The rogue in the basement had been chained to the walls with silver chains that hung from the walls. One look and she recognized the man as one of the people who had abducted her and her parents. Crystal looked at the unconscious man and then back at Ace. He had actually found this man for her. "Open the door, Ace." Crystal spoke softly. Without a word, Ace opened the door before letting her go in. Even as every instinct inside him protested wanting to stay by his side and protect her, he stepped back and let her go.Once inside, Crystal pulled out the blade strapped to her thigh and immediately slashed the man's arm. The pain caused him to wake up and groan. In the next moment, his eyes widened and he almost screamed. With a cold smile, Crystal stared at him," So you remember me? That makes things easier, doesn't it?""I don't know where your human parents are." The man screamed like a girl."Well, then you better start thinking fast or you are no use to me. Or at least quick
Happy Birthday to You...Happy birthday happy birthday.. happy birthday to you..."As all her classmates from high school and warriors sang on top of their voices, Crystal felt her heart beating peacefully. She was lucky to have found Ace and even luckier to have him as her mate. She felt proud of what he had done with his pack. This pack was like the family that she had when she was young. These people, this atmosphere, this security she hoped that she would be able to give that to her pack. The cake was passed and served, and as in all parties, the warriors were only interested in meat and drinks. Shrugging, Crystal made her way to sit with Kai and Beta Mateo. They were the only ones who were comfortable with her from what she understood. Maybe she'd grab a piece of cake for each of them to sweeten the deal when she questioned them about their Alpha. His mate had actually not shown up for the party and she had a feeling that during the next few days he was going to be AWOL. In the
Crystal marched out of the packhouse towards her own cabin, fuming at Dreamy, at Nate and all the rest of these people! She had actually kissed that irritating Nate to punish Ace. But the worst part was that she had been the one who had been punished. The burning sensation and kissing that irritating boy! It would have been better to have washed her mouth with soap!And then that Alpha had the audacity to actually be jealous! And pull her to him in a room full of his warriors and question her about what she was doing! Ha! She should have put more power into that bite.As she continued to stalk, Erin had to put in her two cents as well, 'He did not smell of another woman.'"So? Just because he hasn't been doing it tonight doesn't mean that he hasn't done it in the past!"'And you are going to hold that against him? Can you be more unreasonable Crissy?''Stop defending your mate! And stop calling me Crissy!''He is our mate, Crystal. Not just mine. Until you come to accept that we
While Ace and Crystal worked hard to be prepared to face the outcomes of the upcoming war, another man was preparing just as meticulously. At the moment, shrouded in darkness, a man sat in the small room of a brothel. The overpowering smell of s*x and sin seemed to intoxicate the newcomers whose sense of smell was sharper than the other human visitors. "Monsieur, the girl is nowhere to be found. From the rogues that were killed, we have been able to discover her trail to the Appleby Mountains. But after that, it is lost." The rogue tried to look at the man's face, curious to know who this was and why he was willing to pay much for a young girl's information. Looking around at the kind of place they were in, then thought that he just be interested in little girls so he offered, "Monsieur we have many young nubile beauties here if you would be interested. They are well trained in the art of pleasure. We have a few virgins as well..." The man simply waved his fingers at that and two
Crystal stared at the dark lake that reflected the moon in its clear waters. Just across his lake, began her land, the Pack of the Snowhunters. Ace had been bringing her here for the last couple of weeks because he wanted to encourage her wolf to come out and play with him. But this usually resulted in a scene like the one now. With the big black wolf laying in the grass like a rug while she lay over him, hugging his neck and staring at the lake or the sky. Even as she revelled in the warmth and comfort that Ace offered, she knew she would have to start talking about other things. She had already considered the idea that Ace had offered and was in agreement with it. Even Erin was happy to have Nate and his wolf Nain as her Beta. But before that, she would have to talk to Nate. And so she would have to talk to Ace.Rubbing his snout gently, she murmured," Ace. I know you think that I should not go back alone and that is why you have worked to get Nate with me... but there are things
With a war cry like the Indians, Crystal pulled her blade from the holster and raced towards the wolf who was about to attack Nate from behind. Where was the rest of the pack? Kai and Mateo and the others? But she did not have the time to think as the wolf heard her cry and turned to her. But in the next moment, the rogue disregarded her as a threat and swiped a paw at Nate, catching the man at the back of his shoulders. Why had Nate not turned into a Wolf yet? Where was Nain? Had he been injected with silver?Another rogue attacked the man and Nate pushed him off as he crumpled to the ground. At this moment, instead of the war cry that would have escaped her, a loud fierce howl cut through the night. The fury inside the sound shook everyone and as they watched a pure white wolf emerged from the trees. The Wolf's eyes blazed red and they were focused on the two wolves who had attacked her future beta. Erin looked at the rogues carefully. They were now quivering in their paws, their h
A few months before Crystal's eighteenth birthday, Ace received another piece of the puzzle for protecting Crystal, when he was asked to join a council meeting regarding a confidential purpose. What shocked him however was the person who was to head the meeting. Councilman Holding. The councilman had been the last man to join the council about five years ago after another of their elders had died. Since then the man had kept a low profile and not raised his head much. This was because he was one of the weakest Alphas in the council, here only because of the recommendation of his once-powerful father. In his office, Ace walked back and forth as he spoke," Nate, you will go with me for this meeting while Mateo will keep a close eye on the pack. With your presence there, your Luna will be able to keep an eye on and get an edge I the councilmen. And when she does return, everybody will be warned that you are behind her, essentially guaranteeing the support of the Moonhunters. At the mee
"I fail to see why we are here discussing a single pack which has yet to even cause problems. Would you three Alphas like me to get you some collars if you are so scared of a girl who you don't even know? Well, you all need to wake up and look around. Councilman Holding and Alpha Blake, I have a feeling that this meeting has been called not for any greater good of the wolves but for your own personal agendas. Bring me a solid threat and I will be happy to annihilate everyone. The silence that followed this announcement made it clear to Holding, that it was not easy to fool Ace as he had done to Blake and Alpha Keith. Dam* it! The Moonhunter pack was known to be bloodthirsty! It should have been easy to convince Ace! It was why he had directly summoned Ace instead of going to his pack for 'talks'. But now, there was an additional threat as Ace would not take kindly to people who did not agree with him. This Alpha was known to be unreasonable in such matters. As Holding realized that
"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