Tabitha was having a busy day as usual.She was hurrying out of the Pack kitchen to carry out an order when she ran into Elke."Come here, girl. I have been looking for you," Elke urged her over like a mother would a baby."Greetings, Elke."Elke ignored the greeting and reached out to touch her face, tilting her head to inspect the small cut near her cheekbone."What is...""There it is," Elke sighed.Dipping her hand into the leather pouch at her side, she pulled out a small vial wrapped in a broad green leaf. She unwrapped it and began applying the cool salve Tabitha's wound.Tabitha blinked in surprise, her confusion evident."You had a cut. Why didn't you come to me?" Elke asked as she massaged the spot."I..." Tabitha chuckled. "It doesn't hurt th
"I had nearly taken my own life," Dasha continued. "Then, I found your mother, in that same woods.""No..." Sheera repeated, her tears streaming unchecked down her cheeks. "Please, please, stop.""She had you in her arms, my child.""Oh, gods...""You were so small, and the most beautiful child I'd ever seen. Even then, you looked so pure like you didn't deserve to be touched by mere hands. Your mother, it appeared she had been running from some people. She told me you wouldn't survive being with her and pleaded with me to save you. I... I didn't want to, but she persuaded and told me to make sure you always had the necklace on."She told me the truth - told me you were a witch. I was terrified, of course, and wanted to reject you, but there was just something about you that I couldn't resist. And considering the fact that I'd just lost my baby... My mate would have had my head if he'd known of it. You... You'd filled up that space, Sheera. So perfectly. "I'll admit it - initially, I
Keegan was having his morning bath with Odessa behind him, massaging his shoulders.She brought up little talks to keep the moment alive between them. Then, she brought up the one thing she'd been dying to talk about."I heard that Zandov visited the Fortress yesterday. What did he want? Is there a new witch around?" She asked, going more delicate on him.Keegan was silent fora short while, his eyes slightly closed as he seemed to enjoy the water he was partly submerged into. Or her hands on him."It's nothing you should concern yourself with," he mumbled, his voice calm yet dismissive.While he didn't suspect Odessa, he knew the walls had ears and didn't want news of a hidden witch to circulate. Himself and Zandov had agreed to keep the matter discreet.Odessa was a little hurt, but she knew better than to insist.
Sheera was hopeless when Keegan summoned her later in the evening. She knew it was about time since he hadn't touched heart at all the previous day. As she walked to his room, a part rof her was excited to be with him, while the other was frightened. She was going to sleep with a man who loathed her kind - a man who had spent years despising and killing witches. It was better when she didn't know what she was. Because now, it made her feel foolish. Made her think she was taking a big risk by wanting to be with him.She ran into Odessa and her handmaiden when she reached the Alpha's quarters. Odessa slowed her steps as she looked at her with suspicious eyes. Elke's words came pouring into Sheera's mind at once. Why would Odessa be asking questions about her mother? And coincidentally, it had to be at a time like this!?Sheera thought about the assassin. Someone must have sent him. It couldn't have been Odessa. Or could it?She dipped her head when she got close enough, but as expect
Sheera whimpered. She knew whatever he had in mind couldn't be good.But she had no choice.She forced her gaze to meet his. They weren't so charming now; they were deadly."I want you to look me in the eye while I ruin you."Those were the last words she heard before he indeed, 'ruined' her.He thrusted in and out of her with such ferocity, she feared he'd break her in half.Her cries were loud enough to take down the room, but they did nothing to faze Keegan who continued slamming in and out of her.He wasn't being gentle. He intentionally wanted her to feel pain.Sheera couldn't keep up with his command. Her eyes closed as her head fell on his shoulder."Look at me!" He rumbled with anger.Sheera screamed as she felt his sharp claws dig into her back. By the moon, he was go
Keegan was disturbed.He couldn't explain it. But every fiber of his being didn't feel good. His wolf stirred restlessly, an unease that neither reason nor will could quell.He was in the midst of an ongoing meeting in the courtroom but had to dismiss everyone when he couldn't bear the distraction any longer."What is wrong?" Kalaril asked as they exited the courtroom after the others left."I cannot say. I just know there is something wrong," he answered impatiently.They reached his chambers where he tried to distract himself with some books, but if wasn't working. Something was not right within him.It was as tho, a part of him was empty. Hollow. It was the same emptiness he had felt when he journeyed to the Hamlet weeks ago and had to be far from her. He'd felt empty the whole time. And now, he was feeling it agai
The night was dark.Sheera stopped by an inn and went in today request a room."Traveling somewhere, eh?" The inn keeper chuckled as he counted the coins she placed before him.Sheera offered no reply, her head heavy with exhaustion.He pulled out a key and slid it across the counter. "Fifth room on your right, second floor.""Thank you," she murmured, taking the key and turning away.She was on the staircase when a young man joined her."Now tell me, what's a pretty lady like you doing all alone, eh? Need some company?" He slurred, his breath reeking of ale.Sheera glanced at him. And in that moment, all she could think about was the Alpha delivering him a slow but painful death for daring to look her way.She rolled her eyes and continued up the st
The inferno within Keegan raged hotter, threatening to erupt in a violent display. Finally, he could see her. But how could she keep running from him? How dare she!?'Mine' the word snarled through his thoughts. She was his to own. His to possess. Only he could decide when to let her go. She couldn't make that choice herself. Still on his horse, he reached for his bow and arrow, nocking the weapon. He aimed at her. Pulling back the string, Keegan let the arrow fly. It sliced through the air, striking the leg of Sheera's horse. The horse let out a pained whinny and stumbled, its legs collapsing beneath it. Sheera was thrown violently to the ground, landing with a painful groan. "No," she whimpered. Looking around, she found Keegan and his companions fast approaching. But her horse was useless now. As she struggled to her feet, she saw Keegan and his men approaching at a rapid pace. Her horse was down, useless now. She turned and sprinted deeper into the woods, her breath coming
ONE YEAR LATER"I therefore, crown you, Sheera Ashbourne Cipher, Luna of Howling Ridge, to rule beside our Alpha, Keegan Cipher for as long as you live." The Elder proclaimed, resting the Luna crown on her head just before the crowd exploded into a madness of applause and revelry.Sheera's heart pumped faster. Her stomach was filled with too many butterflies, she felt she wouldn't need to feed for some months. Her cheeks were pink as she looked at the Alpha who stood in front of her, wearing a proud look. Her Keegan. Tears stung her eyes at the realization that they were finally going to be together forever. She had always hoped for a day like this, and now it was finally happening.The Elder turned to the throng. "People of Howling Ridge, I present to you—your new Luna!"The applause and jubilation grew louder. Sheera turned to face them, a smile on her face. She didn't know if it was the baby hormones again, but she was so close to shedding a tear. Not a Luna-ish thing to do, She
Sheera thought her happiness was complete, not until she got some visitors at the Fortress.She was beyond shocked when she saw her mother—Dasha—and Naya come over to visit her. They spent a long time embracing and asking each other questions. Apparently, Dasha and Naya had been hiding in a friend's barn since six months ago, when Sheera's secret was revealed. They'd been scared when it happened and contemplated fleeing, but knowing Zandov and a lot of Keepers would be searching for them, they figured it would be impossible leaving the Pack without being seen. Thankfully, the one friend Dasha had and trusted took them in and hid them in her barn. They'd been there since then, still afraid of fleeing and getting caught. Sheera was beyond relieved to know they've been alive and safe. For the past six months, she'd been hoping they managed to escape to a better Pack.She took Dasha to Morginna who was glad to be able to meet the woman that had helped her. She thanked Dasha once more
Keegan suggested they used a locator spell on Odessa to know where she was. With what Thessaly had done, he wouldn't be surprised if she had something to do with Odessa's disappearance. When Morginna did the spell, using one of Odessa's belongings, she was able to trace her and it led them to a tomb, deep in the woods. Odessa was found unconscious with a rotten corpse beside her. It took them a while to realize the corpse was Nailah. They took Odessa to the Fortress where she was immediately attended to by a healer. .........Zandov requested audience with Keegan in his room where he expressed his displeasure over the new law he'd implemented. "This is a mistake. We cannot have witches living amongst us all in the name of protection. Every problem we have encountered that you believe this witch of yours have saved us from were all caused by this same witches. If it wasn't for her kind, she wouldn't need to save us from anything." Zandov grumbled. Keegan had been writing in a par
There was a crowd outside. The people of Howling Ridge gathered around the raised platform, most of them having sore eyes from long torturous hours of crying. The loss of their loved ones ran deep. Keegan walked up to the platform, his eyes scanning them. He'd called for the gathering as soon as he returned to the Fortress. He granted access to every one of his Pack members, wanting them to bear witness to what was about to happen.The people had been looking forward to him, wanting to hear what he had to say. It was as though, his words could provide any form of closure for them. "To the strong esteemed people of Howling Ridge," Keegan began, his icy voice cutting through the crowd that had turned very silent. "I want to thank every one of you for making it here today. I know you all are grieving. So, thank you for coming as requested."As you all already know, something strange happened to us during the Eclipse Moon. It is the first time in history that something this powerful ha
The Eclipse Moon was over. The sun rose brighter and earlier than usual, as it always did after such nights.The wolves had shifted back to human form, but a lot of them were dead.Keegan—though unable to do anything about it—had watched as some of the wolves around him died slowly and painfully, bleeding through the nose and eyes. He didn't need to do a deep thinking to know it had to do with Thessaly. But strangely, it hadn't affected him. The only pain he felt had come from the Eclipse Moon.Keegan feared it was the end for the wolves as prophesied, and there would be no stopping it.But fortunately and surprisingly, it stopped.When the Eclipse passed and they'd regained control of themselves, he looked for Kalaril, hoping nothing bad had happened to him.Fortunately, he found him, not far from where he was.
Their hearts were racing in their chests. For a moment there, they were too weak to run. Too hopeless to do anything. "Is this it?" Ravyn stepped forward. "Are we just giving up?""There is nothing that can be done anymore!" Sheera's voice rose in anguish, trembling with frustration. "She's started it already. We didn't get there in time. The wolves...they are all going to die!"Sheera fell to her knees, her head spinning. It felt like air was being drained from her lungs. Keegan. Keegan. Keegan.That was all she could hear. All she could think about. "No." Morginna shook her head. "We must find her.""To what end, mother?" Sheera shouted, her tears running down. Morginna paled. Turning to Sheera, she felt anguish for what she was about to say.****They followed the blood trail, faster this time. Finally, it ended. They looked ahead at the temple where the trail had ended. "You sure she's still there?" Ravyn asked. "She can't leave until the Eclipse is complete. She's the one
Sheera thought deeper. Fought harder.The sun was setting. The Eclipse moon was only moments away.It was obvious they might never find Thessaly before it's too late. She was good with covering her tracks, and she'd also created a barricade around herself, blocking any witch from tracing her with a spell.This method was clearly not working. They needed to devise another solution.Sheera froze when something replayed in her mind. 'Thessaly had created a barricade around herself, blocking any witch from tracing her with a spell.'Hold on...Her mind raced as she called out and ran after Morginna. She was panting when she found her with Ravyn."Sheera, are you...""You mentioned once that the reason you couldn't seek refuge with the witches after you gave me away was because they might want to find and
Sheera's eyes stretched so wide they felt as though they might escape their sockets. Despite how terrified she was, there was a ball of heat forming low in her abdomen. The Alpha had a hundred reasons to kill her, and he could do it so easily now. "I do not care about the silly excuse you gave." His voice was a low growl, his hand still pressed over her mouth. "What you did was an act of betrayal. You played me for a fool, and that goes to show that you are a horrible person."His silver eyes burned with fury, their intensity a flame threatening to consume her whole. His face, shadowed and taut with rage, seemed carved from stone, every line of it etched in hatred.Sheera didn't dare to utter a word, knowing none could satisfy him.Slowly, he released his hand from her mouth. His gaze raked over her, dark and menacing.He brushed his fingers around her neck, causing the ball of heat to spread wider in her abdomen. She closed her eyes, awaiting the moment he'd strangle her. "You 'hu
Hours passed.Sheera awoken on the ground, amidst a jumble of overturned carts and crates.She was bleeding from too many parts of her body. That was because she had crashed into some weapons from the cart.She grunted in pains, sitting up. She couldn't get to her feet. The pain was too much, and she was losing too much blood.Looking around, she noticed her horse was gone, which could only mean one thing—so was Thessaly.She remained there on the ground, waiting and hoping for help.After several hours, Morginna came just like she had hoped for.Before leaving Elke's place, she had gotten her necklace back—which Elke had been in possession of. Ravyn had been waiting outside the Fortress. She met with him, gave him the necklace and described where Thessaly was.Good thing Ravyn was smart and knew how to fo