froze. I blinked once, then twice, and more times. I was hearing things. I thought I was losing my mind. ‘You're not, bitch! I'm back!’I looked at Vecoria in complete shock, my jaw already hitting the ground. I was shocked out of my wit but one thing was for sure, I thought I was going crazy. I had to be going crazy because there was no other explanation as to why I could hear Zinnia's voice in my head. She died.‘I died as a curse, but Selene finally did something useful with herself and brought me back as a real wolf, sort of,’I fell on my butt, too shocked to remain standing. Vecoria panic
I've never imagined my life without Zinnia. I'd gotten so used to her that I couldn't remember how it felt without her. I was reminded the hard way. I could feel the emptiness in my head the moment I opened my eyes. I felt naked and alone. The silence in my head left an incessant ringing in my ears and my mind was just there, empty.The intense feeling of emptiness devoured me so much that even when I noticed the shackles on my hands and legs and realised that I was in an unfamiliar surrounding, I couldn't care less. I was so nonchalant and unperturbed, but all I could do was sit down with my knees to my chest and stare into space. Zinnia was gone and I was alone in a dungeon, unaware of who my abductors were.I hadn't come in contact with anyone since I was locked away. My food was given to me through the doggy hole twice every day but water came once a day. I no longer had a wolf, I no longer had the powers of a blood wolf or a werewolf. I was just a luna with a barrier and healing
‘This is useless,’ Alaric said flatly as I flimsily held up the last book with a slight knowledge of Selene's offspring. Just like the rest, it only had information about things we already know. No artefacts, no books, nothing. What is the use of coming here?Jerry sighed and tossed away the book in his hand. "What a waste of time,""Tell me about it. Let's just leave, it's useless at this point," Gil grumbled. "Not even the slightest clue about any of her children who laid a curse or anything that gives a hint of it. We could be missing something—""We are not, I would know," I said firmly, dropping the hard book on the table.‘I feel weird,’ Alaric said with a whimper, scratching at the barrier of my mind. We've felt that way from the moment we stepped into the temple. Alaric had it worse. ‘Drix walk out of the library and turn right, then left, and right again,’‘Feel something?’ I asked, rising from my seat.‘A hunch,’ I gestured to Gillian t
Chills ran up and down my spine, making me constantly shiver. Hugging my body did not help. I walked out of the tree, completely horrified. The reason why Zinnia knew so much, the reason why she was so different was because she was the soul of the curse Deianira created. I was petrified by it. I had most of the important memories from my life as Milena which consisted mostly of my time with Dad, a few times with my subordinates, and the time I spent finding an end to the curse. Most of my memories were of me as Sapphire.Sapphire is more human than Milena, and humans feel more emotions, they are vulnerable to pain. Sapphire had more attachment with many, unlike Milena whose world only revolved around Sapphire's father. The point was that I grew up with Zinnia. She wasn't just my wolf, she was a bigger part of my soul and I just learned that to end the long-lasting suffering, I needed to kill her. It was basically telling me to murder my sister, mother, friend, and child.I would have
I wiped off sweat from my forehead as I walked out of the room to find Scarlette. A lot of my memories were still missing and I knew exactly where I could get them. “Scarlette, where are you?”“The garden outside. There's something strange about it,” that was where I was going. I broke into a run. Finding my way was easier because I knew every corner of this castle. I stayed in it alone for years. One thing I now remember, the willow tree in Drix's garden is a fragment of the mother tree in my mother's gemstone garden. Then the pixie who happened to have been in danger must not have been a coincidence. She intentionally appeared there to create the gemstone garden already knowing I'd arrive someday.The original was far more magnificent than the copy. The garden was more like a forest, comparable to Brasher but bigger. Then she named the centre a garden. Different trees made of different gemstones and minerals stood firmly, with bushes, flowers, and other ground crops also made out of
My heart felt strange. There was a sense of familiarity to the castle and my heart didn't feel well about it. It felt bitter. Just like the cave, the walls were filled with pictures of Hiems, the person he was before he reincarnated. But unlike Liviana's, the pictures were decent and passionate, and a woman was with him in some of the pictures.The first time I saw her, I halted and stared at her with hatred. I couldn't tell why I felt that way but I've never felt the capacity of hatred as I felt for her. She had long sleek back hair that looked exactly like a moonless night with stars scattered all over the sky. Her eyes were more like galactic starry night than the galaxy itself. It was beautiful—she was beautiful. She had plump red lips and porcelain skin, a smile that could break wars or create them. She was a real beauty but instead of admiring her, I despised her.Hiems, on the other hand, was a tall man with golden yellow hair and sapphire eyes. His body status was similar to m
Kira opened a portal and it took us to a library. I found myself standing between two tall shelves. Certainly, we were trespassing because we didn't get permission to enter. Zinnia already gave me back my body but she kept her presence dominant.Kira began walking and I followed her. "Where are we?""Library of Congress,""Library of what?!" I screamed. She threw me a glare over her shoulder. I pressed my hand on my lips and looked at her apologetically. She returned her gaze straight ahead. She was wearing fluffy slippers so the sound of her feet was almost silent. I walked silently despite the shoes I had on. She walked urgently as if she was afraid something would catch up to her."How did you find him so easily? And how did Zinnia contact you?""You seem to still be ignorant of the kind of powers your wolf possesses," she took a turn. I increased my pace to catch up with her. "You know, I haven't had sex for months,""What brought that on?""Just saying," she shrugged, looking aro