as if he had seen a ghost, Leo Storkis pointed a shaky finger at Ace. His first thought was that it must be the soul but then, he looked down at the altar and finally accepted that he had been fooled.Focussing on his slave, he accused, "You cheated me!"But then, he noticed this Ace was squeezing the servant'd neck and frowned. No, If Juan had cheated then Ace would not be attacking him.Angered that he had used all his men to divert the attention of that Luna and moon hunter pack leaving him vulnerable, he stepped back slowly and picked up the small stone he had laid just under the altar.Holding it with both hands, Leon started to chant loudly and a ball of fire appeared in his hands. With a look of loathing, he straight up threw the colossal fireball at Ace and Juan. This servant was no use to him anymore.But then he was shocked as Juan raised his hands and quickly pushed back Ace with his elbow, stopping the ball with ice."You.... why do you protect him? You are my servant!"Jua
While Juan and Crystal ran forward, Leo stepped back. laughing maniacally, he held the dagger up, looking down at Crystal frantically trying to stop the flow of blood from Ace's stomach having forgotten about him. how foolish. Looking down at hwr, he raised the dagger again. Better to kill both his opponents than risk leaving someone behind for revenge. Anyway, he had no intention of living in the shadows anymore."Ahhhh!" With a scream, he launched the dagger again to push into his bqfk, when Ace moved again. Using his o2j momentum, Ace turned Leo's weistnl inwardsb, causing g him to be impaled on the dagger.A shocked scream escaped his lips and he tried to get up but Ace simply pushed him down, letting the dagger dig in deeper.As Leo's desperate cries echoed in the cave, it started to shake and small pieces of rocks started to fall. Worried about the cave collapsing, Juan spoke,"Alpha, Luna, we need to escape. This cave is filled with Leo's magic and if we do not escape then we wi
One Month Later: The war that ravaged the packs, ended up bringing them closer as the packs realized that they had been played against each other by a demon. Every pack shuddered to think what would have happened if they had not united and the demon Leo had been able to become successful in his endeavor to rule them. Another thing that helped the packs to unify was fear. Crystal Snowheart had single handedly eliminated a thousands of years old demon and lived to rule over them. how could they not fear such a powerful Luna? This when they received the invite of the Luna's coronation, they did not dare to delay as rushed forward to prepare gifts.Inside the pack house, Nate sparred with Crystal trying to escape her jabs so a not to end up in the infirmary again. During the last month, Crystal had taken to treating him like he own punching bag. She was angry when he defended himself and angrier when he did not. Nate remembered what his brother had taught him when teaching boxing. It w
Slapping the ice pack on her hand which was bruised due to the thick-boned Nate, Crystal banged shut the room to her door. She did not want any coronation. Nor did she want to be queen. If someone had asked her what she wanted more peace or her mate, she would have chosen peace. But now that she knew what it was like to be without a mate, she knew she should have been selfish and chosen Ace. She missed him so much. Nothing in the world seemed to hold anything interesting. She felt like an old woman and she was only twenty... Closing her eyes to stop the tears from falling, she mind-linked with Teacher Kai," Any update?" She could hear the man's frustrated inhalation of breath as he spoke sarcastically, "I am doing quite well, Luna. Thank you. How are you?" A small smile graced hr face before disappearing again. Teacher Kai was the only one who treated her the same like the past. Mateo and Nate usually were on pins and needles around her, expecting her to maybe suddenly go feral. We
"So? Goddess Invidia's tiara is cursed and we don't have a tiara? How would that interest me?""Because bely returning something that belonged to her, you can ask her to return Ace to you!"Crystal blinked. What did he mean by bring back Ace? "What do you mean?", Crystal forcefully suppressed the tendrip of hope unfurling inside her heart and waited for his answer." According to the old witch, you xan take this tiara back to Goddess Invidia and offer it to her, in exchange for Ace. That demon offered Ace as a sacrifice so you must offer something as much important to her as her nemesis's child. The tiara was a gift from Invidia's favourite lover and had been rewarded to Leo but the demon did not care for it.""Okay! So, what are we waiting for? Talk about burying the lead! You should have started with telling me that you found a way to get back Ace! Let's go now!""No! There is a problem. We cannot anger Selene! All preparations have been made tonight and as you know Selene always vis
Crystal stood staring at the glowing entrance of the cave. After 'borrowing' a witch from the old witch's coven, who could move anything with telepathy, Crystal ordered Kai to get rid of any and all human or other bystanders around the vicinity. When the witch moved the boulder, she did not need spectators or casualties to whatever may occur once that fire was allowed to escape. Holding the carved wooden box in her hand, she let her fingers caress it once before she ordered," Open it, witch." The crown on her own head glittered, reflecting the deep red of the fire. As the sweat started to bead on the witch's head, the big stone started to roll over. But it had barely moved when the fire inside seemed to roar to life, billowing outwards. The witch keeled over, having lost the strength to move anymore. Crystal looked at the witch with concern and as she would have contacted Juan, a voice sounded," The daughter of Selene. Welcome." Stiffening at the mocking voice, Crystal clenched her
"Interesting that you think you can give me, A Goddess, something. But we'll get to that later. First, tell me, do you love the man and wolf or do you love the shell? Do you want me to return his soul to you or just the body or both?" "I want both?" "Uh-huh. Think carefully. Ace and Doyen have loved you for two years, supported you and done their best to lay the world at your feet. But a part of Doyen has been tainted within the confines of my son's mind. So, if you get him back whole, will you be able to live with the hate that Doyen and Ace will feel for you? Not just hate, he may even do his beat to destroy you? But, I can return him to you with only a body and a new untainted soul. You can teach him to be like your Ace. He will be in this body so you won't even be able to tell the difference. I have studied Ace over the past month. I can assure you, I can create a beautiful soul just like his. Think well, daughter of Selene." Crystal raised her chin and spoke without a second th
"Luna Crystal! Please tell me what deal you struck with Goddess Indiva to get her to return Alpha Ace?" Finally, irritated with the man's whining who seemed to have caught this topic between his teeth, she spoke," I gave her the ancient crown, did I not?" "No! Goddess Indiva would never let go of a soul for a piece of metal! She thrives on collecting powerful souls!" "It doesn't matter what I promised her! What matters is that I have no intention of fulfilling the promise! And she will not be able to do anything about it! So you better concentrate on getting Ace all well again instead of being a worry worm!" Juan sighed deeply and rubbed his head. He still firmly supported that offering asylum to Crystal Snowheart, was the biggest foolishness his alpha had done. In fact, she should be named Crystal Troublemaker! "I have already given him what he needs and the rest will be done by Doyen. But I will not let this bit go, Luna Crystal. I have to know what it is that she wants. Haven't
"My baby?" The first thought that came to Crystal when she woke up and felt her stomach that everything had been a dream and her baby had been stolen by Indiva. As tears of agony came to her eyes and she tried to move, her hand was held by Ace. Tears in her eyes, she tried to speak when he placed a small kiss on her forehead. "Our baby is safe. She was just too small so Juan has taken her to a makeshift care unit.""She? We have a baby girl?"With a loud exhale, Ace spoke," Yes sugar. We have a little baby girl..."Crystal frowned at the weary tone of voice and questioned tentatively,"You are not happy?"Once agian, he leaned forward before placing reassuring kisses all over her face. "I am very happy. Just worried about the future...""Why? Is there some other villain posing as a threat?" Crystal asked wth a trace of fear."No! Sigh! Crystal... our daughter..." As Ace left the words hanging, Crystal widened her eyes, all thoughts of negative thoughts running through her...She held h
The silence in the night continued as scene after scene continued to change showing the siren's plan to kill the Goddess by luring Luna Crystal. A strange murmur raced through the crowd as everything continued according to the plan of the siren and Luna Crystal was separated from the battle by Ace and the siren. They watched from his eyes as he gazed worriedly at his wife who was suffering discomfort and seemed to be rubbing her belly continuously. Because the siren had been made with Indiva's magic she was well aware of the magic and easily led them to Indiva. But instead of engaging in a war, they had not expected that Indiva would disappear into the woods followed by Aenora. As Crystal would have followed them, Ace summoned Doyen and spoke to Erin with their mind link.”No. Wait here. And fight with me. Our people have already spread through the forest, she won't be able to disappear easily." They watched as the Luna Queen immediately stilled and followed the black wolf’s bidding.
“I know what they said… They said I ran away and shook hands with the enemy. I know what they said…They said that I betrayed my mate. I know what they said… They said I fell under the spell of a siren. I know what they said…They said I was lured away by the thirst for magic and power… kidnapped by lust. I know what they said…They said that I would not return to my mate…be killed by the Goddess I was meant to kill. I know what they said…”The small wisp of smoke that had arisen from the witch’s hand slowly took the image of Alpha Ace in the middle of the dark sky. With every word the smoky Alpha spoke, the chillier everyone felt. These were indeed the rumours that had been spreading through the ranks over the last many hours but to hear them from this wisp of smoke in such a voice was way too scary even for the most hardened shifters. It made them think of ghosts.The witch herself trembled and gulped as she uttered a few words, tightening the smooth lock of hair in her palm and spoke,”
Dissent spread through the army as the werewolves questioned Alpha Ace's presence beside Goddess Indiva at the beginning of the war while the foxes fed the fire of rumours. Even as most of the shifters would not dare to question either Crystal or Ace, out of sheer fear, they did not seem to have any qualms about discussing the same and spreading rumours. But nobody knew the truth of the matter as the Goddess had been defeated without any witnesses. Using this momentum the fox shifters questioned Nate," Beta Hunter. The Queen is still in labour. And the others are still in recovery but what about the Queen's consort? What about Alpha Ace? We all saw him standing there right next to that Goddess and whoever that woman was. Did he fight on their side? Has he betrayed his mate? All of us agreed to an alliance not just with the queen but also on the trust of Ace Hunter's mate and the backing of the warriors of the Moonhunter Pack. But now it seems Alpha Ace was not a part of this war. So,
As Crystal struggled to breathe through the contractions, she hoped and prayed that her baby would survive. Tears of happiness escaped her eyes. Her baby had decided to come just after the threat had been eliminated. Now they would be able to live peacefully. She would not have to constantly look over her shoulder in fear. But unknown to her, a certain threat still thrived. The fox clan were known for their cunningness but also their selfishness. At this moment, two red foxes scoured the remains of the dead. Like scavengers, they also looked for something from the dead and did not 'waste' their time in mourning their comrades. "Dam* it! Where is that box? Are you sure it is not there where that Luna buried the heart?" Grumbled the female vixen as she tried to look for the small box which held Indiva's sealed powers. The other fox glared at her and spoke sharply," Keep your voice down! I know it is not there! Do you think the Luna will be so stupid to put it in a place where everyo
As the net was cast and Indiva prepared to disappear, Aenora was not going to be easily defeated. Summoning all her powers, Aenora filled the air with pheromones so strong that the air started to feel sickeningly cloying. While Erin in her wolf form was barely affected other than feeling a bit hazy, Goddess Indiva, with little and now almost exhausted power, was forced to her knees. But Indiva was not going to let go so easily and continued to chant the spells, tightening the hold of the net on Crystal lest the wolf tries to escape or attack her. But Crystal seemed uncaring and unaware of her surroundings. Probably the shock of losing her mate and having to live with his betrayal seemed to finish her will to live. But Aenora- the siren on the other end had gone crazy as she continued to attack Indiva until finally, Indiva was unable to escape and finally lay panting on the floor as their almost exhausted powerful auras glowed faintly around them,. Seeing that she had brought the vill
"Do not forget that I am still a Goddess, Aenora," Indiva thundered. "It still holds the binding power of the heavens!" The siren snorted and narrowed her eyes, "And I don't think that you will find a way to say the words in such a way that the promise would be circumvented? No mistress. You will give me the box." Placing one hand behind her back, Indiva curled her fingers and urged, "The box is of no use to you, Aenora. It is mine. Ask for anything and I will give you." Instead of replying, Aenora let out a shriek and jumped at Indiva who was about to cast a curse at her. Indiva fell to the floor while the box slipped out of her hand. Kicking her in the stomach, Aenora jumped towards the box only to be hit by magic and thrown against the walls. As the Goddess and siren continued to fight, throwing curses t each other, two pairs of eyes continued to stare. A while later as it looked no one would be lost, a loud howl broke through the woods. The wolf's howl was filled with agony an
Aenora hurried behind the tiny bird with narrowed eyes. She needed to see where Goddess Indiva was going. That Goddess wanted nothing more than all the shifters to be eradicated and Luna Crystal to lose her life. And yet, now when Crystal was about to engage in a fight with Ace, the goddess was fleeing instead of staying to help or watch. Aenora searched the sky as the sun's rays hurt her eyes, looking for the tiny bird which had disappeared into the sky. Was Ace correct? This Goddess Indiva had only planned to use them and then kill them. But she had promised that if they succeeded in defeating Luna Crystal, she would let Ace and her leave together so that they could live happily... The beautiful face turned into a scowl and she touched the late trunk of a tree as she ordered," Tell me where the goddess has disappeared."A small hollow appeared in the tree as it spoke," The Goddess has entered the secret cave at the end of these woods. Our Goddess Siren, the Goddess Indiva is in a t
No word was spoken as the rays of the sun fell across the sand. With a single raised hand, Crystal directed her troops to march forward. While the others almost seemed to have fallen into a trance at the sight of Ace Hunter, the calm determination in Crystal's eyes and gestures seemed to re inforce their energy. Yes... Luna Crystal hadn't just spoken words about fighting the loved ones. She was also prepared to fight those she loved.Soon, the silence was broken by growls, howls and the sounds of war. Bones popped as humans turned animals and attacked those who had hurt their loved ones. For the army they fought may carry the faces of their loved ones but in the end, they were not the same instead the undead were reminders of what they had lost.As the silence was absorbed by loud noises, Indiva turned away from the battle, uncaring whether her own army lived or died. Crystal was holding up really well for someone whose mate had just cheated on her. She stared intently at Ace and Aeno