“You felt it, didn’t you? The bitch is not an ordinary she-wolf.” I spat, smashing my cup on the floor.“Yeah, well. Should’ve expected that.” Caira shrugged, looking prim and proper, and unconcerned as usual.I wondered how she did it. The bitch never seemed to lose her cool no matter the situation. I’m sure. She was just as bothered about the she-wolf’s Alpha voice as I was.After all, Einas’s gaze refused to move from the bitch the moment he entered the Living Hall. It remained stuck on her and followed her back as she left with her friend.Caira couldn’t possibly stomach the sight of her man’s eyes filled with another she-wolf.Hell, the girl plotted and schemed for so many years to portray the image of a sweet and gentle she-Lycan to the Commander. He was so blinded by her fake and kind image that he didn’t even know he was parading around his Beta’s soulmate.So how could that Caira sit back and watch, while the prey she led by the nose ogled someone else in her presence?“I ask
On the Morning of the Moon Dance, I woke to a soft knock on the door. I made a very undignified groan as I rolled and almost fell to the ground. “Damn it! Who is it!” I called. “Saira, are you up?” Idris Raed’s faint voice streamed into the room. What did he want so early in the morning? I suppressed a yawn and glanced to my right. Sofia was sprawled out on the blanket like an octopus, making my lips twitch in amusement. My heart panged with a flash of pity for her future. ‘He would have his hands full.’ I lamented with another yawn and scrambled off the bed to open the door. “What is it?” I grumbled, running a hand through my wild mane. “Sorry to…” His Adam’s apple visibly moved as he swallowed and shifted his posture to lean against the wall. “Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, but I wanted to give you something.” He said, pulling out a velvet box from his pocket. “If it’s jewelry, I don’t need it.” I shook my head, preparing to shut the door. He pressed a hand on the door
By evening, all the invited guests for the Moon Dance had checked in. From a distance, I saw Idris Raed lead my father and mother towards his mansion. I couldn't go over to welcome them. The dinner menu had to be finalized, and well, I wasn't prepared to face them yet. Fortunately, they didn't need me. The Lycan was deeply invested in the role of a son-in-law, carrying their luggage and all. If he was my soulmate- I stopped short, shocked by my thought. It wasn’t a day or two that I spent with Idris Raed. It was nearly half a month. In the time we’ve been forced to stay together, I learned enough to know he had his own agendas. If Raed Basil was a scheming Lycan and Einas Raed a dickhead, then Idris Raed was the cunning beast in sheep-clothing everyone overlooked. He was just as bad, if not worse, than his father and brother. And I was more than happy to ignore him...right? Then why did such a thought cross my mind? “Sai. Sai!” Sofia’s call reached me through the haze of conf
3 hours later, Sofia and I were ready. We stood side by side before the mirror, more than pleased with our appearances. Our dresses shimmered under the radiance of the light. The skirts flared over our hips and pooled at our feet. As the folds fluttered with our every step, they added a natural grace to our overall look. Though similar in design, Sofia’s was more on the sexy, form fitting side, while mine enhanced my curves, but was more of the elegant and graceful style. We had our hair down. Her straight blonde locks were curled at the end for extra volume, while my glossy ember mane was braided with pearls at the front, Idris Raed’s gift, and streamed down my back in curly waves. With the matching jewelry, light eye-shadow, and just right amount of lip-gloss, we looked like Greek goddesses out to rule the mortal realm. "Fuck, am I Artemis reborn?" Sofia posed, making me giggle at her narcissistic comment. At times, she sounded so much like Zaria. The thought made my smile fa
“Saira, Tia and the others...” Sofia gestured to a corner of the clearing. I followed her gaze and saw the ranked members of the Evergreen Pack. Tia, the future Gamma, stood with Bilia and Ilias, the Delta, and her mate. “Let’s go meet them. We’ll need all the support we can get tonight.” I forced a smile on my face and led her to the group. What’s bound to happen will happen. If Zaria and I were meant to shift tonight, then my fear and anxiety wouldn’t change a thing. With this thought, my anxiety lessened, leaving me in a more composed state. “Sai! I thought I would never see you again!” Tia was the first to spot us. Her face broke into a wide smile as she squealed and pulled us into a crushing hug. If I hadn’t left the Evergreen Pack just two months ago, I would’ve thought we hadn’t seen each other in years. She was that dramatic. “Alright, scoot to the side. I need to give my gals a hug too, you know?” Bilia didn’t waste time shoving her aside with her booty. Ignoring the ot
Sofia moved to the side, leaving me in the spotlight. Ignoring Zaria's disgruntled growls, I removed my mask to address the rowdy crowd. “Friends and allies from the Seven Seas, tonight is the night where the Moon Goddess graces us with her blessings.” Steady and strong, my voice boomed through the air. Gasps of astonishment and intake of breaths came from all around me. Without a doubt, everyone was surprised to see a female using an ability unique to Alpha males. But the shock wore off soon and whistles and cheers filled the air. “Beautiful, do you have a date?” “Your voice touched my heart. Your lyrics pulled on my heartstrings. If you’re up for it, I’m willing to make you my Luna!” “Did you create that song?” The sudden onslaught of questions made the melancholic atmosphere brought about our song abate a little. A strained snarl of ‘what the hell is she doing’ sounded from the Lycan Leader’s direction, making my lips twitch. My singing wasn’t part of the arrangement. He was p
True to my instinct, one dance turned into two, then three, four. At some point, I lost count, and stopped caring. Idris Raed glued himself to me like a gum. His hands didn’t wander. They remained firm around my waist, making their presence hard to ignore. Thinking he would shift, or at least move them a little, if I placed some distance between us, I turned my head to side to break the intimate contact of our cheeks. Instead, he buried his nose in the thick waves of my hair and drew me even closer. The steady rise and fall of his chest became one with mine. He groaned and deeply inhaled my scent, making me instinctively do the same. “Saira…you smell…amazing…” My grip tightened on his shoulders. The heady fragrance of his lemongrass and mint scent filled my nostrils, causing my body to subconsciously sway with him as my mind fell in a daze. When was the last time I had ever felt so calm? So peaceful? So at ease, without the anxiety of my truth keeping me on edge? I couldn’t reme
**Idris*** I think I heard Saira say she would give me a chance. But I couldn’t be sure. When a person longed for something with desperation, they begin to hallucinate and dream about that desire coming true. I was more inclined to believe I was hallucinating. That way, it wouldn’t hurt as much when I got the confirmation that, yes, I was indeed having an auditory issue and wishing for the impossible. “Fuck, Idris. When did you become deaf? I heard it clearly. She said she would give us a chance!” Malko’s agitated growl exploded in my head with a force akin to the clap of thunder. I blinked, then narrowed my eyes on the she-wolf in my arms. She was staring at me with a small, almost innocent, smile. But the twinkle in her eyes made me realize she was laughing at me. Laughing at my foolish response to her words. My breath hitched. I hadn’t heard her wrong. She…she said she would give me a chance! Without conscious thought, I lifted her up in my arms again, until we were practical
“Damn it! She got away again!” I slammed my fist into the tree, leaves and branches flying, as the trunk caved in. Hatred and frustration roiled in the pit of my stomach. Four days, 10 hours, and 55, 56 seconds. That’s how long I’ve been trying to get rid of the she-wolf since Idris Raed’s nomination for Lycan King. Never before had I wasted so much time scheming and plotting to remove an obstacle from my path, as I’ve done in the past four days. Even with Asma, I only spent 2 hours. “Caira, there’s something’s wrong with this she-wolf.” “Oh? Why do you say that?” I retracted my hand and calmed down upon hearing Isra’s words. The two of us were a team, the perfect equal in strength and intelligence. We covered each other’s weaknesses and solidified each other’s strengths. If I failed to notice something, it usually didn’t escape my wolf’s sharp senses. “Think about it. Since she came to the Pacific Sea, nothing’s been going well for us. I mean, yes, Einas’s still wrapped around
My woman was a gem. This fact was proven with the way she dealt with the couple. As Luna, she had the right to call for their execution. The evidence Zubair gathered would’ve been enough to convict them. She, as well as every clan member in the yard, was aware of this. However. Instead of calling for their execution, Saira commanded the man to repay his mate’s medical fee. If one looked at this from an outside perspective, it seemed as if she was punishing him for being ungrateful. Only the insiders knew she had just exonerated them from the death sentence. Her command was equal to a punishment, and that punishment was equal to her giving the sentence for the attempt on her life. I realized this, and so did the crowd present in the yard. The shift in their emotions was almost palpable, as their gazes on her turned complicated. Without trying, without meaning to…she’d just won the hearts of the clan members. My heart clenched. I didn’t want to let the couple slide so easily. If I h
I focused on the faces scrunched in worry and concern. The same clan, the same Lycans, and yet, so different in behavior after the incident. Yes, I saved their mates. I’d also saved their pups. And most importantly, the virus I infected with the female members not only conditioned their body to the witchcraft of the dark forces, but the antidote also ensured they wouldn’t fall prey to a similar craft in the future. This was an advantage the other species didn’t have. A cure that would cost most millions of dollars to procure. And when the truth of this matter was exposed in the war to come, that immunity would take the form of a blessing that would protect their soul and rise their ranks above the various races. However, that was all in the future, and that war wasn’t the reason why I decided to act. My intention had been far simpler than that. Since the Lycans couldn’t be relied on, and I didn’t have the time to win Einas Raed’s heart, releasing the viral agent and curing the inf
I floated on the sea of darkness. I didn’t remember landing. The fall had seemed to go on forever, the sense of weightlessness engulfing my senses until only the darkness and despair consumed me from inside out. I grappled in the dark. With what, I couldn’t tell. The lack of sight filled me with a sense of surrealism where I perceived myself struggling but couldn’t feel anything. Whether I existed or was just a mere thought in the void became a question. You’re not a killer. No, you’re not her. You’re Saira Malivik, the heir of the Evergreen Pack and daughter of the Alpha King. Saira, I know you’re in there. Please, talk to me! Someone was talking. The voice called out to me, tugging and drawing me in a way I couldn’t explain. I twisted my head to the side to listen closely. Think about your parents, Sai. How broken would they be to see you in this state? If not for yourself, then at least for their sake, come back to your senses! Something in the void changed. It was gray now.
“I heard Saira’s sick in the head. What’re your plans?” An indifferent voice entered my ears the moment I stepped into the Meeting Hall. I raised my head and clashed with Einas Raed’s dark orbs. My first reaction wasn’t to respond to the mockery in his tone. It was to take in his appearance and note how closely he resembled the Lycan Leader. We both carried the same gene, but perhaps in my case, Luna Nazia’s chromosome overpowered Raed Basil’s. ‘Is this the reason he favored his bastard child more than me?’ I wondered and chuckled at the thought. “What’s so funny? Is the question too hard for you to answer?” The Lycan Commander frowned and moved to stand in my path. “If it is, I’m willing to do you a favor and take her off your hands.” His shamelessness made me speechless. “Are you serious?” I asked, then raised my hand. “You know what, don’t answer that. I can tell you’re serious from your expression.” The clan elders had yet to arrive, making us the only two in the spacious hall.
“How is she?” “More calm, but still out of reach…” Heartache and pain etched the Lycan’s features. “Can you feed her for me? I still have unfinished business to settle.” He smiled sheepishly, an endearing sight on a man of his status. “Of course.” He didn’t need to ask. I took over the tray in his hands and stepped to the side to let him pass. With a reluctant backward glance, Idris sighed and descended to the first floor, where the mate and mother of the dead child spewed venom in a grief-stricken wail. “Shut the hell up!” The Lycan snarled the second he reached the couple. I could imagine the dark aura ebbing from his figure, overbearing and oppressive in the way male Alphas and Lycans asserted their dominance, as the couple paled and flinched back in fear. The uneven rise and fall of their chests told me they were struggling to breathe properly. “What right do you have to cause a raucous here? My wife’s in a trauma because of your dead child!” My heart sunk with dread. His contr
The outbreak started out slow. It began from the outskirts of the clan, among the fragile bodied and weak willed females, before sweeping inward and erupting into a full-blown madness. The wails rang, slicing the air, matching in symphony with the cacophonous groans resonating in the yard. "Doctor! Where’s the doctor? Someone, please save my mate and pup!" "Fuck! Get out of my way! I got here first!" “Don’t push! My mate’s in a critical condition too!” The shrill drone scratched my eardrums, threatening to shatter my fragile mind as I fought to keep my wits about me. Females moaned on makeshift beds, some vomiting in misery, and others clutching their stomachs in an agonized pain in front of the Lycan Heir’s Mansion. Three hours into the crisis, and I was already about to collapse. Had I known it would be this hard to manage the clan members, I might have released the virus in small quantities. Well, maybe. I wasn’t sure how effective that method would’ve been. “Doctor Malivik
The next two days passed in a blur. A strange tension engulfed the Pacific Sea as the clan members reached an anonymous agreement and suppressed the news about the floating bodies. They continued to entertain their guests, behaved as though they had no worries in the world. Their efforts might’ve paid off, if only the people they were dealing with weren’t experienced leaders. I noticed the Lunas of the six clans exchanging furtive glances with their mates. It was one of unease and distrust. They sensed something off, and if the cold look in their eyes was anything to go by, they didn’t take well to being kept in the dark. Therefore, it was hardly surprising when an argument broke out between Raed Basil and the Carribean Leader. Their confrontation wasn't long. After exchanging a few heated words, Uzair Shuq grabbed his Luna's hand and stormed out of the palace. An hour later, a report of the Lycan's departure reached the Palace. With one of the Seven Lycan Leaders gone, the other l
I trudged into the Lycan Heir’s mansion, drained and exhausted in body and heart. What I was about to do was wrong in more ways than one. From an ethical perspective, I was stripping away the females consent and right to autonomy. But I was beyond caring at this point. “I don’t have much time. I need to implement the second step of my plan as soon as possible.” Compared to the phone call, getting Einas Raed’s attention was a lot easier. At least, it would’ve been, if I had experience in the field. However… “Sai, you’re back?” I had Sofia to turn to for help. Kicking off my boots at the door, I forced a smile on my face and headed into the kitchen. My best friend was at work shaping Macaroons, a sight I never expected to see. “Baking for the hot and sexy Beta?” I teased, suppressing a pang of guilt at how little attention I’ve given her since discovering the matter. “Yes…” She giggled and grabbed my hands with a squeal. “Oh, gosh, Sai, I wish you could meet him! He’s tall and bu