There had been a recent killing in the barren lands a few days ago. Some vampires who had gone to farm had clashed with rogue werewolves, who slaughtered every vampire in the area. Now, the land remained barren, littered with blood and decaying bones.Carlos relayed this news, looking at the Primus seated on the throne. King Draven's eyes were dark—bloody dark—with no sign of a white or colored pupil. His jet-black hair accentuated the sharp curves of his face, which remained expressionless. His jaw was sharp, sharp like a blade capable of slicing through stone. His full, crimson lips made every woman in the vampire lands beg for his attention. He was a sin incarnate, a being the moon goddess must have created with care and purpose, making him both dangerously beautiful and unfathomable."Have the three elders of the vampire realm been informed of these events before bringing them to me?" Draven asked, his voice cold and emotionless. His presence alone was enough to put anyone on edge
The night lashed out with a tremendous wind that howled against the castle roof. It was no doubt that rain was imminent, but the goddess of rain seemed to be holding back the downpour for a reason.But for what reason? King Draven thought as he stood by the window, his piercing gaze fixed on the darkened sky. A strange feeling settled over him, elusive yet persistent, like a premonition he couldn’t quite grasp. It felt as if something significant would unfold in mere hours.Centuries of existence had taught him to trust his instincts. When something stirred his mind, it was rarely without cause. "What could that be? Is someone plotting against me?" He said to himself. However, someone is always plotting against him because he is surrounded by enemies. Enemies within and enemies far away.The door opened, revealing Carlos. Carlos has always being his assistant and personal guide. Carlos, stepped in and strode toward him. With a deep bow, Carlos addressed the king."The men you sent hav
The werewolf threw her onto the rough ground, igniting a scream from her lips. She was weak—there was no doubt about it—and she couldn’t fight the werewolves. She struggled to break free from them, but the more she fought, the more their teeth sank into her flesh.They wanted to eat her raw. That much was clear.But she needed to fight back somehow. She had tried to escape the pack; she couldn't die at the hands of the same wolves who had made her life miserable. Quickly, she kicked her legs at the first werewolf in front of her. The strike made the wolf stagger slightly, a growl escaping his throat, but there was still another to face.She was weak, her blood soaking the ground beneath her, her body marked with the deep bites they’d inflicted.The second werewolf, seeing what she had done to the first, snarled. She used what little strength she had to jam her foot into his chest. He growled louder this time, his fury evident. This time, there would be no mercy.Why had Aurora escaped
Few Days ago.In a confined room filled with eerie creaking sounds—mostly from the rats roaming about—the air was heavy and stale. The small window served as the only source of ventilation. The room was devoid of any decorations, its old paint peeling off the walls, creating a haven for bugs and ants. The only significant items in the room were a worn chair, an old table, and a wardrobe—seemingly the most prized possession of whoever occupied this abandoned space.It was the very early hours of the morning, and a young girl lay on the bed, her thick black hair spilling over the mattress. She was utterly exhausted from the previous day’s work. She had barely been asleep for four hours when a sudden splash of water drenched her body. Jolted awake, Aurora gasped, her heart pounding as though she had been ripped from a terrifying nightmare. She tried to return to the bed, but another basin of ice-cold water came crashing down on her, forcing her to jerk upright.Her wide eyes brimmed with
“Why is Aurora not here preparing the food for the full moon sacrifice? The grains to be cooked are not yet ready! What has she been doing since I woke her from her disgusting sleep?”A woman with black hair flying wildly around her face shouted angrily. She was furious because nothing had been done that morning. As the omega of the pack, Aurora was expected to help the servants prepare meals, but it was her job to wake up first—even before the other servants. Breakfast was a significant and sacred meal in the Red Moon Pack, and delays were unacceptable.Just as Delilah, the woman, was about to unleash more of her frustration, two young girls—almost identical in appearance to Aurora—entered the kitchen. Their resemblance to her made it obvious they were her sisters, but the glaring difference was that they weren’t omegas or wolf-less. Aurora seemed cursed to be different—not just from her sisters but from the entire Red Moon Pack.“I saw a body lying down in the storeroom. I don’t kno
The gasp shook Aurora to the core. Kael was a masterful liar, and she knew she wouldn’t escape this torment. No one would save her—not even Mrs. Flora, the chef. The only person who cared about her.“But being the alpha's son, and trying to be responsible, I tried talking sense into her head,” Kael said, his voice turning solemn. “I made her understand that I couldn’t do such a thing—not when I haven’t even found my mate. I’m saving myself for her.”Kael’s words dripped with false sincerity as he glanced at Aurora, his expression now a facade of sadness and bitterness. Aurora’s vision blurred as her rage and disbelief boiled within her. He was a good actor, too good.“But she insisted,” Kael continued, feigning discomfort. “She behaved as if she were in heat, though she has no mate and certainly isn’t mine.”The audience murmured in disgust, their expressions darkening as Kael spun his web of lies. Aurora’s heart sank further as she realized no one would side with her.“And what happe
Running to her room felt like running straight into hell. From the moment Aurora stepped out of the kitchen, laughter followed her, echoing in her ears like the sound of her misery.Finally reaching the small, cold confines of her room, she quickly locked the door behind her. She stumbled toward her bed, collapsing onto it like a broken doll. A soft whimper escaped her lips, but soon it grew into heavy sobs, loud and raw, breaking the eerie silence of the room.She was utterly alone. The only person who had ever loved her was her father, and he had been taken from her when she was just a child—killed by vampires during one of their brutal raids.“God, I’m so tired... I’m so tired of living,” she whispered hoarsely, sliding to her knees. Her sobs grew heavier, racking her small frame as the weight of Kael’s lies pressed down on her. Why had he done this? Why hadn’t he just killed her outright? Keeping her alive seemed to be nothing but a cruel game to torment her.A dangerous thought c
"Sorry for not saying it earlier, the men we sent were disguised as rogues. Their scent was hidden away from the reach of the vampires, so they cannot discover their real identity," Beta Mark explained.He knew how ferocious King Draven could be. The vampire king was a wild beast, fiercely protective of what was his."Good, very good. So, we have enough food for the sacrifice to the goddess and the celebration for the full moon," Alpha Rowan said, relieved that the pack was safe from the hands of King Draven."Yes, my king. Concerning the coronation of your son to ascend the throne and rule after you... I don't think he will be capable enough to take over. He does not have a strong enough hand to govern the people. He only shows empathy to those he hates and love for those he favors. He will be a partial king," Michael, one of the quiet elders, remarked. He had been observing everything that happened in the Red Moon pack.A loud growl echoed through the room, drawing everyone's attent
Darkness engulfed everything around her. The only thing Aurora could hear was the sharp, deafening sound of bullets slicing through the air. Her heart pounded violently in her chest as she ran, dodging every shot aimed at her. Sweat dripped from her forehead, stinging her eyes, but she couldn’t stop. Her pack members were struggling to keep up, their footsteps heavy behind her.The scent of her enemies surrounded her, thick with bloodlust. For years, she had believed they had no reason to come after her, no personal vendetta against her. But now, as they pursued her with unwavering determination, she realized how wrong she had been. They wanted her dead.Aurora's legs ached with exhaustion. Every step felt heavier than the last, her limbs trembling from the relentless chase. She stumbled, barely catching herself, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they caught up.And then it happened.A force like a hammer slammed into her body, sending her flying into a nearby tree. Pai
The air in the grand chamber was thick with tension, the dim candlelight casting flickering shadows across the ornate walls. The Vampire King sat at his massive wooden desk, his fingers drumming impatiently against the polished surface."Any news yet about the rogues?" Draven's voice carried a sharp edge, his crimson eyes narrowing at his men.Carlos shifted uncomfortably under the weight of his king’s gaze. "I'm sorry, my king. We searched outside the borders, focusing on the barren lands, but it seems the rogues caught wind of our search and vanished before we could track them."Draven's hands clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white. The lack of information infuriated him. For weeks now, the rogues had been untraceable. Not a single attack, not a whisper of their whereabouts. It was as if they had simply disappeared."Hmm, I see," Draven muttered, his expression unreadable.He didn’t like this silence. Rogues weren’t known for their patience. They were aggressive, reckless,
As Aurora watched Asmada collapse onto the cold stone floor after the final lash, an unexpected pain clenched at her heart. The sight before her was harrowing—Asmada’s back was marred with deep, raw wounds, crimson streaks of blood trailing down her tattered garments. Her flesh was torn open, evidence of the severity of her punishment.The room was silent, save for the sound of her ragged breathing.A voice pulled Aurora from her daze.“We are done for today,” King Draven’s deep voice echoed through the grand hall, his tone carrying a finality that left no room for argument. “But let it be known—” his gaze swept across the room, lingering a fraction too long on Aurora “—that I will treat anyone who dares insult me or anything that belongs to me the same way I treated this woman who now lies unconscious on the floor.”Aurora stiffened, her breath catching in her throat. There was no doubt in her mind that when he said anything that belongs to me, he was referring to her. The possessive
It had been three days since she received the letter summoning her presence, and now, Aurora stood in the midst of the high-ranking vampires. As she stepped into the vast hall, the murmurs that had filled the air earlier hushed, and the vampires instinctively moved four feet away from her, as if her very existence was something to be cautious of.Her eyes darted around the room, searching for a familiar face, but there was no sign of Lilith. She hadn't seen her for a while and wondered if she was present, hidden among the silent onlookers.Aurora wrapped her arms around herself as a shiver ran down her spine. The presence of werewolves in the same room as her made her uneasy. Their cold, calculating stares felt like they were piercing through her, their expressions unreadable.The Judgment Hall, as she had come to know, was a grand yet imposing place. Elevated seats lined the room, towering over the ground, accessible only by staircases that gave the elders and high officials an air o
She had almost forgotten—her newly found mate, the Vampire King, was, in fact, a vampire.When she turned back, she met Draven's intense gaze. She instinctively took a step back, but not before noticing the way he narrowed his eyes in irritation. Clearly, he was displeased with her reaction."I will give you the space you asked for, but as I said, I am not a being of patience. Do not keep me waiting. Also, this is my room—I do not wish to see you trying to escape again. The security around my chambers is tight, so don't think you can play silly games anymore," Draven said. He cast her one last look before leaving the room, leaving Aurora in a daze.Something twisted inside her at his words. She wasn’t sure what it was, so she let it slide. Then, her mind processed what the Vampire King had just said.His room!Her eyes widened at the thought. Why would he keep her in his room when he had promised to stay away from her? She looked around. Indeed, the space exuded the luxury and authori
She was still in shock, dazed, and not believing what he said. How could he possibly be her mate? Something was wrong—something was totally wrong. She was not meant to have another mate.She tried stepping back from him, but he wasn’t allowing it. Instead, he..."What did you say you are?" she asked again, perhaps thinking she was dreaming or imagining herself dreaming. NO! She shook her head. She could never imagine herself getting mated to someone as ruthless and untamed as him."I am your mate. Haven’t your wolf told you that?" he said."I don’t have a wolf!" she replied, now pushing him forcefully away from her. She could tell he wasn’t expecting that.Draven stared at her, surprised by her actions and her response. She didn’t have a wolf, but her scent proved otherwise—she was a werewolf. She also had incredible strength to push him so hard.But that wasn’t what baffled him. He was still shocked by her sudden confession. That was news he wasn’t prepared for."Are you going to rej
Draven ran through the forest, his nose picking up every scent that passed through his sight: the scents of leaves, trees, plants, flowers, and birds that chirped in the trees.He stopped, perceiving the soft wisp of his mate’s scent. She must not have run too far. She was a weak werewolf who needed protection, and that thought drove him forward. He ran further into the lands, following her scent.Her scent led him toward the pack border, the line that separated his pack from the lands of the rogues.Quickly, using his vampire speed but not running too fast so that he wouldn't lose her scent, he moved toward the pack borders. As he did, he also detected the scents of his pack members running in his direction.Concentrating his senses to locate his mate's scent, which he found more important at that moment, he knew that if she crossed the border, she would be killed. There was no denying it.His blood boiled with fear, anger, and rage at the thought. His mate would not die, nor would s
Kael stood in his room, listening to the guard he had sent to search for the omega. Aurora had been missing since the previous night, and he knew why. He was the only one who had any idea what he had done to her, and he planned on keeping it that way. He couldn’t risk tarnishing his image over a worthless omega."The omega is nowhere to be found, Alpha Kael. We have searched every corner of the pack, but she could not be located," the guard said, bowing deeply."Hmm," Kael murmured. "So you’re telling me that the omega has escaped from the forest, and no one has any idea where she has gone? No one saw her leave?"Kael walked to his bed and sat down, his tone calm but carrying a sharp edge."Perhaps the omega ran away out of heartbreak," Elizabeth said as she approached him, sitting on his lap. "After all, who wouldn’t be devastated after being rejected by their mate in front of the pack?""You’re right," Kael replied, a smirk playing on his lips. "But I hope she doesn’t bring any harm
The door creaked, the noise making Aurora’s heart leap into her throat. She darted behind the wall, her breath shallow. These were vampires—they could hear even the faintest sound and track her scent with ease. If they caught her, they would drag her back without hesitation.But then, a thought struck her. Why hadn’t they killed her already? Vampires and werewolves were sworn enemies. A shiver ran down her spine. Perhaps they were simply waiting for the perfect moment to end her. She shook her head. No, she wouldn’t let them have the chance. If she could find the border separating this pack’s territory from the barren lands beyond, she might just have a chance.Cautiously, she crept out from her hiding spot. The mansion was surrounded by thick woods—perfect for her escape. She moved quietly, darting between trees and bushes, her senses on high alert."Inform the council that Elder Eric’s daughter will be punished in front of them all in the Civil Hall for insulting me and my mate. Thi