~PROLOGUE~
The whole place was in flames, with earthquakes swallowing houses and the packhouse burning. She watched it all with grim eyes by the window in her room- which was also on the verge of collapsing.
“You’re here?” She spoke, her voice low. “They say people change, but look at you proving them otherwise.”
As she turned her back, the love of her life- the man she had spent a year with looked nothing like the man she had met before. Yet she thought that it was to be expected. For she had hurt everyone he cares about.
His hostile gaze met hers, his chest rising as blood dripped from his head. “What was the reason?”
She observed him as tears started to fall from his cheeks. She felt the bloodlust directed at her yet she couldn’t understand why he’d show such an expression after everything that happened.
“Is it not obvious enough?”
“I’m done with playing hide and seek with you. Tell me the goddamn reason.”
“Everyone says that one should destroy what destroys you, but what if the one thing that’s destroying you is yourself?”
“What are you talking about?”
She couldn’t feel anything. The numbness covered her whole being, and she accepted every bits of it. She strode towards him and placed a palm on his right cheek.
She snickers, “It was me. I killed her, Alpha Derek,”
“Why… Why did you do it?” He replies, a look of anguish crossing his face.
And just as she anticipated. His fingers slowly made their way on her neck, his hand shook in hesitance and his tears started to even flow harder.
He couldn’t do it. He couldn’t even try to hurt the person he loved the most in the world. And so she helped him. She placed his hand on top of her chest.
“I lost everything. I’ve always dreamed of living a normal life with you. But I couldn’t, I’m not allowed to.”
He cries, “I… could’ve done anything if it’s for you!”
“I’m sorry.” She says, not a pint of emotion in her eyes. “I guess I’ve spent my remaining time trying to fix things, and it ended up destroying me.”
She closed her eyes. There was nothing left for her. At the few seconds before her death, she couldn’t feel anything- just like how she spent her whole life. Blood started to drip from her mouth and she collapsed.
Death is near.
She says. “This time… please don’t revive me, i’m begging you.”
~*~
CHAPTER 1
From the start of times, the moon goddess had always granted one wish for her creations.
It was a wish that portrayed the goddess's pity and love. Everyone was given a chance to wish for something; money, power, and love. There was no limit to where her powers extend, only that one must bear the consequences of the wish they must convey.
Some say it was a gift, but some assumed it was a curse given at the most desperate times.
And just like any other people, a Witch who fell in love with a werewolf had only one wish. And that wish was to produce a child despite disobeying the law of nature. They knew what was to come, yet they can only fear the consequences of wishing for the forbidden.
The consequences of her pregnancy rooted after she gave birth, she became ill and lost all her powers to her daughter. Fearing for the future, the couple consulted an oracle.
And the oracle predicted a dim future ahead. Their child, Venus was fated to lose her emotions on the first fall of snow on her 6th birthday.
"What do we do? Can this be prevented?"
The oracle shook her head, "No one can stop fate."
As years passed by, the day that Venus loses her emotions finally comes. Unfortunately, as soon as the first snow fell, the witch who wished for her daughter's happiness stumbles down hard on the ground. Her eyes locked to her daughter's small figure at the corner, a purple scarf wrapped around her neck.
"Mom?"
"C..Come here, my child." She smiles.
Steadily, Venus made her way to her sick mother who was lying down on the ground. Although Venus could heal others, he can only heal physical wounds, chronic illness was not within her capabilities at that moment.
She looked sideways trying to look for her father, but he was nowhere to be found.
"Don't lie on the ground, it's cold you'll get sick again."
A tear falls from the witch's face. The witch reached for her daughter's hand and wore the ring on her daughter's small fingertips.
"No matter what, promise me you'll live. Even without a purpose, you must live your life...okay? promise me that."
"If i promise, would you be okay?"} Venus sobs. {"I'm sorry mom, i can only heal physical wounds."
"Don't worry. Mommy would be at peace. If you promise me, i'll promise you i'll always watch over you."
Venus nods, not knowing what those words actually meant.
"Okay, i promise."
Everything became blurry. As soon as her mother said those last words, she finally saw her father running towards them, yet it was too late. The witch had already passed. Unable to accept the fact, the werewolf carried the witch out of the house, leaving Venus all alone.
'Where are they going? is mom going to be alright?' She thought.
Venus felt the cold breeze as he left the door open. Slowly, she made her way out of the house, hoping that she can catch up to her parents. But, sadly, they were still out of her sight. Not even a silhouette remained on the vast forest.
Only a whimper that made her ears perk up.
Her eyes widened when she saw a wounded boy lying on the grass field, tears of blood flowing down his face. He was exhaustedly panting hard as he fought to live.
She came beside him and sat down.
"Who's there?!" The boy panics, sensing another person beside him.
It was clear to her that he couldn't open his eyes, so she inspected how injured the boy was first. As soon as she touches his skin, she felt a strange spark inside her heart.
She gasps, letting out a small voice.
"A girl?" The boy grabs her wrist unknowingly.
"Let go of me!"
He lets go, "Are you an angel?"
Venus was in shock for a moment, she realized that when he touched her the pain around her heart didn't occur. So it must've been an accident, she thought.
"What's an angel?"
He chuckles, "Cheryl said angels would appear when you're on the verge of death."
"You're young and you're already talking about dying?" Venus tilts her head in confusion.
"Am i not dying?"
"You're badly injured, but i can help you. Mom always told me to save people if it's within my capabilities."
"You sound younger than me." He laughs. "You can't carry me anywhere."
"Who says i'm carrying you?" Venus scoffs.
Placing both of her hands above his body, she started to heal his body piece by piece yet the area around his eyes was somewhere her spells couldn't reach.
She huffs in fatigue.
"That's enough. You've done enough." The boy shrugs her away. He could sense that the girl was at her limit, it was already enough for him that she healed his body, so he didn't want to bother her anymore.
"Wait!" Venus holds on to him. "Where are you going? are you going to leave? you can't! you're blind!"
"I have my six senses."
"But how about me! i'm lost! how can you be ungrateful!"
He couldn't just leave her alone by then, so he took her with him as they traveled. He tried to retrace his steps back but the pain around his eyes was overwhelming his senses.
He groans in pain, kneeling on the soil.
"It's painful, i can't focus." He pants.
Though his body was healed, the pain weakened him to the point that he stumbled on the ground once again. Venus panics and rushed to his side.
"Get up!"
"I want to sleep." He chuckles bitterly, "You should leave me here, i'm sure you'll find someone just like you found me."
She shook her head, she tried casting spells again but the result was the same. She still couldn't heal his eyes no matter what she did.
Her hand shook in fear as she remembered how her mother had a similar experience a while ago. Even though he was a stranger, Venus was oddly attached to him for some reason. She knew she can't let anything happen to him.
So without knowing, she used the most dangerous mana flowing in her body.
Her heart essence.
Every witch had this, but they couldn't use it for some reason, so it remained as useless mana that stayed on a witch's body even on the day they die. But for Venus, who was a half-witch, she was able to unseal her own heart essence in hopes to save the boy.
Little did she know the outcome of emptying a witch's heart's essence.
As she healed his eyes back, a smile crept across her face as she remembered his golden eyes for a split second. She fell beside him and noticed that he had fallen asleep. At that moment, she couldn't feel anything. All the emotions that she had felt until now vanished into thin air.
As the snow continued to fall, she looked to the skies, that was when she heard a voice of a woman echoing around her, calling her name through the gust of snow.
Someone was telling her to make a wish, and there was only one thing on her mind at that moment.
"I want.. to go home."
~(12 years later)~
VENUS's POV
It's been years after i lost both of my parents. After my mother had passed away, i couldn't even shed a single tear and my father cursed me for it.
I couldn't blame him, i even cursed at myself at that time. My father couldn't handle my mother's death so he sent me to SunDale pack and left me alone, i just stood there with a blank expression as he walks away.
Since then, i've lived an empty life.
In a cafe where i liked spending most of my free time, I looked up to the skies and noticed it was the exact same day that i had lost everything. The first snow of the year was the same date the snow would fall, as if the moon goddess made it that way.
I chuckled at the thought. "Like the goddess ever cares anyway."
"Look who topped the ranks once again."
I turned around and saw Ryan walking towards my table. He leans on it and winks.
"What? Jealous?" I smiled.
"You don't need to smile, there's no one here beside me anyway," he said and sat down.
"Right."
Not many people know my situation. But since Ryan and i grew up training together, it was unavoidable when he realized that i was hiding under a thick mask of emotions. He was the only person i could be comfortable with till this day.
"I told you to stop drowning yourself in work, if you didn't attend the last evaluation, then i would be ranked first. It's your birthday today but you'll be sent away in a mission again." He complains.
"Whatever, but if i hadn't did that then you'll be sent away in a dangerous mission and your worried mate would come crying in my door once again."
He sighs, "Lara and i talked about this before but she just can't let go of it."
"You know what she wants Ryan, why won't you give it to her?"
"It's not that easy." He says, "I grew up in this pack, all of my ancestors did. But i'm really considering it, since we may have a pup soon."
"A pup? that sounds dangerous. Have you told Shaka?"
"Nope, i just got there and i didn't have the balls to say it." He groans in annoyance, "Anyway, he sent me here to call for you, he wants both of us to see him right now."
"What? why didn't he just mindlink us?"
He shrugged his shoulder.
On our way there, thinking about that i'll see that weird old geezer again made me sigh slightly. Shaka is the SunDale's Alpha, and he was practically the one who raised me by himself despite being criticized by the whole pack.So you could say that I'm kind of indebted to him.As Ryan opens the door, I already expected the dart that came flying straight to my face and flawlessly caught it."I knew it," i said as I held the dart in my right hand.Ryan almost fell in shock while Shaka laughed his assed out just like any other day.I threw the dart away, "Don't you ever get tired of pranking me old man? last time it was a water bucket above me, and now a dart to my face? Can you act more like your age?""What? i have to test if any emotions came back from you, a simple shriek of death would've been able to suffice my concern," Shaka replied."Concern? is that why you sent a weapon on my face?""It's a dart, and it's not like you'
~*~Just like any other day. I wasn't that much bothered with what the oracle warned me about. She told me i only have one year left to live without my emotions. I didn't think much about it, i thought it'll be fine to live like this until the day i die.But it looks like i can't do that, my mom wouldn't be happy if she saw me sooner than expected.I remember what she said about the other prophecy."The second prophecy i saw is... horrifying.""Oh? So i'm going to die because i don't have my heart essence?""Not exactly, You weren't exactly dead on the dream i saw...You were dying, you laid on a thick snow bed that you covered with blood dripping from your chest- My visions usually don't pertain to deaths. and it usually doesn't blur out any person. But the person that was with you at that time, i couldn't see his face! I still can't tell if it's because of your heart essence or you were physically wounded on the chest.
VENUS's POVWhat was that?I was left shocked for the first time in 12 years because of what happened. The spark that i had long forgotten creeps itself way back into my skin. I knew it was the same feeling i felt when i used my heart essence back then.I looked over to my palm and noticed it trembling a bit."What's wrong?" He says with sarcasm. "Do you not want to do it?"For some reason, i felt something boiling inside of me. I couldn't explain it, but it felt like i wanted to slap this guy's face. His golden eyes, strangely making my stomach turn at the sight of it.I don't know what i felt at that moment, but i knew others c
Mine?It only took him a second before he snapped back. He held his head in agony and hesitantly took a few steps back.What is he doing?He chuckles bitterly, his eyes filled with venom. "I never thought I'll meet my mate like this. You actually dare to kill me?"Mates?My eyes widened.I can't believe it. My mate is Alpha Derek! But wait..Why did he only sense it now? We met at the festival but he acted normal.. so what gives?I've heard the stories of other people countless times. As a teen who just turned 18, I knew I would be exposed to my mate sooner or later. However, I couldn't sense the
I thought Derek was bluffing when he said she was strong enough to handle three men simultaneously, but when she landed a swift back kick towards my neck, my elbow almost went numb from the pain.I slid back and smirked.She's fast. If I had reacted a little slower, then it'd be the end of me."Want to kick my head off? Not happening. Though you are strong, you're not strong enough to overpower a man's strength.""Hah." She snorts. "That's a bit sexist, don't you think?"She tried to lunge at me for the second time, but since I already expected her to move, I swiftly dodged all her attempts to knock me down. Her pace was speeding up, but it wasn't a problem to me.
*VENUS's POV*It was weird, really. The moment when he kissed me, I felt a sudden surge of energy enter my body. I've watched people do these intimate things to their partner but being in the exact position as them now, i never thought it would feel this good, though it was only me who had this ability to suck out energy from others.I could already tell that this ability was related to me being a half-witch.Since I noticed that I get more energy when I touch some of his sensitive spots, I randomly decided to get nasty. I told him I'd suck him dry, but I don't precisely know-how.I pulled down his pants, and his dick sprung up.I glanced at him and noticed how fl
*DEREK's POV*In the far area behind the arena, I was busy inspecting the competitors that came in. Carefully, I observed any movements that may look suspicious. And so far, none of them have surfaced yet.It was just last night that an assassin tried to kill me again, but this time- she was my mate. It was that fact that made everything complicated. Even when they searched for her until dawn, she just completely disappeared.I closed my eyes in frustration. I can still remember how vague the connection felt through my bones.It's more potent than I thought."Alpha," Easton calls out."Easton, did you get enough information?""You mean?""Venus, the competitor.""Yes, Alpha. From what we gathered, Venus is indeed one of the SunDale's wolves. Her original profile coincides with what she wrote in the registration form. Though she is the right henchman on Alpha Shaka, she's strangely absent in every impo
The queries didn't last long. Although some guys tried fighting their way out, everything eventually played out when Alpha Derek appeared in front of the crowd. No one was able to complain anymore at that point.His dominating alpha aura was enough to make everyone silent. He didn't even need to speak to shut the noisy ones. But before he left, he sent me one last glare that made me somehow smile.At least he's not ignoring me that much?Facing the notorious Arndon Woods, everyone around me was nervous or worried about their lives. I saw some weird dudes getting excited- while here I am bored as hell.I groaned. "Just when will this start?""Hey, shortie."I turned at the voice behind me and saw a tall guy with blonde hair staring at me with an amused expression. And because I was a great actress, I immediately smiled upon locking eyes with him."Me? Shortie? I'm 5'6.""Well, I'm 6'2, so you're short on my perspective."
*DEREK’s POV**8 hours ago*I felt my heart drop when she closed her eyes. Memories of the past haunted me, and my whole body shook in fear as I carried Venus’ lifeless body in my arms. Agony, despair, or grief... whatever it is, it was all the emotions I felt when I saw blood gushing out of her body."No... no please!" I have to save her!I slit my wrists open and was about to make her drink my blood if it wasn’t for someone stopping me midway. I looked beside me and saw the witch, her face flustered as she breathed heavily in worry."Don’t! She’s not dead yet! What are you trying to do? Out of all the people you know how catastrophic this method was for both of you! "My eyes widened. "She’s... not dead?"She nods, her chest rising up and down in exhaustion. "You’re being delusional. You can hear it, right? Her heartbeat is still there. "I glanced down at my mate’s body, and she was right. Her heart was still pumping continuously, and it made me almost collapse in relief. I buried
Everyone gasps at the sight, and I staggered as I felt my blood gush out from the big wound he inflicted. Easton tried to go to my side but i just told him to go farther away, and that also applied to everyone around us. I huffed and I tried my best to stay awake.I can’t lose to this injury right now, returning Derek back to normal comes first.Easton was telling me to run but that wasn’t a choice. I still have to hear his explanation. I have to ask him what kind of stupid idea was he thinking when he fought the enemy all alone that he reached this crazy state.Was he pushed to use this method to stay alive?Just thinking about it makes me so angry.Derek’s wolf stood at the boundary, it didn’t know what to do whether it is to attack me or probably kill me. His whole body was holding back and I noticed how his hostility levels were spiking at a random pace. From the corner of my eye, I suddenly
*VENUS’ POV*Cheryl told me everything about how Derek had lost his parents. There was also much unnecessary stuff where I wouldn’t care less about how they met or whatsoever but still, the thought that Derek was beyond recognizable through her stories was beyond me. I never thought that the reason why his eyes were injured that day was that he had done it himself.Just how much did he suffer that day? To think that we both suffered the same fate that day made me want to curse the Moon Goddess.I knew I had to go to his side.I have to. Even if everyone discovers my real identity. I don’t care anymore.With that in mind, I shoved Cheryl out of the way. She tried to stop me from going out
I didn’t like him back then. He always thought that he was superior to anyone else. As if he had already passed the age of playing around with people that match his age. It was amusing how he could make everyone disperse as easy as breathing. And so, I took that as a challenge. It wasn’t easy at first, but in the end, he ended up accepting me after a few beatings I took for annoying him multiple times of the day. It was fun, and I realized that hanging around him amuses me to the point that I didn’t have to wear a mask every day just to get along with him. And once you get to know him, you start to realize how perfect his life is. He always got excellent marks in class, matured for his age, and had a perfect family that made me jealous to the point that I would go to their house every day so I could feel the warm
Our conversation was cut off short when a sudden earthquake shook the ground beneath us. It was a sign that things were getting worse. Judging by the direction where it was coming from, they may have already destroyed the borderline defense that was built to ward off intruders.And to my dismay, it didn’t take long before we saw a witch in front of us. Slowly approaching us with murder in mind. The sky darkened and I felt the bloodlust running rampant in the air around me. Goosebumps started to form on my skin and I felt the fear consume me as I make eye contact with him.The High Priest.“Where is the child?” The High Priest asks, and as always, he wore the usual white silk cloth that covered his body that reached up to his feet. It always made me barf whenever I see how he always dresses up like he’s as clean as white.When in reality, his soul was darker than any color in this world.I took a step back and glanced at the
“A witch out of the high priest’s control? What the hell are you talking about?” He asks, his eyes filled with curiosity.“It’s only natural. Venus, is after all, a half-witch, who grew up without the marks and the guidance of the Coven. Inherently, a witch is not really tied to the high priest. All witches under the Coven’s protection undergo a baptism that ties them to the high priest, and that’s why no one is able to go against him. There was only one exception. My sister. She was able to seal the high priest for a period of time.”“Where is she? That woman?”I frowned. “She’s dead.”He ran his fingertips through his hair in frustration, “Well, do we have other intel besides that? Anything helpful? If not, do you know how Venus exactly killed him?”“I told you. Only a witch could kill him. Venus is the only one who isn’t part of the Coven. Whate
*DEREK’s POV*“Stop there!” A voice not far from me appears behind me.I took the time to see who it was and was surprised to see the witch who I’ve hired to take care of Venus before. She was panting hard as she reached where I stood, a wave of confusion washed over me as I watched her concerned gaze.She says, “Are you planning to go there alone?”“What are you doing here? I did not call for you.”“I know what you’re trying to do. And believe me, it’s not that easy! If you go there alone, what if you even make things worse? Werewolves fight along with their pack members, so why are you going alone?”“It’s not your damn business to ask me those questions, witch,” I replied before proceeding to walk.I don’t care. Whoever it is, I won’t forgive anyone who hurts my mate. I'll make them regret even touchin
“I don’t trust that you’d keep your end, after all, you’ve been lying to everyone this whole time!” She refuted back in anger. She had a smaller frame than mine yet she tried her best to show that she wasn’t in fact, afraid of me.I smirked. “So you’re not that dumb, after all?”“What did you say?!” She shouts, her face turning red from anger. It was that moment where her expression changed as if she wanted to cry from humiliation. “I’ve had enough of your bitchy attitude! You don’t suit Derek at all! I don’t even see why he’s interested in you in the first place!”This human, if only I could rip her to pieces!I raised an eyebrow, “Why? How about you? It’s also questionable that he liked such a spoiled brat like you. You’ve been leading him all this time and now you’re acting like a jealous ex? Newsflash, he doesn’t care abo
I let out a sigh of frustration. Who am I kidding? This guy is too spineless to even face Alpha Derek. If I'm going to die, might as well do it with the intention of caring! With that in thought, I mustered all of my courage left and ran to get in the way of alpha Derek, which of course made him snarl my way.“What are you doing? Move out of my way.”“W…Where are you going? Are you going to the enemy alone?”He shoves me away without hesitation but that didn’t stop me as I trailed behind him closely. I kept telling him that I’d be dangerous but he still insisted to go alone. At that point I had no choice but to shift to my own wolf to hope for a little chance to stop him.I growled as he stared at my form. There wasn’t a pint of fear in his eyes that it made my wolf almost cower in the corner.‘This is seriously not what I had planned! Why can’t you just stop, alpha?!’He too