The Palace was in an uproar! Usher was declared ill and wouldn't wake up from his sleep!
Mireya wrung her hands. She approached the doctor, Scott Saunders, who had just examined Usher's condition.
"How is he, Scott?"
Scott took a long breath before turning to face Mireya. He looked helpless and his expression showed it. "I'm going to take a blood sample from Alpha for further examination, and if there's no improvement in the next two days, I'll recommend taking him to the hospital for more in-depth tests."
"Oh, God," Mireya gasped. Her eyes widened and she covered her mouth with both hands, as if she couldn't contain her rising fear. "Is it that serious, Scott?"
"I can't tell if Alpha's illness is serious or not without further examination. Honestly, I didn't find any symptoms in Alpha from the medical check up I just did." Scott looked back at Usher. His look showed sadness, concern and confusion. "He's healthy and everything seems normal."
Mireya was enjoying a delicious breakfast when her phone buzzed briefly. A message had arrived. She read it immediately and her joyful expression turned to annoyance."How dare they disobey my orders. Damn them."Mireya left her breakfast. She hurried to Usher's room and found Greisy greeting her with her head bowed."Forgive me, Madam. I tried to stop them, but they ignored me."Mireya growled. "I know. They don't appreciate me at all," she growled, clenching her fists. "Open the door."Greisy nodded and opened the door for Mireya. She gestured for Mireya to enter and at the same time she shouted."What are you doing, Garth?!"Garth and Cora turned around immediately. They were surprised by Mireya's sudden appearance."Mireya."Mireya approached with a sharp look. "Don't you understand that Usher needs rest? He shouldn't be disturbed by anyone.""I do not disturb Alpha, Mireya. Besides, I want to see his conditio
Garth tried to remain calm and collected. On the contrary, Cora, standing next to him, reacted openly."What?"Mireya was surprised. She looked at Cora with an incredulous look and shook her head. "You should really watch your attitude, Cora. You're not displaying the behavior expected of a Gamma.""I was trying to maintain the appropriate Gamma demeanor, but I'm completely shocked. How could Garth be ignored like that?" Cora wondered. "He is the Beta in the Frostholm Pack. He should be the one to take care of all pack matters while Alpha is sick, but why is it that—" Her words were cut off. She turned and looked at her hand, which Garth was holding. When she raised her head, she found Garth looking at her. "Garth."Garth motioned to Cora before taking a step forward. "I'm sure Alpha has given this a great deal of thought and consideration.""Of course, Garth," Usher replied weakly. He nodded once and leaned back against the desk. "I have giv
Vione stood frozen. Her intuition grew uneasy as more signs of the werewolf's presence registered in her senses. She scanned the area, her eyes piercing the darkness. Damn, I am surrounded.The rustling of leaves and bushes disturbed the previously quiet forest. Slowly but surely, one by one, they began to reveal themselves.Vione's guess was correct. She was surrounded by an uncountable number of werewolves, and among them was the one she least wanted to meet."Mireya."Mireya stepped out of the darkness of the night, smiling. "Vione, we finally meet again."It was the meeting Vione feared. She knew that Mireya was trouble, and meeting her meant trouble ahead. Especially since Mireya had brought a considerable number of warriors with her.Vione's expression changed. The uneasy feeling intensified. No doubt, Mireya had come to capture her."It's been a while since we last met. Um. Maybe fifteen months ago?" Mireya asked, furr
Vione prepared herself and so did the warriors. They seemed to know that Vione would not give up easily. They exchanged glances, encouraging each other, each harboring a hint of doubt.After all, Vione had once been their Luna. Undoubtedly, a reluctance to use violence against her lingered in their hearts. Unfortunately, there was an order to be carried out. Mireya had the authority they had to obey, whether they liked it or not."Vione, it would be better if you surrender peacefully," the warrior leader, Storm, suggested.Vione turned to Storm. "I'm sorry, Storm, but I can't."Storm Meadow stood still for a moment. An inner struggle was visible in his eyes. The day he had captured Vione and her parents was still fresh in his mind. Now he had to do it again?Storm's common sense and his conscience fought. Following Mireya's orders should have been easy, but it wasn't."Storm!" Mireya snapped. She glared at Storm with a piercing look. "I told
The inevitable battle unfolded as Storm and the warriors transformed into their wolf forms and launched their attack.Vione instinctively stepped back after catching a glimpse of the golden wolf. Somehow, she felt the golden wolf urging her to move aside. She obeyed, retreating as the golden wolf lunged forward.On the other hand, Mireya could not shift her focus from the golden wolf. Her hands clenched tightly and she unconsciously began to bite her lower lip. Gradually, her restlessness turned into real concern. The eyes, the way it stared, and the shape of the golden wolf were unmistakable. But how could that be?In his majestic wolf form, Storm let out a commanding howl. Four warriors leapt forward with their front paws raised, sharp claws gleaming in the moonlight, ready to tear at the golden wolf.The golden wolf dodged with grace, effortlessly avoiding each warrior's attack. Storm, in his wolf form, growled in frustration. The warriors loo
"Mireya ordered me to capture Vione. So, my team and I ventured into the forest. We found her, but we were unable to bring Vione back."At this point, Storm stopped talking and cleaned his wounds. He pondered for a moment, staring blankly at the cotton in his hand."What happened?""That man showed up."Garth's body tensed instantly. "What did you say? The man? You mean the man accused of being Vione's lover?""Yes," Storm said, not taking his eyes off the cotton in his hand. "But he denied the accusation. He even boldly claimed that Vione is a loyal Luna. She never betrayed the Alpha."Garth fell silent, waiting for Storm to take a breath before he continued."I want to believe that, but when I asked him for proof, he couldn't provide it."Garth's eyes closed dramatically. For a moment hope had risen in his heart. If Vione was truly innocent and the man had proof, he thought it would be easier to convince Usher to reconsider V
Vione did not know how long she had been asleep—or perhaps unconscious—but when she came to, confusion was the first thing she felt. Her eyes focused on the ceiling, and a question popped into her head. Where am I?The ceiling looked unusual. There were no hanging lights or protective fixtures. Its black color gave it a hard, stone-like appearance.Despite her stiffness, Vione tried to stand up. Ignoring a fallen blanket, she surveyed her surroundings. She confirmed that she was indeed in a cave."Hello! Is anyone here?"Vione walked cautiously, her hands gripping the cave walls as she continued to call out."Hello!"No answer came to Vione. Only the echo of her voice could be heard. She scanned her surroundings for signs of other life, but found none. She was alone, and the man was gone.Vione's hope faded. It seemed the man had realized her intentions and decided to leave at the right moment. So, she lost the ch
Mireya welcomed Torin's kiss with the same passion. She opened her mouth and let Torin explore her tongue. She moaned as she raised one leg.Torin pinned Mireya against the wall. One hand pulled up Mireya's raised leg while he pressed his hardened masculinity against Mireya's stomach.Mireya trembled with desire. Her breathing became erratic, and fortunately Torin broke their kiss at the right moment. This allowed her to catch her breath while Torin continued to caress her.Torin's free hand squeezed Mireya's bottom. Then his fingers began to roam all over Mireya's body, moving up until they landed on her breasts. He unbuttoned Mireya's clothes and pushed her breasts out of the confines of her bra.Mireya's face tilted back as she bit her lower lip. Torin's mouth enveloped her breasts, making her tremble with desire.Torin sucked. He tasted and played with Mireya's breasts at will. But that was not enough for him. He lifted Mireya and laid her on t
Vione couldn't answer Jemma's words. Her heart was truly touched and she fell silent, only able to look at Usher, knowing that everything Jemma had said was the undeniable truth. Pregnancy was always a happy announcement. But Vione's pregnancy was more than joy; it was a blessing. For Usher, Jemma, Rowena and the Frostholm Pack, Vione's pregnancy was the greatest gift the Moon Goddess had given them. So, it was no surprise that when the palace announced Vione's pregnancy, the entire pack rejoiced and celebrated everywhere. Without exception, the news spread to the farthest corners of the Frostholm Pack territory. Smiles and beaming eyes adorned the faces of every member of the pack. They continued to give thanks for all the good things that had happened to the pack—from their victory in the war to Vione's pregnancy—and they didn't forget to pray for Vione's wellbeing. Ayla, the Sacred Elder, made hasty preparations. She arranged for a blessing ceremony for Vione's pregnancy to be h
There was a bright, blinding light. It seemed to be the morning sun, its warmth soothing her soul. Vione wasn't alone. Next to her was Usher, always holding her hand. They were talking, laughing, when suddenly a scene made her eyes widen. "Sylvia, come back! Don't go too far! Oh, God! Silas, can you go after her?"Usher pulled Vione into his arms. "Don't worry, she won't get lost. They're smart kids." "Usher," Vione groaned, pressing her lips together and raising her hand to point. "That's too—" Vione frowned. Something was holding her hand. Something was stroking the back of her hand, squeezing her fingers. "U-Usher." "Vione? Are you awake?" Usher's voice echoed in her head, like the buzzing of a thousand bees, driving that beautiful memory from her mind. It made her slightly dizzy and she moaned softly. "Vione? Can you hear my voice?" Vione frowned and slowly opened her eyes. She saw Usher's face, filled with immeasurable relief. "Usher." "Oh, thank God," Usher whispered, k
The meeting was only ten minutes old—it had only just started—and the first presentation had only just been given, but Usher's concentration was already disturbed. He couldn't concentrate on the data being presented. His mind kept wandering back to Vione. He had tried to ignore it, but suddenly his heart was pounding with an unfamiliar rhythm.Usher held his breath. Vione. Had something happened to her?At the same time, Usher saw Garth reach into the inside pocket of his suit. He watched as Garth stepped out of the meeting to take a phone call and for some reason Usher was certain that the call had something to do with Vione.Usher's intuition was right. Immediately after the call, Garth approached him and whispered in his ear."Alpha, Cora just reported that Luna fainted at a banquet—"Usher immediately got up from his seat. He left and Garth quickly said, "The meeting will be postponed."Then Garth hurried after Usher. They left the office five minutes later, Garth driving as fast
Two days later Rowena was ready. With her was Cora, whom Usher had specially assigned to accompany her on her journey.Rowena cupped Vione's cheeks. "Don't worry, Vione. We'll see each other often. Besides, it's the only way I can make up for leaving you as a baby.""No, Mama." Vione held Rowena's hands. "You did it so I could live with other werewolves. I understand that."Still, Rowena's guilt remained. So, she promised to make up for it with happiness and togetherness in the future."I hope you take good care of yourself, Mama," Vione said, calming her heart. Then she took off the moon necklace she was wearing. She put the moon necklace into Rowena's hand. "Let me know if anything happens."Rowena nodded. "Of course."Vione and Usher watched Rowena leave, certain that this wasn't goodbye. In truth, they were just living apart. They would keep in touch. They would still meet and visit. So, everything would be fine. There was nothing to worry about.That was what Rowena believed too.
Vione's hope was the promise she had made to Ivan. After so much suffering and sacrifice, there was only one thing she wanted most: to live a peaceful life surrounded by those she loved—Usher, Jemma and Rowena.They were owed many happy days because of the tragedies that had unfolded over the years, along with the war. Now Vione simply wanted to repay that debt by enjoying their time together, especially with Rowena.For countless days, Vione had longed for the loving touch of her biological parents. Despite the fact that her life with Addy and Hilary had been happy and full of love, she could not deny that deep down there was a part of her that longed for the warmth and love of her real parents. And when she learned that Ivan was long gone, all her hopes were placed in Rowena.Vione wanted to experience the affection she had only imagined. She wanted to spend endless days with Rowena in the palace. But it seemed that Rowena had other thoughts than her own."W-what do you mean, Ma?" V
Silence. Ivan and Rowena both stood still, staring at Vione without blinking."I'm meeting Usher, Dad," Vione said again. She pouted as she continued, "We've been dating since the night of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony." Her face flushed, obviously embarrassed. "When we were celebrating at the palace, and that's when we..."Vione didn't finish her sentence, but both Ivan and Rowena understood. They could guess what had happened that night. But one thing was still unclear to them.Ivan cleared his throat. He rubbed his chin, looking puzzled. "Usher?" he asked. "Which Usher are you talking about?""Papa," Vione groaned, feeling even more helpless. She was completely embarrassed. "There's only one Usher I know, the one you both know, Usher Thorne."Ivan's mouth opened, but no words came out. He seemed genuinely shocked and needed a little more time to fully process the name Usher Thorne.Ivan stared at Vione. "Usher Thorne?"The doorbell rang at the same moment. Vione's eyes widened. She lo
A month had passed since the war against the Nimbria Pack, and now normal days were once again colouring the Frostholm territory. Everyone carried on with their activities as before, full of energy and joy. The children played and went to school without a trace of fear, while the adults worked diligently, occasionally breaking into light chatter and laughter.There were no worries. Fear and anxiety about the future had vanished, replaced by happy, vibrant faces. They knew that the danger that had loomed over them for years had been overcome.On the other hand, the peace that now surrounded the Frostholm Pack did not lull Usher into complacency. He refused to become arrogant. Instead, the tragedy that had befallen the Nimbria Pack had taught him many lessons. He would not be careless and would make sure that this would never happen again.As a basis for preventive measures, Berg continued to increase security throughout the territory. Inspections of outsiders became more thorough and r
A heavy silence had fallen over the Frostholm territory since the night before. The area was truly desolate, with no sign of the Frostholm pack except for Berg and the guards stationed everywhere to protect the borders and the palace. The rest of the pack had evacuated to Amerotha Forest, hiding under the protection of Rowena's magic.The tension was palpable. The members of the pack seemed restless, their minds filled with fear, even though their safety was guaranteed within the forest. They knew that this security did not extend to those fighting in the war; there was no guarantee of safety for them.No one could close their eyes. They couldn't even stay in their tents. Instead, they chose to gather together and pray without ceasing.Hope poured from the depths of their hearts. Every prayer was accompanied by sincerity, and many shed tears. Their sorrow ran deep, and the Amerotha Forest could feel it.A blue-golden light slowly emerged, flowing from the ground and spreading everywhe
One thing Usher would remember for the rest of his life was that war never brought anything good. On the contrary, only bad things came out of war—death, pain, loss, suffering. For this reason, he would do everything in his power to ensure that there would be no more wars in the future—at least not in his lifetime—even if it meant making extreme choices.Usher hated war and he hated killing, but this time he put those feelings aside to ensure the safety of the Frostholm Pack. He had learned from experience that Kendrick's compassion could never touch the humanity of the Nimbria Pack. In truth, greed had blinded the Nimbria Pack, causing them to ignore the opportunity presented by the Frostholm Pack. Worse still, the Nimbria Pack saw Kendrick's decision as a sign of weakness, leading them to attack again whenever they had the chance.So, this time, Usher abandoned all compassion and humanity. The Nimbria Pack didn't deserve it. Instead, he would make sure that the Nimbria Pack felt all