DAKOTA "It's all because of the seal. Everything started with the creation of the seals..." I wince, my stomach tightening into knots. Although I need to hear about the origin of the seals, it is a very sensitive topic, especially since it is a huge part of Dashiell's life. "I was separated from my mate because I'm an Impure. Alyssa wasn't like me. She was the prophetess of the werewolves. On the way to the prison cells at the headquarters of The Guild, I was ambushed and subsequently kidnapped," Dashiell begins.His brows are furrowed, his fist clenched. A lump forms in my throat as I reach out to place my hand over his. He gives me a small smile, as if to tell me that he's alright. "It was the longest twelve hours of my life. They drugged me heavily, enough to suppress my magic and render me useless. They were all masked. Therefore, I never got to see their faces. I heard them talk about how they would use my ten fingers to create the seals. Then, they would sell my toes t
DASHIELL Dakota's eyes darken with hate as she slowly pulls away from me, her gaze resting on the spot on my shirt, which is now stained with my blood. "I'm going home," she mutters, and turns away from me. I grab at her wrist to stop her from leaving, and when her gaze meets mine once more, she narrows her eyes at me."Let go," she hisses, directing a death glare at me. "We still need to talk about The Six. I don't think you should trust them. If they want the seal as well, it can't be for a good reason. There's a chance that they're only using you," I tell her. Yanking her hand out of my grip, she lets out an exhale."You're the last person I want to talk to right now."I watch her as she storms towards the door and walks right out of it. Sinking into my chair, I bury my face in my hands. I am convinced now. I do not deserve to be happy. I do not deserve a mate. A monster like me deserves to die a lonely death. I've been unable to forgive myself for bringing so much mise
DASHIELL Arthur smirks at me and lowers his hand. Garrett glances at him with a raised brow. "Sorry, I have severe cramps in my right hand. It's an effect of a spell I have been experimenting on," Arthur states. It's strange how I can sense that he's both lying and telling the truth at the same time. "I hope you don't feel offended," he continues, and I blink, a feeling of uneasiness slithering up my spine. "It's fine," I respond, and West gives me a questioning stare. He can probably sense my unease.There's something going on between us. This feeling of foreboding continues to grow until it becomes a sickening feeling."So, Eric and Dylan, are you having a great time tonight? You must be new, I don't think I've ever seen you here," Arthur states. "Well, it's been a while since we attended an event like this..."While West continues to speak, every sound around me goes mute. Realization hits me when I notice the traces of magic in the air. This event is not an ordinary
DAKOTA Right after I'd left Dashiell's property, I'd headed home and curled up in bed, my emotions running high. I'd been determined to keep my distance from my mate. However, everything changed when I fell asleep and dreamt of my past life as Alyssa. I'd dreamt of the exact moment when Violet betrayed Dashiell and delivered him into the hands of the Guild. I'd awoken with an overwhelming feeling of yearning. Refusing to give in, I'd spent the rest of the day in my room. Consequently, this yearning only worsened, and Ocean wouldn't stop whining in my head. So, I decided to swallow my pride, slip on my coat, and leave the house. I've just arrived at Dashiell's house when I sense the distinct smell of a female right from the entrance. My stomach churns as I unlock the door and walk in. The feminine scent grows stronger as I approach Dashiell's study, hoping he will be there. Has he moved on already? Do I really mean so little to him? When I get to the door, I raise my fist to
DAKOTA "Violet is dead."These words send a shiver down my spine, my blood freezing in my veins. "She was perfectly fine when she left, wasn't she?" West says, and Dashiell heaves a sigh."Members of the Guild will be coming here soon," he continues."Why? Is this about the seal?" I ask when I finally find my voice. "They believe that she was murdered," he responds."Murdered?!" West and I echo, our eyes wide. "That's not all. It appears that I'm the prime suspect of her murder," Dashiell states, and I freeze, my mind reeling. I stare at him for a moment, puzzled. My chest tightens, and a niggling feeling of deja vu gnaws at me. "Why do I feel like this has happened before?" I breathe, my heart sinking. "Kota..." Dashiell says, reaching out to touch me. I rise to my feet, feeling like I'm going to throw up. "Why you? You didn't kill her," I choke out, my voice trembling.West slams his fist on the table, his brows furrowed."It's starting again. It's a sickening cycle. Do
DAKOTA When the quake ends, I lower myself onto a bench, letting out an exasperated sigh."She's definitely his mother," I mumble, and West chuckles."Trust me, she's fun to be with when you actually get to know her," he states, joining me on the bench."Right. She's pretty intimidating," I comment. A few minutes later, two officers usher Dashiell out of the restraining cell. He walks up to us almost robotically. I embrace him, and he sinks into my arms. "Are you alright?" I ask, and he blinks. He seems dazed. "What happened? Who got me out?" He asks."That would be me," Dashiell's mother responds as she approaches us. She's no longer wearing her sunglasses."Mum?" He whispers with a crease in his brows. "That's right. You only ever get yourself in trouble. My goodness," she says as she pulls him into her embrace. Dashiell glances at West and glares at him. "They didn't hurt you, did they?" Mrs. Gryphon asks her son. He shakes his head, and she beams.When they pull apa
DASHIELL A smile curls my lips as I pour myself a glass of martini. Dakota had said yes to me. She has accepted my help. To say that I'm in a good mood would be an understatement. "I haven't seen that look on your face in so long," my mother comments from her position on the couch. I turn to look at her, taking a sip of my drink."What look?" I say, sinking into the same couch."You're literally glowing again, and your eyes...they tell me that you've found happiness again. It's been decades since I saw that look in your eyes," she explains.I grimace, taking another sip of my drink. All along, I'd believed that I'd hidden my loneliness quite well. Most people were fooled by the easy smile on my face. "She reminds me of..." My mother's eyes turn sad. She's trying to consider my feelings. Years ago, I couldn't stand the sound of Alyssa's name. I guess my mother still remembers that. That's why she's the first woman I've ever loved. I would kill for her, just like I've done in t
DAKOTA Opening my eyes to find that Dashiell isn't in bed with me, I sit up and glance at the digital clock on the nightstand. It reads: 6:23 a.m.Yawning, I get out of bed and slip on my flip-flops."Dash?" I call out as I head out of the bedroom, rubbing one of my eyes. "I wonder where he is," I mumble, letting out another yawn. "Dash?" I raise a brow at the sight of Dashiell, who's sitting on the floor along the hallway, a glass of orange juice in his hand. He looks dazed. I hurry towards him, crouching beside him when I get to him. "Hey," I say, touching his bare upper arm. I flinch when I realize how cold his skin is."What's wrong?" I ask, sitting on the floor beside him with my arms wrapped around him, to warm him up. When he still doesn't say anything, my stomach churns with anxiety. He'd been completely fine last night. Did something happen while I was asleep? I can't help but wonder."Dash? What are you looking at?" I ask. Slowly, he lowers his drink to the floor
Thank you for giving this book a chance, you're such a darling!!!I've been writing this book since last two years and finishing it has been such a task. I've been super busy, and at some point, I had writer's block. But, I really wanted to finish it. If you have questions about the characters, please ask away. I'm also thinking of writing a book based on West and his new love interest. If you also want this, please indicate. Thank you once more for taking the time to read this book. Please check out my other books if you have the time.Much love!Mwaaa!
DAKOTA I stare at the double line on the pregnancy test strip in my grip, my eyes widening. My mind is reeling, and I'm yet to wrap my head around this new reality."I'm pregnant," I breathe, lowering myself onto the closed toilet, my heart thumping faster against my chest. A smile tugs at my lips and happy tears fill my eyes. I've been married to my husband for barely a year and he has always wanted kids of his own. Due to the trauma of how I'd died without getting to see our child, I'd dismissed the thought of getting pregnant, every time it came to my mind.The knock on the door startles me, and I flinch, nearly jumping out of my skin. The door creaks open, and Dashiell pokes his head in, with a longing look on his face. "You've been in there for way too long. Will you come to bed now? I already miss you," he whispers.Unable to fight off the smile coming on, I quickly rise up to my feet, making a quick attempt to hide the pregnancy test strip from him, in a bid to brin
DAKOTA Dashiell lets out a groan, tilting his head to the side to stare at Madam Noir. Slowly, his gaze trails downwards, resting on the black restraints around his wrists, torso and feet. "What is this? Were you not thinking when you tied me up this way?" He asks, his voice thick with disbelief.She shrugs, a smug expression on his face."It doesn't matter. You can't move. I made sure you wouldn't be able to," she drawls, and a frown creases Dashiell's brows. He turns to look at me, his gaze softening."Why is she here? I'm the one you want," he states. "Isn't she so perfectly made for you? With her power, we won't need the rest of the seals to create more seals," Madam Noir says, and I glare at her."I won't let you touch him," I hiss, and she chuckles."That's adorable," she replies. Dashiell releases an exasperated sigh and lowers his head, his gaze pinned on the floor in front of him. "Leave her out of this... please," he rasps, and Madam Noir's expression darkens with
DAKOTA It hits me like a storm. Sitting in Hunter's living room with no clue of how I'd gotten here in the first place, I try to sort out my thoughts. Bits and pieces of my memories finally return to me, and I wince at the memory of throwing a mug at my own mate. Hunter walks in with a cup of coffee and beams at me. His smile fades when he notices that I'm standing in his room awkwardly."What's wrong?" He asks, his voice tinged with uncertainty."I want to go home," I tell him, and he furrows his brows at me."I guess the spell wore out," he mumbles, and I frown at him, puzzled."I liked you better when you were under the spell," he tells me, lowering the cup of coffee on the nightstand. I move backwards, glancing at the door behind me. "Not so fast, princess."I freeze at the sound of Madam Noir's voice at the entrance of the room. She walks in and smacks me on the back of my neck. Instantly, my knees go weak, and she drags me further into the room with Hunter's help. Pl
DASHIELL The moment the statement leaves my mouth, regret slams into me, hard. I should know better. My mate wouldn't betray me to be with someone else."It's a long story. I ran into Hunter," she tells me, and I stiffen. "Did he hurt you?" I ask, and she shakes her head, a few locks of her red hair falling over her face."He knows everything," she rasps, and I raise a brow, puzzled."Everything? Including who you really are? You told him?" She heaves a sigh, brushing her hair away from her face."Madam Noir got to him first. I'm not sure if he's just neutral about the whole thing. I don't know if he's on her side. I feel like I'm missing the big picture," she tells me, and lets out a yawn. "You should get some rest, you look exhausted," I say, and her gaze softens."So do you."I crack a smile, and she returns it. "Don't do that again. I understand that you were desperate to find me, but being intimate with another woman just doesn't sound right," she says."I know. I w
DAKOTA "If you make a sound, I'm going to slit your throat. Do you understand?" Hunter whispers in a menacing tone, and I nod frantically, squeezing my eyes shut. My heart thumps madly against my rib cage as I feel him sweep me off my feet, swinging me over his shoulder like a sack. I part my lips to let out a scream, but I decide against it when I feel him align his claws with my spine. He heads down the alley and places me in a car parked down the street. He proceeds to drive off instantly. Too petrified to do anything, I remain silent. He still doesn't know who I really am, and I want to keep things that way. "Won't you ask me where I'm taking you to?" He suddenly breaks the silence while he glances at me through the front mirror. Avoiding his gaze, I direct my gaze outside the window, watching the rain fall on the rough asphalt on the road. "You literally just kidnapped me. How do you expect me to feel?" I retort. "What did he do? He did something, didn't he?" Hunter
DAKOTA My stomach churns with tension as I hold out a trembling hand towards the transparent glass while a strong feeling of nostalgia hits me. The moment the tips of my fingers connect with the glass, a tremor runs through my body, several cracks appearing on the tank. Dashiell stumbles backwards with me in his arms. As if on cue, the glass shatters and my floating body collapses to the bottom of the tank. In that instant, my vision bleeds white and I'm suddenly left with a feeling of bleak emptiness. Terrified, I reach out for my mate's subconsciousness. However, I fail to reach him every time I try. Am I dead? I can't help but wonder. While I ponder on this, I hear Dashiell's voice. He's calling out my name with desperation. He's pleading with me to stay with him. In my feverish haze, a feminine voice fills my head. This voice sounds just like Dakota's.'Go to him. You have my blessings.'With a gasp, my eyes shoot open, and a pair of strong arms pull me into an embrace.
DASHIELL Hearing my mate's voice in my head for the first time in days, spurred me into overdrive. Like a storm, I head straight for the headquarters of the Guild. Despite the large numbers of officials that try to get in my way, I don't hesitate to take them down. Once I'm below ground level, I finally encounter the members of the Six. West had taken his time to get me information on every member of the Six. Therefore, it's pretty easy to recognize them."Do you think we will let you through? Surrender now and save yourself the embarrassment," one of them says to me. I snort in amusement. They clearly do not know what I'm capable of. "Hand over your keys. It's going to save you a lot of trouble if you do," I state, and they all stiffen, exchanging bewildered glances with each other."How do you know about the keys?" One of them asks, and I shrug, nonchalantly."It's none of your business. Now, are we doing this or not?" I've barely completed my statement when two members
DAKOTA I'm freezing. This place, which looks more like a dungeon than a prison cell, has no source of illumination. Therefore, everything is pitch black. Ocean growls in my head, her frustration bleeding into me. My head is throbbing, probably from colliding with the floor when I collapsed. With my limbs firmly tied up, my movements are limited. Even so, I am determined to get out of this place. Even if it means that I'll have to crawl out of it. The heavy door creaks open, and Landon walks in. He halts by the door for a moment, his grey eyes watching me with pity. Slowly, he walks towards me and crouches in front of me, bringing a hand to my face."It's such a pity. I had such great plans for you, but you ruined it all. I believed in you, Mel. You disappointed me. Now, you will have to pay the price for it," he whispers, brushing my hair away from my face.Pulling away from him, I rest my head on the wall."That's quite funny, you know? You claim to have big plans for me, but