The scent got stronger with every step she took, pulling Lucy forward like a siren's song but the further she followed, the more uneasy she felt. Her boots clicked softly against the stone path and the night seemed to grow quieter, as if the air itself was holding its breath.She rounded a corner, her heart thudding against her ribs, and in no time, stepped into a space that seemed utterly forgotten. The clearing was small and enclosed by crumbling stone walls, patches of moss creeping up the edges. The moonlight itself barely reached there, though it still gave its dim light.At first, she thought the space was empty. But then her eyes caught a figure standing still in the center. Her breath hitched that instant.It wasn't Aiden.The figure was humanoid in shape but unmistakably wrong. Its skin was sickly green, a hue that gleamed faintly under the faint light. Its upper body was barely, revealing corded muscles that seemed carved from something unnatural. Long black slacks clung to
Lucy stood frozen, her thoughts colliding like waves in a storm. How did he know? How much does he know? Aiden's words— “You don't have your wolf, do you?”---still hung in the air, heavy. She bit down her teeth, clenching her jaw tightened as she struggled to find a response.What could she even say? Admitting it felt like ripping herself open, exposing the raw, shameful truth of what she was. How would he see me if I told him? she thought. Would he look at me like everyone else does—like I'm broken? Or worse, would he pity me?Her fingers twisted together nervously and her gaze darted to the ground. The words clawed at her throat, desperate to be spoken but she couldn't quite bring herself to let them out. The silence stretched between them and the weight of it pressed against her chest.Aiden, however, remained calm. She could feel his eyes on her, steady and patient, like he was giving her space to come to terms with what he already knew. Slowly, he stepped closer and before she co
Aiden's hands rested firmly on Lucy's shoulders, his touch steady yet electrifying. His gaze bore into hers, deep and searching as though he could uncover every secret she kept hidden just by looking. Lucy felt the heat of his closeness, the tension cracking between them like a storm waiting to break.Her breath rasped as his thumb grazed the corner of her lips, lingering there with a tenderness that sent shivers down her spine. His eyes softened, the golden flecks in them shimmering in the dim light and for a fleeting moment, she felt the only person in the world.“Lucy…” Aiden muttered, like a whisper.She didn't respond, her words caught somewhere between her chest and her throat. Instead, she held his gaze, her heart pounding so loudly she was sure he could hear it.And then he leaned in.It was slow at first, as if he was giving her the chance to pull away but Lucy didn't move. She couldn't. The moment his lips touched hers, the world seemed to tilt, everything else fading into i
Lucy kept her steps slow, her heels barely lifting off the ground as she wandered through the pack grounds. The familiar pathways glistened under the faint moonlight. The path was dark at first but became clearer as she got closer. The night air carried a cool, quiet stillness as they brushed against her skin.It would have been better if she had felt the cool stillness of the breeze while she cuddled with Aiden. Not when she was left alone by herself to wander around. She could have taken the shorter route back to her room, but the thought of facing Marie's inevitable questions which would arise because of her attitude made that decision for her.She sighed, her mind flickering back to Aiden—his touch, his voice, the way his eyes seemed to burn right through her. What else does he really think of me? Could he have made the excuse because of me? Does he see me as weak… or something more? The questions circled her mind, each one weighing her down more than the lastIn no time, the soun
A rush of heat surged through her veins, burning like liquid fire. Like a current that surged through a copper wire. She jiggled, her muscles pulsating. In no time, she trembled as an unfamiliar power roared to life within her. It wasn't pain—it was something else. Something untamed and terrifying. Something she could not believe nor quite understand.Her eyes snapped open, and at that instant… Everything felt sharper as she could hear distant sounds of the fireflies. Her eyes looked clearly as she could see well through the darkness. The scent of the omegas, the sound of their breaths, even the faint rustle of leaves—it all hit her senses at once.The omega in front of her hesitated, his claws pausing midair. “What the—”Lucy let out a guttural growl, cutting the omega off in front of her. The sound was low but primal and it didn't sound like it belonged to her. It wasn't her voice but something deep within her. Her captor, the one behind her back, loosened his grip just enough for
Lucy moved through the dimly lit path. The only light was the moonlight. But her senses were sharper than ever. Every shift in the wind, every faint footsteps of the patrolling guards reached her before they themselves came close. She had stayed hidden, her back pressed to cold walls, avoiding the guards, her breaths shallow but controlled.It felt strange, like she had tapped into something she couldn't quite fully understand. If only claws had sprouted out from her fingers and maybe some fur of hairs sprang out of her skin, she could have understood that it was her wolf and that she had finally gotten it. But it was only her senses that became heightened and she had the strength of three women. How was that possible? She had never felt that way before and had not experienced it.Her vision cut through the darkness, catching even the smallest flicker of movement. The metallic taste of blood lingered on her tongue, her wounds throbbing with every step. She pressed her hand to her shou
There was silence in the air. It hung for a while as the name which Lucy uttered replayed in her mind. Isabella. Marie knew she could be right as Isabella was the only one who would do such a thing. She also knew that Leo, despite his attitude toward Lucy, would somehow protect her if it came to that as she had seen something like that before.“Isabella… that wicked witch.” She squeezed her face, her hand swung in the air like she was imagining Isabella right in front of her and she, doing the needful. Marie kept and just fixed her eyes on something she could not even say. Something invisible not until Marie broke the silence.“But Lucy… how did you do it? You said there were five of them. How did you fight them off? You're not even… I mean, you don't have your wolf yet.”A smile curled at the end of Lucy's lips. “ I don't know… I can't even explain what happened,” Lucy admitted, her voice shaking. She brought her other hand down and held her laps firmly. “Something happened to me. S
Isabella just stood there. She was motionless, her hand resting on the door handle. The second knock at the door had sent a chill down her, causing her earlier confidence to slip away like sand through her fingers. She glanced over her shoulder, her mind racing. Could it be them? Or worse… someone else?Her heart pounded as she slowly turned the handle. The door creaked as it opened just enough for her to peek through. The sight of Leo standing there with his mouth shut like he had suspected something and his face unreadable and expressionless made her blood run cold, sending shivers down her spine and making her fidgeting. She tightened her grip, firm on the door to an extent that her knuckles almost turned white.“Leo?” she managed to say but her voice didn't falter, knowing she had to keep her calm.He didn't answer. His sharp eyes swept over her before he decided to stop inside without an invitation. It was like he didn't need her consent to take any action. Isabella backed away f
Aiden and his men clashed fiercely with Leo's warriors. The sound of fists hitting flesh and the clang of claws echoes through the night. Aiden moved swiftly, striking down anyone who came near him. His strength was unmatched, but the numbers were against him.Leo stood back, watching the fight with cold eyes. A twisted smile played on his lips as she saw his men overpowering Aiden’s men one by one. Soon, only Aiden remained.Despite being alone, Aiden refused to back down. He had already taken down dozens, his movements sharp and precise, but the endless wave of enemy wore him down. Though he breathed heavily and his muscles ached, he didn't stop fighting.Leo's men surrounded him, moving in from every direction. Two of them threw a thick chain around his arm, another around his legs. Aiden struggled but more chains came. They pulled tight, dragging him to the ground. He tried to break free but the weight of the chains and the force of the guards holding them pinned him in place.Leo
Leo stood in his room, his hands clenched into fists as he stared blankly at the wall. His mind raced when the thoughts of the fight. The shame of losing to Aiden, openly, burned inside him, twisting his pride into rage.The door suddenly flew open with a loud creak. Alpha Eric stepped inside, his face was cold with anger. His sharp gaze pierced through the room as he slammed the door shut behind him.“What was that?” His voice sounded harsh. “You had the upper hand! How then did you lose to him?”Leo remained quiet, refusing to answer. Eric took a step closer, his frustration growing.“What did you do? You cheated, right?$ he hissed. “I know you did. You poisoned him—and still, you lost.”Leo didn't flinch. His heart pounded harder. “Answer me!” Eric snapped, raising his hand. Before Leo could react, a sharp slap struck his face, the sting echoing through the room.Leo slowly turned his head back to face his father, his eyes burning with anger. He had endured enough—his father's dis
Eric leaned back slightly, his eyes narrowing. “Go on,” he allowed, his tone curious.Aiden didn't pause. “If I win against Leo,” he smiled. “I will take Lucy, the maid that held my hands back there with me.”For a moment, there was silence. The words hung heavy in the air, and the crowd exchanged confused glances. No one had expected such a demand, especially not for a maid. Isabella, who had been sitting quietly, stood up in an instant. A wide smile stretched across her face as excitement flashed in her eyes. If Aiden won and took Lucy away, it would solve everything. Lucy would no longer be a threat to her. But then, is it the best option… what would happen with her and Leo? She thought. And as for Leo, the request struck a nerve. His smile faded as he marched toward his father. Leaning close to Eric, he lowered his voice, hoping no one else would hear.“Don't agree to it,” he hissed frustration clear in his tone. “You can't let him take her.”Alpha Eric remained still for a mome
Aiden moved fast, charging straight at Leo. His fist swung towards him but Leo was quicker. He dodged Aiden's punch and struck back with a hard blow to his side. Without giving him a chance to recover, Leo landed another punch on his chest, then his ribs, hitting him from every direction.Each strike pushed Aiden back, weakening him more. Leo's eyes gleamed with victory as he spun and delivered a powerful hook to Aiden's jaw. The force lifted Aiden off his feet. His body twisted in the air before he crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.Dust rose where he fellz and the sound echoed across the field. He landed close to where Lucy and Marie stood. Lucy's heart pounded in her chest as she stared at his body. Around her, the crowd roared in excitement.Their voices filled the air, chanting Leo's name over and over again. Some clapped, others cheered loudly, praising their future Alpha.Eric leaned back in his chair with a satisfied smile. He clapped his hands together, proud of his son
The field was crowded with pack members. The full moon hung high above, casting a pale glow over the open space. Excitement and tension filled the air as everyone waited. But the one person they had expected—Luna Ava— was still not there. Murmurs spread through the crowd, quiet questions hanging without answers. Alpha Eric sat at the head of the gathering, his face calm but his fingers drumming lightly against the arm of his chair. His sharp gaze swept over the field, but there was no sign of her. The longer he waited, the heavier the silence became.A figure moved toward him—a guard, stepping close enough that only Eric could hear. He bent his head and whispered something quickly. Whatever the words were, they made Eric's expression tighten. He gave a slow nod before standing up, his towering form commanding everyone's attention. The noise faded as the pack focused on him. “The Luna will not be joining us anymore.” his voice rang out. “There are matters to be handled elsewhere and
Evening settled iber the pack, casting a warm glow as the sun dipped low behind the distant hills. The air buzzed with energy—laughter echoed through the open fields, the scent of roasted meat drifted from the kitchen and every wolf seemed eager for the celebration that would soon begin. Lanterns hung from the trees, flickering softly as pack members hurried about, preparing for the night ahead.Meanwhile, Leo stood near a pole inside the main hall, his sharp gaze scanning the royals, the elders and other representatives from other packs. He had been searching for Ethan, but there was no sign of him. Frustration flickered in his chest as he swept his eyes across the familiar faces—men in black exchanging quick words, young wolves chasing one another in playful bursts, the elders speaking quietly among themselves—but not the one person he needed to see.He sighed quietly, shifting his focus toward the center of the hall. And there he was, that was when he noticed him—Aiden.He was dres
Leo walked with heavy steps, his fists clenching tighter with each stride. The sun was higher now, warming the air, but the heat inside him burned hotter. Isabella's words played over and over in his mind—Lucy was the wolf. And Aiden was there with her.He had suspected something was off for a while. Aiden's movement has always been too careful, too quiet. But without proof. It was nothing more than a feeling. Now, there was no doubt left. Aiden had been helping Lucy and without doubt was the one who unlocked her wolf. He had done it right under his nose, in his pack without leaving a single trace. Leo's jaw tightened as he thought about the night he had smelled blood on Aiden's fingers. He had brushed it off then, convincing himself it couldn't be Lucy. After all, she wasn't supposed to be out of her room. But now, it all made sense. Aiden had been watching her and protecting her this entire time. And what had he been doing—that got him angry as he wished it should be him doing all
The sun hung high in the sky, casting light over the pack's territory and inside her room. Isabella sat on the edge of her bed, her hands gripping the sides tightly. Her mind raced as she replayed everything she had seen the night before—the wolf, the way its growl had echoed through the woods and how right in front of her, it had shifted back into a human. But not just anyone. Lucy.The name twisted inside her like a thorn. Lucy was supposed to be gone. Dead. she had made sure of it when she sent those useless Omegas to handle it. Yet, here she was—alive and stronger than before. That wolf… it was no ordinary shift. Isabella had never heard a wolf growl like that—not even the strongest warriors in the pack. The power in Lucy's growl which was able to shake the trees even the pack itself was in itself stronger. It was different and intense and it made her heart pound.If Lucy was alive, what else had she survived? Had Aiden been protecting her all this time?A shiver ran down her at t
Lucy's eyes burned bright red as she stared at the figure that was distant from her. Her body was still tense, her claws digging deep into the ground, creating marks and shapes as they made contact. The air around her felt somehow heavy, thick with threat and danger. Aiden knew she was thinking straight—her wolf had taken over. Her wolf had never been let out and now that it had, everything around it felt like a threat… she wouldn't want to go back to that state where her wolf was locked.The figure standing a short distance away trembled, her hands shaking by her sides. It was Isabella. Aiden recognized her scent before his eyes fully adjusted. She stood frozen, her face a pale-like color and her mouth slightly open as if she wanted to speak but could not.“Who is that?” she whispered under her breath, her voice barely audible. Aiden could hear the confusion in her tone, the disbelief. She didn't know who or what she was looking at. But sure, she could tell it was something differen