KAYLA“Oh wow.”I marveled at the sight of the glowing pendant because I’d never seen something quite like this. A gazillion questions roamed behind my eyes, including whether or not Rafael knew about this. The tears seized from falling down my cheeks as I reached across to the necklace.Like an amulet, its light hit the ceiling and emanated a purple hue. I enclasped it like an artifact in my hands. narrowing my eyes at the hauntingly beautiful diamond. It was warm and embracing, like a presence flowed through the stone—a presence that seemed to choose me.What was this."Am I making the right decision?" My first instinct was to speak to it and after a moment, it beamed twice. I had no idea what that meant but a faint smile crept to the corner of my lips. It seemed like the crystal was talking back to me."Was Sarah murdered by a wild animal in the woods?" I asked the next obvious question and this time, it was hesitant although it still beamed. It was like an ancient artifact with
RAFAEL.“How did you never tell me you had a brother?”Kayla asked the first of the hundred questions that roamed in the back of her mind. She ran the towel through her messy hair and then took a seat on the same bed where I was. It’s been an hour since we got back from the forest and every second since then, I’d dreaded that question.How was I supposed to tell her that even the thought of Lucien was dead in my head. Ever since he left a long time ago, I’d killed him in my mind, thinking there was no way he would resurface. Thinking with him in the past, I would be able to finally move forward.I don’t go about telling people of my brother, Lucien because all he has ever done was ruin my life and ruin everything. “Rafael” Kayla’s soft voice drifted me out of my thoughts and I tied my lips to the corner, letting my eyes fall on her. We were the only ones in the room, excused by all the maids and guards. I just wanted to make sure she was okay after all that happened, and besides the
KAYLA.The bruises across my neck ran shallow but they burned so much.I was no stranger to torture and vile treatment that I had a lot of wounds and scars across my body. I could endure a hundred from my father but not one from a Lycan. I touched across the red surface but it hurt even more—almost yearning for Rafael's hands.Whenever he was with me, it didn't hurt so much.I wanted him.I wanted him so bad that my body craved his touch—that I couldn't explain. It was more than being mated, more than being tethered. It was as though he was my life, my cure. I wanted him as bad as he wanted me but the thought of Veronica had forced me to drive him away.I regretted it as soon as he walked out of the door. I regretted letting him go. I was a stranger to these carnal feelings which only made it a hundred times worse that I just needed the coldest shower to bury my head beneath. But alas as I stood up, holding the towel across my chest, my door suddenly barged open.And a shaky gasp e
RAFAEL.I sneaked up the stairs in nothing but my trousers and my wet shirt hanging across my arms. I was gentle enough to not wake Kayla up but that was only a mission half accomplished because now I was to walk back into my room without waking Veronica too.My hands grasped around the knob and I pushed it open slowly to avoid the creaking sound. I was careful enough, walking to my bed and slipping beneath the sheets and it was then the lamp turned on. Veronica reached to it and looked back at me.“Where have you been?” She asked softly amidst a yawn and I ran my hands through my moist hair. “I—“ I stuttered, realizing I should have probably come up with an excuse on my way here. “I showered in the guest room after speaking with Lucien” I continued.“Speaking with Lucien?” She echoed and it was just as confusing to her as it was for me. But as bright as Veronica was, she did have a soft spot for me, allowing my words to settle in her as the truth. She leaned in for a kiss and then
KAYLA.Since I got here, I’ve noticed a few things.The Lycans lived much differently than how we did back at Blood Moon. They were organized, tactic and not to mention, even more powerful. They seemed to always be in control or on the verge of it. Everything here was well intentioned and happened for a reason I noticed.Their shifting also came easily to them. Or perhaps as they grew, they learned to control their powers and most primal desires. Unlike my people who could only transform during a full moon, the Lycans were blessed with the ability to shift whenever they wanted. I’ve watched Rafael slip in and out of his beastly nature and it was clear that of all of them, he was the most advanced and powerful. It made sense that he was Alpha King, able to rule fairly over the wolves of the Black Mountain Pack, commanding as much respect and regard to him. It was essential for the smooth running of the pack that they accepted him as king to rule over them. It wasn’t a messy politica
KAYLA.Immediately Rafael entered the car, we pulled away from the sidewalk. I bade goodbye to the Black Mountain castle with my eyes as if we weren’t to return back at dusk. To be honest, I was just relieved that I was going back home even if it was for short time. Blood Moon treated me horribly I know, but it was also where I spent the majority of my life. It was more than the people that made it home to me, it was the large garden at the back of my house where I would sit when I was ten, with my pen and journal in my hands. There would be colorful butterflies dancing in the flowery-scented air that would fill my nose. I would hide there every evening while everyone else was inside. No one cared to look for me so far all the work had been done and sitting in that garden as the sun set was my quiet time. It was where I learned about everything I knew today.About the humans, the lycans, emotions and even the languages.I wasn’t privileged to go to school, so the most of my knowled
FIVE YEARS AGO.I remember hearing the voices come from behind the door as I walked towards my father’s chamber with his plate of food in my hands. I was shaking, dreading the moment I would stand before him because I knew what was coming. I knew Rose had laid her hands on my journal and now she was going to report me to father and I was scared that I wouldn’t live past that day. I wrote down my innermost thoughts in that book and some of them were the horrible ways that they treated me that I wanted to tell my mother.My heart stopped once the door flung open and there was a lone tear that escaped my eyes. Archer hovered with anger, landing me a slap across my face without any hesitation.Stars dwindled in my eyes as the plate crashed to the floor and then he took me by my hands and slammed me into the wall. “I read it all” He gritted through his teeth, far from pleased as I whimpered in his grasp.“I’m sorry” I apologized.“You realize you’re so ungrateful. You know that?” My fathe
KAYLA."Have you lost your mind?" Rafael fastened his grip around my wrists and held me back from walking out of the doors. “I know him, Rafael. From years ago and besides he’s already seen us. There’s no way we can run” I muttered beneath my breath.“I’m not allowing you go out. You won’t put yourself in such danger, not while I’m here” He shook his head as I wriggled out of his hands, an arch came between my brows.Everyone else stared from behind as Aiden inched closer towards the door.“Let me handle this” Rafael added and there are was a glimmer of fierceness in his eyes. I held him back from walking towards Aiden and he turned to me. “Don’t hurt him. He’s harmless” I whispered and Rafael pushed a hard lump down his throat.I knew it had been five years since I last saw Aiden and he was the only one armed with a silver arrow but I trusted him. Rafael on the hand, I knew he wouldn’t hesitate to gut out his throat if he did as much as look in my direction. My eyes met Aiden again