VioletI woke up with two strong arms wrapped around me and knew exactly whose arms I was in. Last night was a memory I couldn’t and wouldn’t erase from my mind.My lips curled into a soft smile, and then my cheeks began to heat up as memories from last night returned. The way he touched me, cared for me—and was gentle enough to make me feel comfortable.‘You’re okay, I got you—relax.’ ‘Look at me.’ ‘You’re beautiful.’ All of those were words I had never expected to leave Kylan’s mouth, but somehow he did—and then he kissed my head and held me in his arms for the entire night. It was probably nothing, just some aftercare—but it felt nice.Even after almost marking me, he didn’t pull back, hadn’t kicked me out of his room, or brought it up. It was a good thing he didn’t, because I just wanted it to be normal, but then again—maybe if he did, I wouldn’t have had this crush on him.Yes, crush. After losing my virginity, I did the one thing he told me not to do—catch feelings.
VioletNervously, I bit my lips as Esther stared at me with narrowed eyes. I felt my pulse quicken. Even though I was technically on time, I knew she wasn’t stupid. Getting caught out past curfew was no small thing, and an automatic strike—a permanent one.Doing this while being part of the team that was supposedly the pride of the school was not done, and leaving the male dorm was just simply humiliating. Barely anyone got caught, but of course—it had to be me.Although I tried to keep my face neutral, guilt was written all over it.“Seeing as curfew has barely ended, I’m just going to assume that you’re not coming back from a walk,” Esther said, her gaze sharp and intense.Slowly, her eyes traveled to my neck, and I immediately hid it with my hand. I hadn’t looked in a mirror yet, but after everything Kylan and I had done last night, I had a great feeling of what it would look like.Esther’s sharp eyes softened as she let out a small, disappointed sigh. “I can give you a strike,” sh
~ That Morning ~KylanAs I got ready for class, I noticed a hair tie on the edge of my bed. I picked it up, chuckling. Puppy had left in such a hurry an hour ago—and it was probably for the best because the last thing I wanted was for someone to see her leaving.If word got around, the next thing you knew, people would assume she was my mate, and once that happened—I’d never hear the end of it. I wasn’t just looking out for myself, but for her as well.My thoughts drifted back to last night, every moment replaying in my mind. I couldn’t shake off how good she felt, the way she had clung to me, the way she tasted, and the soft moans that had escaped her lips as she collapsed in my arms.Yesterday was not like it was with anyone else before—and even though I enjoyed it, it terrified me.My smile faded as I remembered that one horrific thing I had almost done. I had called her beautiful, let myself say things I had never meant to say out loud—and when I felt her neck under my mouth, the
VioletEach time I heard footsteps, my eyes were automatically fixed on the door, hoping it was him.I had been waiting to see Kylan all day. At first, it was out of excitement, but after Trinity’s words at lunch, I wanted to see how he would react. The idea of him with Chrystal, right after I left his room, made me fear that he regretted everything that happened between us—and I was hoping to be wrong.After keeping me in anticipation, the door cracked open again, and this time it was actually him—Kylan. Nate and Dylan were right beside him. My heart stopped for a moment as Kylan’s eyes found mine, like he’d known I’d be waiting.I wanted to get up, walk straight over to him—but I held myself back. Instead, I gave him a small smile, hoping to test the waters. Was he going to pull away again? Would he just brush me off? To my surprise, Kylan smiled back. A warm, genuine smile.He really had some nerve, smiling at me like that after everything I had heard. It bothered me, yet somehow,
VioletMy stomach turned, and I suddenly regretted ever bringing it up. I wasn’t sure what to feel, let alone what to ask—and the words left my mouth before I could think about it.“I-I guess I just wanted to know if…if perhaps I didn’t make you feel good enough last night, or something,” I stammered, cringing at my own awkwardness as the words left my mouth.Kylan’s expression softened, and he let out a laugh, glancing down. I was desperate to look away, but before I could, he stepped closer—closing the distance between us. My heart fluttered as his hand moved to my chin, tilting my face up to meet his gaze.His eyes locked onto mine, and I felt my knees weaken. Every part of me silently pleaded for him to lean in and kiss me, touch me.Do it, please…But just as I thought he would, he pulled back and turned away.“She did come to my room,” he admitted, his tone casual. “But I sent her away.”Wait, what?Relieved washed over me, but only for a second. He might’ve turned her away this
VioletI leaned my chin into my hand, staring at Kylan from a distance. He was standing with some of the guys of the Elite Team, including Dylan as they were laughing about something.Drool nearly escaped from my mouth as Kylan’s lip curled into his signature smirk that always made my stomach flip.My eyes moved to his biceps as I tried to focus on Trinity’s voice, but it was impossible with him standing right there, looking so…him.Fuck, I was sinking deep.It was around afternoon, and we were sitting at one of the tables outside. For a change, the weather actually wasn’t that bad, and the sun even casted a golden glow over the campus.I had finished Elite training in the early morning, but it wasn’t Rochwall’s training that drained my energy.It was him.I hadn’t spoken to Kylan yesterday, and not today either. It killed me. After our night in the woods and our little moment with the squirrel—who I never heard anything about ever again, by the way—I thought he would’ve at least had
VioletThe ride was silent.Kylan’s eyes stayed on the road ahead, not even glancing at my direction while I shifted in my seat, fidgeting with the hem of my shirt as I tried to think of something to say.“So, I’m wondering…” I began. This time Kylan glanced at me briefly, lifting a brow.“How is my little friend doing?” I asked, testing the waters as I often did with him.Was he going to react like the usual Kylan, or the softer version?He chuckled, his lips curling into a small smile. “The squirrel?”I nodded, returning his smile.“She’s made herself pretty comfortable in my room,” he chuckled, the sound of it warming my heart. I guess he was being kind again.“Even more comfortable than me?” The words slipped out before I could stop them, and my cheeks immediately flushed. Why had I said that?Kylan didn’t answer right away, but a smile appeared on his lips. He looked amused by my embarrassment.“So you’ve never gone out before?” he asked, changing the subject.I shook my head. “N
VioletHe didn’t want me to get lost?To be honest, it was understandable. He was the one who had taken me outside the gates, so at the moment—he was the one responsible for me.I swallowed hard, my face growing hotter.Wake up, Violet—this was not some romantic outing. The guy isn’t even into you like that, doesn’t even want you as his mate.“Right,” I mumbled softly, automatically squeezing his hand. We started walking again, and I bit the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling like an idiot, imagining what it could’ve been like if he didn’t resent the Moon Goddess’ wishes.As we walked further into the market, my eyes darted from one stall to the next. There was so much I wanted to do, that my mind was spinning. When I saw something I couldn’t ignore, I stopped in my steps, pulling Kylan with me.“What?” he mumbled softly.My finger pointed to the small jewelry stand, leading to a shop inside. There was a big sign that read ‘handmade jewelry,’ and I just felt it calling me
Adelaide It felt as if the world around me had stopped. I softly clutched my chest, trying to steady my breathing. After sacrificing my position as the next High Priestess, I didn’t have a whole lot to sacrifice, so I didn’t like where this was headed. “The Veil has layers depending on each threat,” Aelius spoke. “The one who creates the Veil is expected to stay inside to keep watch on every layer within the realm.” My heart ached as I realized what he was saying. I would have to give up everything, my freedom, my life…all to keep Alaric, everyone, safe from Baelor. But it would be worth it, I know it would… “If that’s what it takes to keep Alaric safe,” I accept my faith, “then once again—I’ve already decided.” “That’s not all, Adelaide.” There was more? My chest tightened at the mere thought. “Then what is it?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. Aelius tilted his head. “Where do you think your strength comes from?” I frowned, trying to think. “From my eyes…from all t
AdelaideI fluttered my eyes open, feeling the bright morning sun stream through the small window. Nothing from yesterday was a blur—I remembered it all very clearly.Mom and Esther, Baelor, fleeing to the cave…A weak sigh escaped my lips. It was officially graduation day, and I couldn’t help but wonder what our friends were doing at the moment.Would they be searching for us?Would that old man, Principal Sterling, have forced them to focus on graduation instead?They must be so confused right now.We had all worked so hard for four years to get to this point—only for it to be ruined by some God of the Underworld, and none of them even knew.But I didn’t care…He was safe. Alaric was safe, and that was all that mattered—My breath hitched, and my head turned in less than a split second. “Alaric?”I patted the empty spot beside me, then sat up straight, scanning the room. My eyes landed on a small note on the nightstand.“No…” I reached for it with shaky hands, expecting to read some
Adelaide Hearing the sound of a loud gasp, my eyes immediately shot open. Alaric’s wide blue eyes locked on mine, his breathing heavy and uneven. Worried, I placed my hand on his chest as it rose and fell. “You’re okay!” Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around him—not caring if he would return the affection, but he did. He pulled me into a tight embrace. My heart felt a bit more at ease, and tears pricked my eyes at the relief I felt. Alaric holding me in his arms was all I needed right now. His hand moved to the back of my head, rubbing it like I was the one who needed comforting more than he did. “You were never going to do it,” he whispered against my hair. “You were never going to feed me any darkness.” I drew in a sharp breath, realizing what he meant. He knew—he had seen everything through my eyes, just like I wanted him to. “Of course I wouldn’t,” I stated, pulling back to look at him. I wanted to meet his eyes so he could see how serious I was. “
AdelaideI groaned, pulling the sled I had managed to put together from broken branches and leaves. On top of it lay Alaric, still unconscious, as he had left me no choice.It would’ve spared me a lot of time and strength if he had just listened to me—but at the same time, I understood I was probably the last person he wanted to hear from at the moment.The path through the dark woods was rough, my arms burning—but I couldn’t stop. Not until I knew he was safe.By now, Mom and Esther’s paralysis must’ve worn off, meaning I had to move faster.Sighing deeply, I glanced up at the hill in the distance. At the top was the cave that led to Bloodstone Haven—the village of the children of blood. We weren’t far now.“Come on,” I whispered, encouraging myself. “You’re almost there.”The cave was my only option, and I was certain Mom wouldn’t find us here. As far as she was concerned, I hadn’t spoken to Grandpa Aelius in years and barely remembered the man. After all, she had brainwashed me all
AdelaideMaking my eyes glow, I shifted my attention to Mom and Esther, who still had their eyes closed, chanting to bring back Baelor.They were too focused to notice me approaching, and I knew that if I wanted to do something—now was my chance.My heart raced, but I didn’t stop—I couldn’t stop.I was a good person…I stuck out both of my hands, placing them on each of their heads, and then…everything stopped.The shaking, the chanting, the black shadow—it all vanished instantly.Both Mom and Esther gasped before collapsing to the cold floor, their eyes wide with shock. The room was completely silent, except for my heavy breathing as it hit me what I had just done.Esther whimpered. “Adelaide?”“Sweetheart?” Mom whispered in disbelief.My eyes faded back to normal, and guilt washed over me as I watched my own mother lying there, unable to move. It wasn’t because of her—it was because I hadn’t done it sooner.I had paralyzed them, the same way Mom had paralyzed Alaric earlier. It was
AdelaideMy vision blurred as I tried to keep up with everything happening around me. It all happened so fast.One moment, I was trying to escape Starlight with Alaric, and now I was glued to the wall of some secret room beneath the library. Mom and Esther had dragged him here, unconscious, and I had no idea what to do.Esther had tied Alaric to some pole in the center of the room, while Mom grabbed his limp hand and whispered a few words.All of this was making me sick. I was so close to running away with him—but I had failed.Think, Adelaide, think!I looked around the small room, which looked like it had been prepared for this so-called ritual for a long time. Symbols were painted across the floor, salt had been spread around the center, there were candles, and most importantly, a small wooden table with an open book.Deciding to bring back Baelor during the party, where the whole school would be present—from freshmen to seniors to the professors—was definitely a calculated decisio
AdelaideWho am I?What am I?Where am I headed?Those were all the questions I couldn’t help but ask myself as I looked into the mirror. My face, my hair, even my body—they all looked the same, but I knew damn well that I wasn’t the same cruel person I had been four years ago.I sighed, straightening my tight black dress with my hands, then brushed through my curled hair. I looked perfect—like the kind of girl who had it all together…but deep inside, I was a mess.The graduation party was in a while, and I still hadn’t figured out what would happen tomorrow.“Addy!” Claire entered my room, holding up two purses. “Blue or pink?” she asked, spinning around in her white dress.Claire looked stunning, as always. Her blonde hair was in an elegant bun, and her dress made her look more like a fairy than a werewolf. But it wasn’t just her looks that made her stunning—it was everything about her. She was kind, funny, and, besides Alaric, had one of the purest hearts I had ever seen.If there
Year 4Adelaide“One more day, Addy!” Claire squealed, pulling me into a tight hug. “Can you believe it? We’re finally graduating!”Her eyes sparkled as she pulled back to look at me. Claire had been like this for months, probably because she actually had her life planned out after school.I opened my mouth to respond, but before I could, she was already barking orders to someone across the gym.“No, the lights need to be higher!” she pointed out. “We’ve gone through this already, get it together!”My lips curled, watching the same girl who couldn’t even count to ten a few years back thriving as the head of the school council. Whatever she would end up doing at the Bloodrose, I knew she would be good at it.“Tonight is going to be perfect, Addy!” She turned back to me. “Don’t you think?”I nodded, though I couldn’t reach her level of excitement. Even now, my mind was elsewhere. There was the party tonight and graduation tomorrow—but for me, everything still felt far from perfect.Why?
Year 3Adelaide‘The Veil, also known as a special portal that can only be created by the eyes of a Seer. Once such a portal is opened…’Before I could read further, I felt a firm hand on my shoulder. A gasp left my mouth before I slammed the book shut.Knowing who the hand belonged to, I quickly turned around, facing Alaric, who stood behind me with a grin on his face.“What’s with the look?” he chuckled, leaning down to kiss the side of my neck. I flinched, feeling his lips on the same spot where he had marked me last year. After making up every reason as to why it wouldn’t be a good idea, I came to the conclusion that there really wasn’t one.Maybe one—and that reason was Mom. An argument with Mom during the semester break had eventually pushed me to do it, and I did not regret my decision.As far as Mom and Esther were concerned, I was still preparing her chosen vessel—feeding him darkness—but that wasn’t true. I mostly spent my days in the library, desperately searching for a way