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CHAPTER 7
Last Updated:
2025-03-23 00:22:16
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The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 8
Mating Day.It dawns as bright and fresh as any perfect early spring day, the remaining February snow on the ground glittering like diamonds in the bright morning sun. The air seems to crackle with my nervous energy as I follow the road to the Village Square, where the mating selection ceremony takes place every year. Every single year I’ve come to watch, felt the lingering gaze even when I was participating. This day is something I’ve dreaded for a long time. Everyone in the pack is out and on their way to watch, buzzing with excitement as they chatter amongst themselves. They are excited, and a small part of me that still has hope should be too, but I’ve got more chance of a thousand flying unicorns filling the sky than this day turning out good for me. The girls from all over the pack steal nervous glances at the males and vice versa, as if we’re on our way to a school dance instead of arguably the most important event in our lives. Back in the old days, pack members didn’t begin c
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Sebastian resumes his place at the front. “Should you decide to abstain from selection, or should you not find a mate today, you must have demonstrated that you have something else to offer that will benefit the pack, skills or experience that goes above and beyond the norm. Freeloaders cannot—will not—be tolerated. Understood?”“Understood,” the assembled shifters repeat, and I do as well, but I’m quaking with fear. Sebastian’s damning words ring in my mind, and nothing I can do is enough to keep them out.Freeloaders will not be tolerated.I cast a glance back at my parents, who are clutching each other’s hands like their lives depend on it. They’re terrified too, and they have every reason to be. Next to them, Claire watches, her lips pressed into a flat line. My heart is pounding fast, and I can’t focus on anything but the noise of it in my ear.“Jason Conrad,” Sebastian says, bringing my attention back to him as he addresses the first male in the line, “step forward.”Jason, a ta
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If you didn’t know any better, you’d probably think someone had died. My parents, Claire, and I are all seated around the kitchen table in silence, waiting for the inevitable phone call, and all of their previous optimism has gone. I guess that’s what happens when you can’t avoid reality anymore: When the ugly truth finally sinks in, it’s impossible to keep being idealistic.Did you really think it would be that easy? I want to ask them. Did you really think I would find a mate after spending eighteen years being the most useless person in the pack?But I don’t say anything, partly because I don’t want to upset them further, and partly because I know it won’t do any good. Instead, I’m left to wait in tense anticipation of what we all know is coming.Claire is the first one to break the silence, her fingers drumming impatiently on the table. “He’ll find something else for you, Nyx. It’s not the end of the world.”“Like what?” I reply, and her silence is all the answer I need. “I can’t
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What conversation?” I ask, swallowing hard. My throat suddenly feels dry. There hasn’t been a rejected wolf in over a hundred years. I can’t be rejected from the pack. I can’t. Sebastian is silent for a long time, no doubt trying to figure out the best way to break the news to me. “I told you the other day that the war with the werebears is worsening by the day. We don’t have the resources to spare to protect pack members who don’t pull their weight. They’re a liability, and the last thing we need right now is a liability.” He means me. Clearly. “What if I do something else?” I desperately suggest. “I could assist the scouts, maybe, or help maintain the village grounds.” But Sebastian is already shaking his head. “What’s the point, if you can’t defend yourself when you need to? Not being able to shift is a huge detriment, Nyx—not just to you, but to the rest of the pack. If you were attacked, or kidnapped, you couldn’t fight them. You could tell them all our secrets and they would
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The night passes in a fit of fever dreams and restless tossing and turning. My mind is racing as I struggle to get comfortable in a bed that won’t be my own for much longer, and when I finally drift off into a fitful sleep, my mind is still swimming.An academy, and it might be your last hope. Claire’s words echo in my mind like some kind of horrific chant, and never—not even after I fall asleep—is it lost on me how dire my situation is. My parents seem to vanish into their own hushed conversations, and it doesn’t take a genius to figure out what they’re talking about: They’re looking for some other way out, some solution that doesn’t involve sending me away to a secret boarding school, full of immortal wolves and a price to pay for staying there. Part of me wonders if I’d be better off pretending to be human.Judging by my mom’s obvious distress when I wake up the following morning, they haven’t found another place for me to go. Part of me is interested in this academy, but a bigger
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Follow the coast, she said. So I do.Part of me still isn’t sure I’m doing the right thing, especially when I see a sign for the nearest city and a garage a few miles away. I could hitch a ride, figure out something… and… I pause.I don’t want to hide with the humans because I am not one, no matter if my wolf is nonexistent. Claire never gave any indication of how she even knew this place existed, let alone any details about its name or what they do there. It could be a hoax, wishful thinking. And if it really does exist, is it even somewhere I want to be? The look on my father’s face when Claire brought up the subject still hasn’t left me, and it sends a chill down my spine. What do they do to their students? What did he mean when he said some things aren’t worth believing?More importantly, why were they all so cagey about telling me what they teach there?But I’m out of options. My parents gave me what human money they had before I left, but it won’t get me far. I know I can’t be f
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My name coming out of this stranger’s mouth is more than enough to convince me that I’ve had some kind of break with reality, and I sway on my feet, my knees threatening to buckle and send me tumbling back over the cliff. In a couple of swift strides, the man catches hold of my jacket and gives me a steadying clap on the back. “Easy, easy,” he says. “You’re all right. Here, take a seat. It’s always a bit strange the first time it happens to you,” he adds with a chuckle, completely unfazed by it all. Helping me onto a nearby rock, he plops down beside me. He crosses his legs and leans back as if it’s the most normal thing in the world, like we’re just having afternoon tea instead of recovering from a paranormal (and very much near- death) experience.My throat is as dry as paper, but as my heartbeat slowly returns to normal, I manage to rasp, “The first time what happens to you?”The man gives me an appraising look, as if debating how much he should tell me, and then says, “We’ll get t
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Despite my initial reluctance, I can’t help but be awestruck as I follow him through the gates, which slide shut behind us as we make our way up the sloping path to the entrance of the Academy. Other than a couple buildings on the outskirts of the grounds, the castle is the centerpiece of the area, and beyond it, I can see a lush garden, fountains, and a sprawling field in the distance whose purpose I can only guess at. All around us are more lanterns that light up the grounds like fireflies. I’ve never seen anything like it.“This way,” Charles says, leading me up a set of ancient stone steps that end at the threshold in front of the doors. To either side of the entrance stand human-looking guards, wearing all black leather, whose expressions are stony as they keep watch for something unknown out there in the darkness. What’s strangest is that neither of them is holding any kind of weapon. Charles nods to them wordlessly and they pull open the doors, revealing an entrance hall that’s
Last Updated : 2025-03-23
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And, as they so regularly do, things move on. Whereas once life at the Institute felt like it moved as well quick, like we were so caught up in the war that we were losing ourselves in the prepare, presently the world appears to have moderated to a slither, and not indeed the significant endeavors to revamp what was misplaced can totally counter it.Not that I’m complaining or anything.I’m standing in the preparing yard in the midst of handfuls of other understudies, and the discuss is crackling with anxious vitality. The surviving educates are standing in front of us, their expressions extending from inquisitive to pleased, and at the head of the line is Ace Ombres, by presently completely recouped from her wounds. The group has diminished altogether, and not fair since we misplaced so numerous individuals. The remains of the Blood Moon Pack have returned to their place to stay to circle the wagons, and the few remaining werebears from Cassius’ armed force have scattered. Without or
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The others yell and growl in understanding, fanning out fair in time to thrust back against another wave of werebear powers. Chart book and I stand side by side, heaving enchantment and tossing up obstructions in an endeavor to bolster the modern strengths. They’ve supported our numbers, but none of them know dull enchantment, and never has that been more agonizingly self-evident than presently, with the werebears down-pouring obscurity down on them from all sides. I observe in frightfulness as one of them tramples my previous packmate, Christopher, whereas another flings Jonas up into the discuss and sends him smashing back to the ground. As for Sebastian and Claire “Claire!” I yell, telekinetically lifting up the werebear that had its jaws bolted onto her flank. She shoots me a see of appreciation as she thrusts once more, with Sebastian joining in. The werebear tries to break my light enchantment with a spell of his claim, and my center falters—just for a part moment, but that’s su
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 92
I observe, shocked, as the werebear pioneer pummels my previous companion to the ground, his claws as sharp as razor edges as he rakes them down Tobias’ body. “Treacherous small worm!”“No!” I yell, and this time it’s no bubble that I make: I unleash a wave of blindingly shinning light, striking Cassius head-on fair as he plans to make the murdering blow. He yells in torment, closing his eyes in time for Map book to hit him with a weaker spell, which sends him tumbling to the distant conclusion of the field.“Nyx,” Map book says, charging over to me in his wolf shape. “Are you okay?”But I don’t react; I’m as of now dropping to my knees next to Tobias, who’s spitting blood, his breathing shallow. The cuts expand from his neck to his hip, and they’re incomprehensibly profound, as well profound to close.“Nyx,” he grates as I touch his shoulder.“Stop,” I tell him. “Don’t attempt to conversation. We require to discover a healer. Atlas…”I turn to see up at my mate, but he’s as of now sh
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 91
All around me is chaos, and Nyx is no place to be found. I had to take off my room to dodge being smashed by the rubble when one of the towers came down, but my crushed living space is the slightest of my issues right presently. Indeed in the fundamental lobby, where most of the weaker Blood Moon wolves are hunkered down in their wolf shapes, clean is down-pouring from the ceiling and the shouts of individuals exterior are sifting in through the thick walls.“This isn’t working,” Addison yells to me from where she’s standing. We’re still in human frame, utilizing our enchantment to keep the fundamental twofold entryways closed as someone— apparently from Tobias’ strike team—tries to impact their way through.“Where are the other Wolf Witches?” I request, inclining to the side as another chunk of shake falls from the ceiling.“Ivy and Charles went out with them to hold off the army,” Addison says, pushing indeed harder with her divider of enchantment. “Where’s Nyx?”“That’s a long stor
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 90
“I know,” I say as they drag me down to the ground and push me toward the doors, which float open on command. “And I’m not going to battle you. But I require to talk to your leader.”“Oh, you will,” the other blessed messenger says. “Raphael will need to know almost this.”“Who’s Raphael?” I inquire, but they don’t answer as they thrust me through the doors and into the glimmering city. It’s emphatically ravishing, with turning, spiraling towers, surging banners, brilliant towers and lavish columns supporting colossal, lovely white buildings. There are other blessed messengers around, but not at all like the werebears in the jail, they don’t yell and insult me as the watches thrust me along. They don’t say anything, instep fair observing from where they float over the ground, as if I’m a curiosity the likes of which they’ve never seen some time recently. I assume I am, in a way.The greatest building at the conclusion of the street is a castle that appears to gleam with its claim fiel
The Moon's Dark Embrace /CHAPTER 89
I’d be lying if I said I knew what I was doing, but when have I ever known what I’m doing? All I’ve ever done is ad lib my way through life, and I’m not around to halt presently. I scramble to get dressed, mindful of Chart book observing me from the bed. He’s likely stressed, and I can’t fault him, but that’s not going to halt me from attempting if it implies sparing our asses.The soul domain resounds with light enchantment. Those were Michael’s correct words some time recently he sent me back. Hell, fair being there supercharged my powers and gave me wings. My enchantment must be what can bridge the crevice. The as it were address presently is whether I’ll be able to utilize it to get over there.“Do you know how to do this?” Map book inquires, as if he’s perusing my intellect. Given that we’re mates, he might exceptionally well be.“Nope,” I say as I drag my boots on. “But I get it the principles… I think.”“Teleportation is following to impossible,” he dissents. “Not indeed the ev
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 88
Nyx shifts back on the bed. “So you’re truly considering this, then?” she inquires. “Taking over as alpha?”“I figure that depends,” I answer, assembly her eyes. “On?”“You,” I tell her. “I’m as it were doing this if I can bring you with me, Nyx. As my alpha female. My mate.”“You mean…” Nyx swallows. “As your mate?” She shakes her head. “Atlas, I don’t see how that’s conceivable. That would cruel making a difference you lead the pack. I’m a dismiss, too—hell, I’m not indeed a unadulterated wolf shifter. I don’t…”But I don’t let her wrap up, inclining forward to hush her with a kiss. She looks my confront as I drag absent, tangling my hands in her long hair. “I don’t care what you are, Nyx,” I tell her. “You’re my mate, and you continuously will be. Either they can acknowledge that…” I kiss her once more. “Or they can rot.”Nyx looks up at me hesitantly. “Do you cruel that?” she inquires in a little voice.“Every word,” I say, and this time when I drag her in for a kiss, I don’t halt
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 87
We wait there for a few more liberal minutes, each of us battling the reality that’s quickly closing in on us. Possibly it’s unavoidable that a take of haziness starts to rise from distant underneath, carrying not a werebear, but a wolf shifter with pale brilliant hide, and fair the locate of him makes my temper go up.“What the hell do you need, Tobias?” I request, moving in front of Nyx to ensure her.Tobias raises a paw in reaction, and in spite of the fact that he doesn’t attempt to move over the boundary, he doesn’t move absent, either.“Stay back,” Nyx says, as of now summoning more light enchantment in her hands.“I’m not here to fight,” Tobias says, calling over the void between us.“Yeah?” She grunts. “This is your definition of ‘coming in peace,’ then?”I snort, a ball of dim enchantment shaping between my palms. I draw my arm back to dispatch it; I’m not in the temperament to arrange, slightest of all with him. “Back the fuck up,” I tell him, in no dubious terms, “or I swea
The Moon's Dark Embrace CHAPTER 86
Gradually, stiffly, I permit the bubble of light enchantment I’ve made to get past the obstruction to break up around me as we develop onto the Academy’s side of the charm. I’m holding on to Map book so firmly that I’m nearly perplexed to let go, so sincerely and physically depleted from the sprint that the fatigue debilitates to overwhelm me.No, I tell myself as the final of the enchantment scatters, clearing out me a shell of the individual I was when I woke up this morning. Have to center. Get to the Foundation. We’re not out of the woods yet.I don’t set out see back as we shoot ahead, dropping back to the soil when it gets to be clear the werebears are bottlenecking at the point where the boundary begins. I can’t bring myself to think around what’s happening to the ones we cleared out behind. It doesn’t matter what else they were; they were still werewolves, and Allow was among them. Map book is quiet underneath me, but I can feel the feelings pouring off of him: pain, lament, dis
