We were seated at the dining table at our usual spot before Raven came to ruin the arrangement. Things had changed ever since Raven left. It was like her presence had been the catalyst for a change in our once-normal daily lives. Staring at the food placed in front of me, my mind drifted away, recalling the time when Raven had tried to poison me. The vivid image of Praya swinging the plate on Raven’s face replayed in my mind.Praya.She saved me that day. If she hadn't been there with me, I would probably be dead by now. And perhaps, if I had died then, she wouldn’t have died saving me from her siblings. She would’ve been alive, as she was supposed to be. I never hated living more than I did now.Tears welled in my eyes as I rubbed my hands in my lap. My heart ached painfully in my chest, and breathing into my lungs became difficult. I never truly understood what grief was until I lost Praya that night. Though I lost my mother, I was too young; I never really knew her, so grieving he
DEVYN’S POVWhen Gina was done eating, I let her take a glass of water herself. I watched her carefully, my heart beating against her back as I pressed my body into hers. I know I was invading a lot of her personal space but I couldn't care less. I wanted her close to me, I needed her body pressed against mine, whether she wanted that or not. I wasn't joking when I told myself I wasn't going to leave her or let her leave.The death was taking a toll on her, more than I thought it would. She seemed lost in her thoughts most of the time, and her eyes would get glassy occasionally as she tried not to cry. I wanted to comfort her but I knew I wasn't doing it right. I wasn't good at comforting people or good at showing concern at all. I wasn't raised to show my emotions, because it was a weakness, and I had grown with the notion all my life.I still held her firmly on my lap, although she was already done eating. I couldn't let go, and she didn't complain anymore, because she liked this a
GINA’S POVPraya’s mother’s words still lingered in my thoughts and I couldn’t just stop thinking about it. Her last words to me before she left haunted me.As I knelt by Praya’s resting place, I found comfort as I spoke to her, as if she were still beside me. I could feel her presence enveloping me, radiating warmth over my heart. It brought me to tears when I realized she was never going to be there.Praya’s mother had suddenly caught my attention when she knelt beside her.“Praya wasn’t my biological daughter.”Those were her first words and they hung in the air surrounding us. I turned to look at her, trying to conceal the surprise etched on my face. I didn’t speak, I just waited for her to keep talking.“Her late father found her by a lake, without any clues about who might have left her there.”A wave of shock surged through me. Could it be the same lake where we spent time together? Had that been her origin all along? That would explain why she was so drawn to it.I had so man
I couldn’t believe my eyes. Kristen was here. My best friend was here, in the living room, on pack grounds.She was here in flesh and I actually pinched myself to make sure I wasn't losing my mind. I stood, scanning around me as if searching for answers. Liam and Wilona were grinning from ear to ear when my gaze fixated on them.“Did you plan this?” I asked them, “How?”I still couldn’t get over the shock of everything. Kristen was her in the flesh, in reality, and she was standing right in front of me.“Actually, he did,” Wilona said as she pointed a finger in a specific direction. Following her gaze, my heart sank as I spotted him. Seated at the dining table, his hard gaze fixated on me. He had the usual nonchalant look On his face, like he just did the most common thing.A wide smile graced my lips, one that reached my eyes, “Thank you so much, Devyn.”He didn’t say anything, and I didn’t need him to. This was enough for me. Averting my gaze back to Kristen, the shock surged throug
I found myself in a dream, I could tell from the surreal atmosphere surrounding me. I had lay on the ground, gazing up at the ceiling. It was adorned with paintings of angels and people. Among them, I recognized a man who I assumed to represent God, dressed in a white garment with a golden crown placed atop his head. He was seated on a throne, watching the people from above the heavens. Below him, was his son. The paintings were breathtaking and very detailed, and I couldn’t bring myself to stop staring.This was the kind of beauty you can stare at for eternity, I thought to myself.“Gina,” a voice called out to me, and I jolted off the ground, startled. Standing, I recognized the beautiful dark-skinned woman seated by the foot of the altar, her hands resting gracefully on her lap. She had a welcoming charming smile that stirred my heart, and I found myself taken away by her breathtaking beauty.“Come,” she said my legs moved on their own. At that moment, I wasn’t thinking about who
When I got back to my room, Kristen abandoned whatever she was doing as soon as she saw me crying. I felt the comfort from her arms enveloping me as I collapsed on the bed, burying my face in the pillow.“Hey, hey, what’s wrong?” Her voice was laced with genuine concern. How could I explain to her how I truly felt? How could I could I tell her that I wanted to help Devyn? That I was trying my best to understand him, but he wouldn’t let me?“It’s nothing,” I mumbled into the pillow, my face remaining pressed against it.I felt her hands grasp my shoulder, “Look me in the eye and tell me it’s nothing.”When I lifted my face from the pillow, her eyes grew wide. “What the hell happened to your neck?” she exclaimed as she traced my neck with her fingers.A chill ran through my body. Had Devyn’s grip on my neck been so tight that it even left a visible mark? I was stuttering and as I tried to tell her it was nothing, but she cut me off. Her face twisted into a deep scowl, and her lips form
Kristen and I walked side by side while Devyn strode ahead. Kristen gazed around her in wonder, and she caught the attention of onlookers as well. She was astonished by everything, and constantly talked about her beautiful the scenery was, and compared it to the unhealthy lifestyle we had come from.“Why do they keep staring at me, it’s creepy as fuck,” she cast a paranoid glance behind her and I completely understood. I had been in that position, and I knew just how much it had irked me.“They can probably tell you’re human.”A shocked expression painted her face, “Tell me I’m not the only human here, except you. I shouldn't count you, because you’re not even fully human anymore.”I chuckled, “You’re probably the only human.”“That’s terrifying,” she mumbled and directed her gaze ahead. I understood the tension she must be feeling at the moment, but she would get used to it with time.My gaze fell on Devyn walking ahead of us. His masculine physique drew my attention and I admired ho
DEVYN’S POVAfter Gina was done with Diana, just before we left her apothecary, Diana asked me to stay back for a private chat with her. Gina and Kristen were already out the door, but Gina glanced back briefly, our eyes meeting, before she left. I stood by the counter, while Diana remained in the room behind the curtains. While waiting for her to be done with whatever she was doing, I scanned around the room. Her black cat leaped onto the counter, and when my gaze met its eyes, it arched its back and hissed. In response, I glared and snarled, causing it to run away again.When Diana came back, I watched the cat rubbing against her legs, its green eyes narrowed at me.“People have been talking,” she said as leaned her arms on the counter. My gaze fixated on her, showing her she had my complete attention.“About?”“The woman whose son got killed.”Sudden rage mixed with shock surged through me, “I thought I made it clear that no one was to say a word about it?”Diana didn’t seem fazed
Six years later.As I open the fridge to get my orange juice, my heart almost leaps out of my chest as Conri jumps out of the fridge. “Boo!”“Oh my goddess! How the hell did you even get in there?” I shriek as I place a hand on my racing heart to calm it down.”Language,” Conri yells, giggling like he just did the funniest shit in the world. He tries to run but I grab his cheek and pinch as I scold him.“Ow! Dad! Mom is hurting me,” he screams as he manages to free himself out of my grasp and run to the living room. Feeling frustration and a headache coming in, I rub my temple as I exit the kitchen, completely forgetting my orange juice. When my gaze falls on Devyn and Praya, I feel warmth creep into my chest. He lifts his gaze and stares at me with admiration and love in his icy blue eyes. As I walk closer to him, I giggle when I see what Praya did to him. He has a large pink bow in his hair, and he’s seated on a stool as Praya paints his nails, her focus unwavering.I cross my arm
GINA’S POVI found myself in a field, lying as I gazed at the skies. I wasn't sure where I was, but it felt and looked like paradise. The moon’s gaze met and I felt a sense of serenity. A hand suddenly caught my attention as it reached out to me. Without hesitating, I took it and I was pulled off the ground. As I stood on my feet, my breath hitched when Praya stood in front of me.My heart warmed as I pulled her into an embrace. “I missed you so much. I’m here now,” I whispered into her neck, breathing in her scent. She was real because I could feel every part of her; from the beating of her heart and the warmth radiating from her body. When I looked in front of me, my mother was standing there, waiting, with a genuine smile on her face. We pulled away from our embrace and Praya held my hand, guiding me further into paradise as she spoke, “Now we can be together.”I followed, my heart radiating with joy. When I reached my mother, I wrapped my arms around her and sank my face into
DEVYN’S POVMy whole world stopped as I held Gina in my arms. It all happened in a flash. With shaky hands, I pulled the blade out of her heart, and my heart sank deeper when she bled more. I pressed a hand to her bloodied chest, trying to stop the bleeding while I caressed her hair with my other hand.“Stay with me, please, stay with me,” was all I kept mumbling. Her amber gaze held mine, but she wasn't there… she wasn't looking. My heart twisted painfully as I felt her heartbeat slow against my palm. Standing on my feet, I carried her in my arms. She felt heavier than usual, her head fell back and her arms sagged lifelessly as I ran. She was still alive, though her heartbeat was faint. There was still a chance to save her. The fight had stopped as the monsters fell dead, probably because their master was dead, but I couldn’t care less… reviving her was the only thing on my mind. I never took my eyes off her face, hoping for some sort of miracle, to see those eyes come back to lif
The energy flowing through me was like nothing I had ever felt before. It rushed through my veins, sending power to my heart. When I looked down my hand, it completely healed, like I was never wounded. The pain in my back and my head was gone, and I felt fucking alive.My eyes fell on the dagger on the ground. It was at a distance but I could see it clearly like it was in the palm of my hand. I walked to it, and in a split second, I had the dagger in my hand. Eyeing the dagger, it grew in my hand until it became a sword.Perfect.I walked towards Wilona until I stood in front of her. Though she was bigger than me, I felt like a giant as she cowered.‘Fuck you!’ she growled and clawed my face, only because I let her. My blood stained the ground, but immediately, I felt my wounds close up.When she saw she was no match for me, her panicked voice shrieked in my mind.’Get away from me!’Rage coursed through me, as I recalled everything she did.“I won’t let you live for all you’ve done.
Everything happened in a flash. Wilona charged towards me and just as she was about to lunge at me, Liam jumped in and clashed into her. They fought, their bodies crashing into the ground and against the walls as they bit and clawed at each other.‘I don't know why you're doing this, but I’m not going to let you kill her!’Liam’s voice boomed in my mind just as he dodged a claw attack from Wilona, and sent her crashing to the ground.‘What do you even have for her that you’re willing to protect her? That you’re willing to lay your life for her?’ Wilona responded as their conversation echoed in my mind.‘Because it’s my duty and I'll protect her till I die.’His words made my heart thump.Wilona circled him, as she snarled, ‘Then die.’She surged forward, and slashed Liam across the face with one vicious swipe. My breath caught at the sight of his blood splattering on the floor. My gaze fell on Kristen who watched everything from a corner, her body trembling visibly.I had to get her o
My head ached as I regained consciousness, and when my vision adjusted to my surroundings, I found myself lying on a bed. Turning, I saw Kristen by my side, her eyes filled with concern.“You’re awake, thank goodness,” she exclaimed, pulling me into a tight hug. As she held me, her body shook and I realized she was sobbing.Looking around, I realized we were being kept in a well-furnished luxurious room, surprised we weren't locked in a dark dungeon. I recalled the events before I passed and when Damien’s face flashed in my mind, my blood boiled with rage.“I’m scared, Gina. I can’t even remember how I got here,” Kristen’s voice made my heart sink. When I looked at her body and the cuts on her body, my anger intensified even more.I clutched her face in my hand, and wiped her tears with my thumb, “I understand how you feel. I’m so sorry you got dragged into this, but I promise, I’m going to get us out of this shithole.”She nodded her head, and I was glad she had faith in me. I walked
It didn’t take more than an hour till I got to my destination. Immediately we drove through the gates, there was an uneasy feeling that washed over me. I peered through the window, observing my surroundings. Everything seemed and looked normal, yet, it was far from it.When the car came to a halt, the driver who had been silent the entire ride opened the door for me, and I stepped out reluctantly. When I looked up, I found myself standing in front of a huge dark mansion. I would’ve admired the remarkable architecture if not for the feeling of anxiety creeping down my spine. There was something thick in the atmosphere that made my skin crawl and I couldn't understand what it was.I took a deep breath as I walked ahead, being led to the mansion’s entrance by two large men. As the door opened, we stepped into the mansion, walking through wide long halls. When we reached the next doorway, the door swung open, revealing a majestic dining room. The interior was breathtaking with golden re
GINA’S POVAt the mention of his name, my body went stiff as rage coursed through me. He not only attacked our pack while we were gone but also had to kidnap my best friend.Devyn snatched the phone from Liam and put it to his ear.“What are you playing at, you fucking bastard?” he spat out, his voice filled with venom. As the conversation went on, all I could think about was the horrible things he could do to Kristen. We knew just how evil he was, but didn’t know what he was capable of doing.Devyn looked frantic, and for a second, I thought he was going to toss the phone away. Reluctantly, he handed me the phone.“He wants to speak to you specifically.”Wasting no time, I grabbbed the phone and placed it against my ear.“Put it on speaker. I want to hear what he says to you,” Devyn instructed and I obeyed as I pressed the speaker button.“Gina.”Chills went through my spine, leaving an uneasy feeling within me. I hated the way he said my name, and I wished he’d never say it again.
DEVYN’S POVAs we walked out of the church, Flora along with the other witches was underneath the tree, waiting. The moment we were out, they walked towards us. I had a hand on Gina’s waist, guiding her protectively.After the ritual, she was different. She was more tender, and quieter, and her scent had changed too. She normally smelled more like a human, but this time she smelt more like a wolf, but not completely one.“I see it was successful,” Flora chimed as a triumphant expression etched on her face, “And quick too.”Gina nodded lightly and I couldn’t help but feel pride. She was special, and it didn’t just have to do with her destiny and her abilities. She was brilliant, a quick learner and unique.“Now you’re going to face what’s ahead of you. Are you ready? You’re going to fight the real fight now,” she said, directed to Gina.I could feel Gina’s emotions even as she tried to hide her uncertainty and anxiety. I couldn’t blame her. She never got to fight, and now she was goin