“Accashia.” The woman sobbed. “My daughter.” Accashia knows that her mother is dead. A month had passed since then, and yet here she was, sitting in front of her. Alive and breathing. It was such a strange thing. And Accashia knows that this was all a lie. Deceptive. A snake in Eden. An illusion. Lies. And yet, there’s a warmth that fizzles on her heart when she sees her mother, Ember. She knows it’s not true. She knows her mother is dead. She senses it in the wild, wild soul. It’s a trap. The soul was erratic, and it was stained, for it was no longer in a beautiful shade of light blue or white. She thinks of this as nothing more than the most irrational thing. Perhaps it is, this is, most of all, that makes it so painfully easy to suspend belief. The belief that her mother is truly gone, for there she really was. But there are times when Accashia wished that it was not true. Accashia’s lips trembled and the long sword slipped from her fingers. “Mother…” She whispered. “Mama.” Aga
The young lady trailed back to the hollow cave where she left Calleb and Luntian while they were asleep. The sun was slowly rising, and the dawn of a new day shines upon her once more. And yet, the warmth of the sun polars her cold, cold heart. Her shoulders were slumped as she walked, dragging her feet with every step that she took. Her eyes were cast down and her ginger hair was disheveled. She counted in her head, trying to calm herself, trying to recollect what had happened to her the whole night that was more like a nightmare. The only thing is, she was wide awake and it indeed happened. Her precious mother soul was imprisoned by a maniacal Witch. And the price — the exchange for the soul’s freedom is beyond her imagination. Calleb’s death. Her breathing was labored from the fatigue of fighting from the emotional and physical battle. Every step that she took felt like she was walking on quicksand. By the time that she saw the cave, she noticed that Luntian and Calleb were stil
They’re holding hands as they walk on the side of the sparkling river. It's 7:15 in the evening and the moon and the stars in the night sky render beautiful sparks against the river. The calm and clear water of the river, the riverbed of beautiful and smooth rocks, and a small shade under the a humongous eklitel tree. Everything that is within the line of sight can be described as beautiful. By the time Accashia had woken up, the young lady acted as if nothing happened. She dismissed everything by saying that all of it was a nightmare, and she was sleepwalking. For a part of her couldn’t tell Calleb the truth. “Are you sure that you don’t want to tell me?” Calleb asked as both of them stared at the river. Accashia simply hummed and said, “Yes.” And then both of them chose to remain silent. The two of them chose to fall in love with their surroundings instead. The original plan for tonight was for the two of them to strengthen their bond. But the plan was thrown off, but Calleb didn
The two of them were staring at each other’s eyes as Luntian called for the Spirit of the Phoenix to summon the Cave. It was time. And Accashia knew what had to be done during the half moon. They needed to copulate, strengthen the bond. And as the moon shined down on Calleb’s long silver hair turned black, slowly as the beast inside him was put to sleep. The Cave appeared when the Phoenix flapped its wings around, the ground shaking as the Cave closed in on them, turning the surrounding dark. They took off their clothes, the garments falling on the ground one by one. Even against the dark, Accashia could feel Calleb’s intense gaze on her bare body. “Do you trust me?” He said. And the young lady nodded her head and said, “Yes.” And yet, in her heart, agreeing to lay with Calleb that night gave her immense discomfort and pain. It was painful. And Accashia had to bite her lip to hold back any sounds that might betray her, her eyes squeezed shut as Calleb pulled her close and kissed he
The shift. He’d been expecting it, but still Calleb’s stomach twisted and his head clouded, vision gray, for a moment. The shift from his wolf sleeping then waking up from its slumber left the unnatural feeling of something crawling on his inside. As if something was clawing him from the inside out. If he had been standing, the brief moment of instability would have toppled him over. He was hiding behind one of the humongous Eklitel trees in the Eastern Forest. He was used to suffering alone, which is why when a shadow appeared in front of him, Calleb pulled himself together and warned, “Don’t come any closer!” He was obviously pissed. The young man ‘s back was leaning against the tree, beads of sweat in his forehead and his breathing was labored. Luntian highly doubted that he could do her any harm, but still… “Calleb, calm down.” “I am calm!” He screamed, completely opposite of the words that came out of his mouth. “I hate it when you tell me to calm down — because I am fucking c
Calleb curses his mate as he stares into Accashia’s grayish blue eyes. He begins to take a step closer to her. He balled his fist so hard that the sharp nails dig into his palm, blood dripping down from his fist. He’s too angry to feel the pain — to feel how much it hurts. He’s too upset to even notice anything more than the irritation and emotional hurt twisting at his heart. After the confession he made the other night, in Accashia’s eyes, he had always been a murderer. A killer and a bastard. “You wish you had never met me?” Calleb knows this already, knows it as a fact. But it still pains him, for the feelings that were building up inside him were real. The love he felt for Accashia, the adoration and the faith. He had hoped. He tried. He really did. And the young man sighed, not knowing what else to do with the surging of emotions inside of him. “Huh…” He wondered to himself as he shook his head. He could feel Accashia’s eyes on him. Her stare was laced with regret. “Calleb. I
The endless void was beginning to crumble. The otherworldly sight and beings were nothing but silhouettes and shadows and her vision was starting to play tricks on her. Everything was spinning. And it felt like her head was splitting in two. “I. Can’t… breathe…” Ember managed to speak up, her bony skeleton-like hand forcing its way up to her neck — wanting and needing to remove something that seemed to be blocking the air out of her lungs. Like a tightrope was mercilessly tied around her neck. She was sliding out of reality. The curves and angles begin to slip and slide out of alignment in defiance of all the laws of physics. Ember hears the Wicked Witch bark out a curse and words, even as everything begins to fade to gray. “Idiot!” Ursula cursed, mocking the mother. “How can you breathe when you’re dead?! I’m the one that breathed you to life from the dead — and yet you dare to defile me! IMBECILE!” They’re being dragged into a dark, depthless and endless vortex. Then a flash of
While Accashia wouldn’t call herself the sharpest tack in the box, she’s pretty sure that she’s not the stupidest either. More like in between, or damned close to it, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Luntian is trying to tell her something. It’s just that the old woman couldn’t put the right words to it. But then she heard the right words, and it almost rendered her breathless. “You mean we’re going to rescue my mother?!” Accashia cried in panic, she was grabbing onto Luntian’s sleeves tight. Her knuckles were turning white as she grabbed the thick cotton material. “Calm down.” Luntian replied as she stared at Accashia’s eyes. The young lady’s eyes were as cold as ice before. And now her beautiful eyes were sparkling in excitement. Her grayish blue orbs glistened. The warmth in Accahsia’s heart made Luntian smile. “When will we leave?” Accashia asked, and Luntian felt like the question was rhetorical. “I mean… I know where the castle is? Does Calleb know,
Accashia must have fallen asleep while the two Alpha’s were interrogating the old Shaman. She sits up straight and there's a blanket across her body until her chest. She pulled the covers up, bringing it up to her face. The young woman inhaled, smiling wide right after. It smells like her mate, warm wood and a hint of musk. Calleb’s scent reminded her of sunrise. It smells a little like her too. Accashia was not the type of person who always wakes up on the right side of the bed. Before, she’ll wake up with Luther’s face right in front of hers. Her older brother would always taunt her. Tease her, borderline torment her. Somehow she wishes he could erase it. The memories. "Why the long face?" Calleb appeared out of nowhere, shocking Accashia. Her soul almost left her body, and became a bit grumpy because of it. “Calleb!” She whined, screaming his name as she did. “You know that I startle easily! Don’t sneak up on me like an animal!” The Alpha grinned. “I am an animal though.” He wa
"Ive heard Galathea saying she heard the song of songs, whisper of whisps. But not a cry of a child." The King stared at Accashia’s ghostly pale face. The Luna was still in shock. She was only wearing a thin bathrobe, contrasting the dark thick cotton robe that enveloped Calleb’s body. "A shrill cry. A woman singing an eerie lullaby. I’ve heard of that before. But not from a newborn child —” He looked at his son, then smiled. “None, except from you, son. The day you were born.” "Maybe we should have the Castle blessed?" Calleb had asked. "Before being rebuilt, this place was heavily guarded by Shadows. Dangerous skeleton-like creatures who are brought back to life by Ursula’s power. They carry an ember of soul in their chest. Lost souls." Bathal shuddered in the memory. "I remember. Maybe the Castle needs to be blessed." "It’s not a soul." Accashia opposed. A frown on her face, disliking how the two Alpha’s are dismissing what she heard. "I know a soul when I feel one, see one. When
"I’m not hallucinating, Calleb! I heard a loud cry of a child!" Accashia paced back and forth after pushing Calleb away from her. The cry of the newborn sounded terrible against her ears. “I must find the baby — it could be lost, or worse — it might’ve been abandoned by its parents!” The Alpha sighed as he pinched the area between his brows. It feels like he’s wiggling out of a tightrope and he’s bound from his wrist down to his ankles. “Maybe it’s just your imagination, Accashia. You’re carrying my child after all. It may be the cause of your hallucinations.” Accashia was heading towards the door when Calleb’s spoke. She spun and marched towards her mate. By the looks of it, the young lady was deeply offended. “I know the sound of a crying child when I hear one, Calleb. I’m the one who took care of Jill when she was a newborn. I’m familiar with the cry of a wailing child looking for his mother — Calleb.” “And I’m not dismissing your judgments, Accashia.” Was Calleb’s calm reply. T
What it all boils down to is a simple thing. Human beings, creatures and beasts alike are all sentimental beings. Filled with empathy. Love and affection. And in turn, are always seeking for it. The first time Luntian laid eyes on her sister was after Amihan had just given birth to her. The little one had a head full of black hair, and had this blank stare. Ursula would cry from dusk till dawn. It was thousands of years ago, but her sister’s shrill cry would still resound in her nightmare. The idea of having a sibling was one of the things she wished for in life, though at times she wished her mother would shove the thing back to where it came from. Luntian loved Ursula, but there was something about her that she didn't like. She doesn’t like the crooked smile on her lips. The oddly long nails. The dark, dark cowl on her head. And the odd paint on her face. She was a yellow Shaman, but did not act like one. Not even a little. Had it been the way she talked or the things she said? O
Bathal remembers his father with his head back, soaking up the heat like a plant. At dusk, his wide gray eyes go half-mast, and he yawns and stretches and puts his arms around people who he thinks will lead him back to the right home. Banaua is solar-powered, a self-sufficient sun. And his mother Hiraya was like the moon — the Luna catches the excess light of the King until she could light up on her own. He wonders if Accashia and Calleb would be the same. For his son and his mate reminds him so much of his late parents. And now there they were, going up in front of thousands of people. He thinks this is a must, for this will be Calleb’s future once he passes on the power. His son is the next King and an Alpha. Calleb will be the next ruler of this Kingdom, and the people will follow him. They will love him and be loyal to him whether they want to or not. Once, when his father was still alive he'd asked Bathal a question. He'd asked, 'What do you feel after seeing the humans, the B
Bathal comes back after a long meeting with the Shaman of the nameless Village. It was time for the Betas and Omegas to live within the Castle. For them to go back to the way it was before the ‘Great Downfall’. The King was wearing thick black longsleeves made of cotton. A white cowl covered his head, partially covering his beautiful long hair of black and white. Usually he wouldn’t be riding a horse if he was to go alone. But because he needed Luntian’s wisdom to negotiate with the Shaman — he opted that it was for the best. Bathal preferred to transform into his beast. He’s not the type of ruler who radiates glitz and glamour, crowns and jewelry. As a matter of fact, the King had always liked to be with the Betas and the Omegas. The soldiers, as the late King Banaua calls them. They liked him for his smile and his strong sense of leadership. Everyone called him awe inspiring and charming. While his son Calleb… Luntian often wonders where the Prince, the son of Bathal, Calleb, get
Ursula shut her eyes shut, not wanting any more of this inhumane torture. She was deemed to be facing sudden death, more like she begged for it. Impregnated and treated like an animal. This was beyond humiliating. What she hated the most was how her body betrayed her at times. How the demons take her and fuck her until she cries and begs for mercy. She hated herself from feeling good. It almost felt good. Almost. Until she realized that the birth of the demon child would mean the coming of a bloodshed. Death in amounts no one could fathom. The woman laid her head on the makeshift pillow Kieran had made for her. Kieran was laying down beside her, the demon was caressing the bulge on her stomach. “Just leave already.” Ursula whined, lifting her head up upon the request. “I want to be alone.” Kieran laughed, then held up a thick leather strap in his other hand. It was studded with spikes, like everything else. A spike that would slam against Ursula’s thighs or arm, whichever part it w
The Kingdom of Shaldan has changed, and with a few more refurbishments, the Kingdom will be standing in all its glory once again. Almost two months had passed since they banished the evil Witch from their land. Bathal and Luntian sported a wide smile on both of their faces while greeting the Hunter’s village and the Betas and Omegas. The news of Accashia’s pregnancy gave them a new kind of hope for their Kingdom’s survival. She was four months pregnant, and in a few months their bundle of joy will see the world. Days have turned into weeks and weeks turned into a month. But instead of being happy after receiving the news of her pregnancy, the young lady became jarded. She became quiet and barely spoke to anyone. Anyone except her mate. Everyday Accashia would go to Calleb’s room and she’ll tell her mate what is going on in her everyday life. Whether it’s exciting news or just a mundane day. She does it as a routine, hoping that her mate would wake up. Even if it's about the changes
Luntian leads Bathal and Accashia towards the room where the sleeping Prince was kept safe. A few Beta’s and Omega’s lurked around the Castle, fixing the interiors and fixtures. All needed to be done to bring the ruined Castle back to its glory. The sound of nails and hammer hitting and banging against the wall resounded as Luntian closed the door of Calleb and Accashia’s chamber. Bathal, who was standing next to Accashia, told the Shaman to lock the door, to make sure that no one sees them. Even though his influence is scattered throughout the Castle and its borders, it does not mean that everyone is on their side. A King can never be too complacent, Bathal learned that the hard way. “It’s locked.” The Shaman announced with satisfaction in her eyes. Once they were free to move, the old woman foisted something from her pocket. A mixture of minerals, and once she’s satisfied with the ingredients on her hand, the old Shaman crushed them with their bare hands. She turned them into powe