All of them were thrown into prison, Stefano and his subordinates barely glancing at them. Silence filled the hall as all of them settled on the floor. The rebels who helped them huddled on one side of the room, and Brendon's and Tristan's men on the other. Tristan kept a close eye on his cousins, which was difficult to do since the guilt was weighing on him like a brick. Gavin is glaring at Tristan, while Jacob had a bewildered look on his face. Calvin was sleeping peacefully on Gavin's shoulder, the guards gave him some sedatives because he won't stop making a fuss as they were all getting transported. "I...I felt so guilty about what happened, what I put you through that night. So I planned to expose Stefano, his work in the mafia." Jacob broke the silence around them. Brendon looked up from his hands at the revelation, his brows furrowed. Tristan waited for Brendon to ask Jacob to explain, but he didn't say anything. Jacob continued, "But Stefano...he.. he found out and came to
Gianna, or Veronica, whatever her name was, had removed her hand from Francesca's throat, but Francesca still felt like choking. Her body was paralyzed but she could move her mouth, at least. She guessed Veronica wanted it exactly that way.Francesca was supposed to talk. So she did, "I don't understand. How did you become Stefano's wife?"Veronica grinned at her, pleased, "We knew Selene's host was going to be a werewolf so I did my search. When I found you in his pack, I immediately manipulated him to marry me. As you can see when you look at me, it wasn’t difficult at all.""Are you really his first wife?""No, he’s immortal and had so many women in his entire life. The ones that preceded me were dead shells before I kicked them out.""Those poor women." Francesca felt sick to her stomach. Veronica snorted, "Please, I did them a favor." A sense of dread washed through Francesca, "You didn't kill them, did you?" "Why don't you take a guess?" Veronica said, though she avoided Fran
"Good, you're awake." Veronica stood over Lynn, smirking down at her. She never liked the Beta much, so she had put her in a spell with a little bit of nightmare woven into it. It must have been real terrible since Lynn had fallen off the bed. "What--" Lynn croaked in her grogginess. Her eyes widened as she spotted Francesca's unconscious form. "Francesca? Oh my God." Lynn rushed to the Luna, checking her vitals. "She's not breathing. What happened?!" Veronica rolled her eyes, "I swear, you both are such extreme overreactors." she commented, but Lynn wasn't listening. The Beta ran to the door, and after failing to turn the knob, started pounding on it, "Help! Help us!" "They can't hear you. They're all knocked out." Veronica cackled. "You bitch! This is all your doing, isn't it? I knew it. We shouldn't have trusted you." Lynn shouted, running towards Veronica. But a flash of light blinded her momentarily and suddenly, she was suspended in the air, a coat of dark violet mist su
Francesca woke up with a mighty headache. Her skull felt like splitting so bad she wouldn't be surprised if she found her brains scattered all over the floor beside her. She doesn’t feel any different though. At least not on the surface. But then again, nobody really knows what it felt like to be Selene. She looked around. Veronica and Lynn were still in the room with her, on separate sides. They weren't speaking or looking at each other. "So, how was it?" Veronica was the first to speak, eyes alight.Lynn rushed to Francesca, "Are you okay? That didn't explode your brain, right?" she turned to Veronica, "Aagh, seriously Gianna, I could kill you.""Veronica, I thought we talked about this." came the immediate reply, "Stop calling me that. I hate that name. I should've picked something else.""Seriously? That's what you're bothering yourself with? You just turned Francesca, who you claim is your friend, into the moon! Do you hear me? The moon!""Stop overreacting." Veronica said, "Loo
The first time they transported, they got to the wrong place, so they had to do it again. It was awful, like you're being ripped away from your body was exploding into a million pieces. This is not to mention the dust and soot that would cover you once you arrive at your destination. As if that wasn't enough. Veronica just realized that she was having trouble summoning her demons, too. Apparently, her powers were weaker when she visits an unfamiliar dimension. They had to come up with another plan. Francesca wasn't happy about it, as it would definitely drive Stefano over the edge. But they didn't have a choice. "Jeez. I swear to God, if you do it one more time," Lynn murmured to Veronica the second time they tried transporting again. "Francesca," Tristan said her name so softly, there was no way anyone could've heard him across the lawn, even with a werewolf's ears. Francesca's hand flew to her chest. That could only mean one thing, then. Their connection was still intact. Whatever
A blast of heavy icy air swirled from where Stefano was standing and around everybody near him, and everybody stopped fighting as they gaped at what was happening. The frost and wind was biting, they could barely move forward and could only cover their eyes. But it was enough for Francesca to see four vine-like horns spring up from Stefano's head. His eyes turned obsidian and he began to scream in pain as a hard shell-like covering erupted from his own body, penetrating the human skin over it. "Oh, lookie. The pride demon finally's out of his skin." Veronica smirked. "His skin, being Stefano." "That's Stefano? What do you mean?" Kaya asked, her gaze transfixed and horrified. The other Alphas had come closer, too, their jaws dropping to the floor at the sight and their faces reflected horror and confusion.Francesca inherently knew what was happening, of course. She didn't know how it was possible. Maybe it was Selene, silently planting her own wisdom and knowledge in their shared m
Tristan could not help but pace back and forth like a madman. Seconds after his mate disappeared with the monster, Veronica snapped them all inside the building where they were previously imprisoned. She said it was to recoup and talk about what to do next.But Tristan had only one thing on his mind. "You can't expect me to just sit here while my mate is trapped somewhere with that monster," he said. He could not help the growing concern in his gut. He had wanted to hold Francesca when she first appeared in front of him. But he sensed distance between them. It might be because of her transformation into Selene, or it might be something else. But Tristan wanted to clear it as much as possible. Not to mention that wherever Francesca was, Stefano was with her. And that scared Tristan more than anything. "She's not trapped. Selene can easily get them out of there. The moon must have some business with the Stefano. Francesca will be fine." Veronica saidFinally unable to hold himself back
"Stefano, I know you're in there." Francesca ducked, Stefano's claw narrowly missing her head by an inch, "Please speak to me." "Keep going." Selene urged her. "Stefano, please listen to me. I know this is not what you want. This world did not treat you well, so you had to make do with what you have in order to find happiness again." Francesca tried again, "Think about the good in you, Stefano, please. And find it in your heart to cherish it again. Think about Emilia." It worked. Stefano paused at the mention of his mate's name. He looked around him, disoriented. Then, he seemed like he had just realized where they were. In the library, back when he was a young Alpha, back when Emilia was still alive. "That's her name, isn't it? Emilia." Francesca continued, "The moon goddess, she...she told me everything. About you. How you came to her with a wish, how you met your mate and how she...died." At the word 'died', Stefano's anger renewed. He tried to destroy the table behind him. Bu
The pain was excruciating. Francesca felt her confidence waver. In front of her, the moon was about to mee the sun. And she wondered as hot tears ran down her face, if she would see it happen in her current state. She felt like dying. But Tristan, with their mind link, reminded her to keep looking in his eyes. He held her gaze, giving her all the strength she needed. "This is the last of the mark, Francesca. Please bear with it," the gamma who had been marking her whispered. The tip of the rod touched her skin once again and Francesca screamed. "I'm here. Keep looking at me. You can do this." Tristan said in her head. A long pause ensued as Francesca dipped her head low, completely spent from the ritual. "Qin ai de," Tristan murmured, his palm against her face. His voice shook in fear. "You're okay. You're okay, right?" Francesca willed herself to speak, or even to just lift her head to tell him that she was alright. But her face felt like lead. "Hello, Francesca." Two fami
"I can't believe you kept me in the dark for so long," Francesca told Alberto. They were in the great hall of Luna's fortress, now Selene's again, looking at the trapped essences of the Roman goddesses in front of them. On that battlefield, once Helios became her and Selene, everything went smoothly. It didn't take much for her to overpower the Roman goddesses and harmlessly extract them from their vessels. But despite their victory, Francesca still had this weight in her heart. Considering what she just learned, no one could blame her. "I have nothing else to say except that I did it to protect you," Alberto replied. Francesca could only nod. She could tell any conversation with her father would just be for nothing. She knew why he did it and he would stand by it. Alberto cleared his throat awkwardly, "Do you really need to go?" "I want to be with him and he can't stay here. The moon would sap his energy." Francesca said. "And the earth would do the same to you." Alberto frowne
Tristan dragged himself to Francesca and barely caught her from slumping onto the ground. His vision heated up in his panic. Briskly, he felt for her pulse. It was faint. His wolf howled in pain, and so did Tristan as vine-like cords grew on their mate, ruining her perfect skin. "Qin ai de, no. Wake up, please." Tristan whispered. Francesca was deathly pale, and it was breaking his heart. "Don't do this to me." "Selene, get ahold of yourself." Hecate suddenly appeared beside him. She touched Francesca's skin, just above where the glow was. Tristan, in his devastated state, faintly realized that there was also a white glow around Francesca. "It's Selene. She's being forced to leave Francesca's body. She's holding on, trying to save Francesca's dying body." Hecate whispered. "What did I tell you, sister? The battle is here, on the moon." Olga crooned. She stood a few steps away from them, her sisters beside her. All around them, people have completely stopped pummeling each other,
The man sighed, "I guess I deserved that cold greeting." He inclined his head, as if seeing something in front of him other than Francesca, "Hello, sister." "Helios. It's nice to see you." Selene greeted, confirming what Francesca already suspected. Her sister getting burned like that, after telling Francesca that she was the sun. Mariana was the vessel for Helios, the god of the sun, and Selene's brother. "Where is this? Where did you take me?" Francesca couldn't care less about the sibling's reunion. She needed to know what he had in mind for suddenly showing up. "You're on the sun." Francesca whipped her head up at his height. But the shock was only temporary. In the past, Francesca would have panicked more at the thought of being on the sun, but she was too numb to feel anything at the moment. These gods and the games that they play, causing mortal casualties here and there. Helios needed to pay for what he did to her sister. "It was an accident, Francesca. Please, let him ex
Francesca and her older sister Mariana were playing tag outside their old house back in the Philippines. Their little feet dangerously skittering on the wet ground. The rain had just stopped and the air had that smell that Francesca loved. "Cheska, come on! Faster!" Mariana shouted back at Francesca, "Count of ten and if you can't catch me by then, I won't tell you my secret." "Okay, okay, I'm coming!" Francesca yelled, giggling. "One, two, three, four, five.." her sister taunted and Francesac sped up. "Caught you!"Francesca excitedly announced as soon as she caught up with her sister, hugging her arms. Mariana shrieked. "Girls! Careful or you might fall into the water." their Mom shouted from the direction of their house. "Yes, Mama!" They said unison, giggling. Their Mom had such a loud voice. "So..what is it? What's the secret? Come on, I caught you." Francesca asked. "Okay, here goes." Mariana smiled, then she whispered, "Do you know? We are from the moon. You don't remem
Tristan and Stefano found themselves fighting side by side, both using halberds to assist them in battle. They found it strange compared to how werewolves fight with their bare hands. Tristan, for instance, found it a bit troublesome. But as someone who wasn't from the moon, the place tends to suck some of his energy away, so he needed the boost. "Are you seriously leaving her alone to deal with Luna?" Stefano asked Tristan, briefly gazing in the direction where Francesca and Olga were dueling. "If there's a fight that she would win, it would be that one," Tristan answered confidently. "But don't worry, I'm keeping an eye on her." Of course, he was. Tristan did not need to say that out loud for Stefano to know. Stefano grunted, eyeing Tristan with begrudging respect as the latter overpowered three Lunars at once. Tristan was obviously much stronger now, having been turned into a full-blown Alpha. That also meant Endymion's soul had been extracted from his body and sent back to the
Luna's forces now consisted mostly of Diana and Hecate's people. She could recognize them from the gaunt, haunted look of the people from the underworld, and the A****n-like hunter's garbs of the women of Diana. They stood a meter away from the Greek goddesses' forces, in a standstill before an impending fight. "Luna. I see you've made your sisters pick up the mess you've created again." Francesca said, speaking as Selene. "You." Olga spat out. She stepped forward to Francesca, but Tristan, his claws out, shielded his mate. Olga paused, staring at Tristan. Francesca smirked, she knew exactly why Olga hesitated. Tristan was different. Free from her hold. "What did you do to him?" Olga growled. "Nothing. He was just reminded that he belongs with me," Francesca said. Olga fumed but didn't say anything. Francesca knew that Olga and Luna didn't really need Tristan anymore. Their plan of trapping Selene by using the human half of Tristan's soul had failed. So, it was a matter of prid
Their plan was to attack the unwitting Luna in her own castle, and Francesca could have a panic attack just thinking about it. It was true that the old Francesca, who was fearless and optimistic, was back. She could feel the old her and she was happy to welcome her back. But remnants of the version of her that was wounded by Stefano by all means possible still peeked from where she had hidden her. Speaking of the devil, Francesca saw Stefano approach her from a corner. She tensed like she always does whenever he's near. But she thought about what Tristan said about it previously and held her ground. "Hi," Stefano said as soon as he reached her, scratching the back of his neck. Francesca wasn't at all used to seeing him so unsure in front of her, it was unnerving. "Hello," Francesca greeted back cautiosuly. "Francesca, listen, I--" Stefano said. "If you say you're going to apologize for everything you've done, I would have no choice but to laugh." Francesca interrupted, her heart f
Francesca almost fell on her seat. Selene. She was back. She grasped her chest in happiness. "Hello, Francesca." Selene said, "I see you left some space for me to easily find you. Thank you."Of course." Francesca replied, "But you had us so worried. What took you so long?" "Just found it hard to say goodbye for a while." the goddess answered. Just then, a delayed reaction of the goddess coming back inside her hit Francesca and she almost lost her baalnce again. “Francesca, are you okay?” Stefano caught her arm. Seeing who was holding her, Francesca pulled it back instinctively and Stefano awkwardly let go.Tristan frowned, "Qin ai de, you're tearing up. What's wrong?" he asked, replacing Stefano's hand on her arm. Francesca looked around as everyone stared at her worriedly and noticed it was true. The blur must've been from the tears that were starting to gather in her eyes. They were tears of happiness, though. “I’m alright. It’s just…” Francesca said. She couldn’t help but smi