*Logan*I sat in a chair and held a sleeping Gemma. I stared at her beautiful, rosy cheeks and couldn't help but smile at her. Her sweaty blonde hair stuck to her neck, and I gently brushed it back. She was tired of running after vampires who were much faster than her, but she didn't give up until she almost collapsed from exhaustion.I never thought that watching someone else's baby would awaken a fatherly instinct in me. I knew she was special when I saw her confidently sparring with me at the tournament. But I never imagined I would bond with her so quickly and deeply that I would consider her my own.'That's my girl.' Gunnar confessed proudly, staring at the little one with adoration and pride.'Yeah. You mean OUR girl.' I affirmed and emphasized that she was not exclusive.Gunnar rolled his eyes but agreed. Gemma sighed deeply and snuggled into my chest, purring like a contented little kitten; they remind me of her own mother, who also makes similar sounds when she is happy. I la
*Logan*I lay in my bed, propped up on the pillow that smelled of apple pie, and watched both my girls sleeping, curled on the massive bed, holding each other's hands. An intensely red, warm quilt with Christmas gift patterns shines in your eyes like the glow of a burning fire in the fireplace. Vampires know no moderation in decorating, playing, eating, drinking, or in life in general. Their fortunes are always countless, their estates are exaggerated, and their tastes are tacky, starkly contrasting to my simple, balanced life.My quarters in Andrew's grand mansion remained consistent, always the smallest yet still resembling a luxurious suite. However, they eschewed the use of gold embellishments, Persian rugs, and furniture from the Baroque era. I appreciate simplicity, but they went overboard in adorning my room, leaving it resembling the epitome of a picturesque scene from a Christmas magazine.'What's wrong with the decorations? It's Christmas.' Gunnar reminded me while making h
*Rose*I stared at my fingernails, a stark reminder of the day I fled my home. The once pristine nails, now chipped and almost to the point of bleeding, mirrored the upheaval in my life. I never imagined I would be fighting for my life in my own home, nor did I anticipate the drastic changes it would bring. But it did and transformed me in ways I could never have foreseen.I knew my journey would be difficult, full of traps and monsters. Tanner told me many stories about his kind and what they are capable of, but I didn't believe him, not at first, at least. I sniffed as his handsome, smiling face flashed in my mind.Our meeting was a twist of fate, or so he claimed. My art gallery was closed that day, and I had grand plans. But all that changed when I discovered my flat tire. I called my friend for help, but he was out of town, so he sent his friend instead. I waited, and my life took an unexpected turn when a black SUV rolled down my lawn.I had never seen such a handsome man before
*Rose*I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths before the stinging sensation vanished, and I washed away all the remnants of the dried blood, paint, and sweat. Azize stood from the chair, and the man everybody referred to as a Highlord took his place. He looked like a carbon copy of Azize but had more eyes like the azure ocean. They smiled at each other, and Azize grabbed a heavy oak chair and dragged it across the beautiful oriental carpet, leaving traces on it. I widened my eyes, but she just shrugged her shoulders, placed the chair next to me, and sat down, crossing her legs, revealing her naked porcelain leg covered with several flowery tattoos."The pretty royal boy must find a chair himself." She mocked the incomer and placed her hand on my armrest."We are ladies; I am her moral and emotional support." She pointed at me and straightened up in her seat.My heart beat faster, fearing that her offensive comment might cause trouble, but the man before me chuckled, and the one
*Logan*"Is he alive?" I asked after I closed the door.I knew that whatever they came here to report would impact Rose, so it was better to discuss it without her, avoiding a potential meltdown.Andrew's shades are known for not beating around the bush. That's how they're trained. They are supposed to be guided by reason, not emotion, so my question was answered, although they reported not to me but to their Lord."He was alive when we received the update. At least, that was his status for the last ten hours. He was seen near the reservoir the girl mentioned before they took him away. He had a cut and one stab wound near his sternum. He was put into the back of an SUV and driven off towards the access road to Larch Groove Pack, but they never got there. The car disappeared about forty miles before the pack's border and turned up burned in a garbage dump about a hundred miles east of the city." One of the shadows reported, but nothing he said indicated Tanner's survival.I walked back
*Logan**August 13th. The following delivery went as planned, with Seamus requesting a double dose of the opioid for his hallucinogen, which slowly began to lose its potency four days after the test subject took it. Motor skills are fully preserved, but after two days, they start to suffer from convulsions and have a slight limp.I don't know how much longer I can look at all this without trying to save these people, but I know I won't be able to do anything against twenty alone, and that's just a drop in the ocean. Seamus has recruited not only his members but also rogues and humans who are even willing to do this crap for money. I must get this to Poppy quickly because my time as her informant is running out.*September 24th. I almost got caught today carrying vials out of the Larch Creek Valley lab at the old disused mill. I managed to slip away unnoticed by the men armed with Wolfbane-loaded rifles, but I dropped two of the three stolen vials and could not retrieve them. This
*Poppy*I knew that these days, I would have to challenge myself, push my limits, and even agree to do things I would never imagine. But I also knew that sometimes, we must sacrifice our beliefs and do everything to stop evil from spreading. I wasn't expecting to be part of some mission impossible that involved spying, risking my life, and, above all, playing a role that I wasn't sure I would be good at. I wanted to help, but as soon as I heard what role I had in it, Logan himself had problems letting me go alone with Azize."Don't worry about your boyfriend. He's more than capable of handling his mission alone, yet my brother and his two thugs will join him," Azize assured me while driving her SUV with her best warrior in the passenger seat."He's not my boyfriend. I am still mated, remember." I rudely reminded her, trying to sit comfortably in the back with my hands and legs cuffed."Yeah," she scoffed, "And I am the Queen of Kindness. Bullshit. I can sniff a relationship from mile
*Poppy*I requested, "Stop the car," but Azize didn't react and even increased the speed slightly."I said stop the car; I need you to lend me your friend," I repeated and gestured at the tall, lean, incredibly handsome man with a bored face on the passenger's seat."And why would I do that?" Azize nagged with an equally bored face, but I rolled my eyes at her attitude.I knew she wasn't happy with her brother's request; she was more interested in going with Logan straight to Larch Creek Valley to search for Tanner and that lab, but her brother convinced her that my part of the mission was also essential. She felt resentful as one of the best warriors in their family, and as one of the deadliest assassins known to the vampire people, she was probably not having fun playing babysitter.This woman was made of the souls, screams, and blood of the victims she killed. Her single gaze was chilling, and her quick reflexes and precise cat-like body made her a deadly and perfect weapon. Her ni
*Poppy*The day of the funeral dawned heavy with unspoken grief and uncertainty. The air was thick, and a heavy fog was rolling over the river's surface as the Larch Grove Pack members gathered at the pier. Their eyes cast downwards, and their hearts were burdened with the loss of their Alpha, Seamus. I stood among them, my shoulders squared, forcing myself to remain composed despite the wave of turmoil. It had only been a matter of days since Seamus's death, and now I faced the moment of farewell.The makeshift altar at the end of the pier was adorned with wildflowers and tokens of respect, symbolizing the bond shared between Alpha and his loyal followers. Torches had been placed around the pier, ready to flicker to life and send Seamus off in a blaze of tribute when the time came. I could hear the low murmurs of those in attendance, their whispers punctuating the profound silence
*Poppy*I stood at the helm of the Larch Groove Pack, the warmth of the sun streaming through the expansive glass window of what had once been the grand hall and now was my makeshift command post. The air was thick with tension as I surveyed the faces of my pack members, their expressions a mixture of uncertainty and expectation. This wasn't just a new chapter but a complete rewrite of the history that had plagued them for far too long.Clearing my throat, I took a deep breath, channeling the strength of my daughter Gemma's memories, my mentor Gamma Tanner's wisdom, and the resolve hinted at in the dungeons. "We have a priority," I declared, my voice steady and unwavering. "The water supply—our lives depend on it. I'm demanding an immediate change of the w
*Poppy*The sun dipped below the horizon, casting an amber glow that filtered through the trees of Larch Grove Pack. I gazed over Easton's shoulder and saw Prince Nanyou standing solemnly among the gathered members of the pack, his princely demeanor calm yet authoritative. I finally learned his name after mistakenly calling him Nintendo once, and I almost burned with shame for misspelling it. Luckily, he was understanding, but Princes Dante and Easton made fun of me every time they could.Given the recent events that have deeply affected everyone, it was evident that the pack required a leader, a guiding voice amid the turmoil following Seamus's death. Today’s meeting was specifically held to reveal the verdict reached by the three royals."Thank you all for coming," Nanyou began, his voice resonating through the clearing where they had co
*Poppy*I took a deep breath as I settled into the worn leather chair beneath the dim light of the small room. The weight of the past days felt as heavy as the bars that kept me locked in the dungeons—the unrelenting reminder of the turmoil that had engulfed my life. Today, however, I had the chance to reach out to the most important people in the world—my daughter, Gemma, and my trusted friend, ex-Gamma Tanner.I set my phone on the table, the screen flickered to life with a steady pulse, and I dialed Tanner's number. The signals went one after another as I watched my reflection on the screen, waiting for the call to connect. As it did, anticipation filled the air. Just hearing Gemma's voice would be worth my treacherous journey."Mom?" Gemma's bright voice broke through the static, and I felt relief. Seeing her smiling face, with its blue eyes and blond pigtails, made me choke on my sobs, and I clapped my hand over my mouth."Sweetheart!" My voice blended warmth and care, and my hea
*Poppy*For the past thirty minutes, three handsome princes have been discussing my situation fervently, even though I'm sitting right next to them, hearing every word they say and wondering why no one has let me out and allowed me to contact my daughter. I have some rights, don't I? We may not be subject to the human justice system, but for God's sake, I have the right to a lawyer, to remain silent, and to make one phone call. Unfortunately, I've been denied that for the past three days. I'm not going to sit here idly wondering when and if I'll be able to hear my daughter's voice and see her sweet, smiling face. I got up from the small bed, walked toward the silver bars, and cleared my throat loudly. Unfortunately, my attempt to get the attention of the three powerful Lycans failed, and each of them began to discuss various matters, interjecting words whose meaning was a mystery to me. Well, yes, I have not learned to speak Italian or Mandarin. Spanish is the only language I have lea
*Poppy*“ How did I end up here? “ I wondered as I sat in the barred cell, pulling at my hair. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. This wasn't how my case was supposed to end. This wasn't how my life was supposed to unfold, for fuck's sake. What the hell had gone wrong?! I shouted these questions like a catapult, creating an even bigger mess. I lifted my head and stared at Easton, pacing back and forth, tearing at his hair as I did, questioning our situation. His footsteps could already make a path the size of the Great Wall of China. Chairman Pullman glared at me as if I'd killed his cat with a hammer. Where had he even come from? And how on earth did he manage to convene some extraordinary council that was supposed to decide my fate? When did my life turn into a series of endless disasters?"What will happen to me? I mean, what could be a punishment for this?" I asked quietly, pondering how to escape this impasse. Easton paused and glanced my way. His eyes were eerily stormy as i
*Dante de Gallo*My head is pounding, and I feel like I have a subscription to a jackhammer. My skull feels like it’s splitting. I groaned when I tried to move just enough to grab a mug of steaming tea. The clatter of dishes, the layers of conversations, and, above all, the mingling of smells were not helping me at all. I found myself breathing through my mouth and praying for mercy after yesterday's foolishness."I told you to stop at scotch; you insisted on that damn moonshine. Now suffer." Nanyou, my best friend and partner in crime, chirped, delighting in my misery. I looked at him through slightly swollen eyelids, and although I tried to give him a murderous glare, I suspected from his amused expression that I appeared as if I had suffered a stroke."Why didn't you stop me?" I asked, even as my breath still carried a stench of booze. I had overdone it. Yesterday, or rather this morning, I had gone too far. My father would scold me if he found out that his pride and joy had failed
*Dante de Gallo*"Listen to me, Allegra, and listen closely." I turned to my sister as our jet landed at the small airport, making our way toward the VIP hangar. Our relationship has always been complicated, filled with both protectiveness and frustration. "I’m here to investigate some ridiculous case and plan to do it as quickly as possible. Don't interfere, don't step in my way, and most importantly, don't go after that insufferable royal jerk. I don't have time to babysit you, and I have no intention of instigating a conflict with the Brantfords. Keep your hands to yourself, and don't think I don't know why you're here." I threatened her with my finger, even though Allegra looked at me as if I was unjustly accusing her. "You're still obsessed with him," I confronted her, and she momentarily widened her eyes. "You better stop this because once your lycan detects your mate, you don't want to break her heart by choosing an unworthy jerk over the blessed love sent to you by the Goddes
*Dante de Gallo*"You have to be kidding me, Dad," I growled, hearing his latest request. I turned suddenly, checking if the joke on his lips matched his equally smiling face, but it didn’t. Unfortunately, his sincere expression suggested I was not dealing with a joking father but a king giving an order."You want me to go to the States as a European royal representative because the Supreme Council called a meeting for a frivolous reason?" I asked, making sure that my reasoning included the entire situation. "Yes. And as the future King Dante, you must learn to keep your grudges tucked away and perform your duties respectfully and passionately." He scolded me, recalling my quarrel with one of the Brantford brothers. I narrowed my eyes at the old man but kept quiet and nodded before he dismissed me from the damn office. How the hell does he expect me to fulfill my duties with this jerk taunting me every chance he gets?'Fuck that princeling. Let's make our father proud and resolve the