Murmurs filled the air as the assembly filed into the Moonlit Sanctum, a grand hall reminiscent of a theater. Rows of booths stretched before them, each separated by fancy railings, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and intrigue. Lily sat in a booth to herself, a sense of unease tugging at her. 'Calm down. We need to maintain our composure. We have to show that we are strong. We need to keep a clear head,' Dina said within her. In the booth across from her, Brandy and Mandy were chained to their seats, their expressions a mix of resignation and defiance. Mandy glared at Lily, but Brandy looked defeated as she stared at her feet. She didn't like that they were chained there like that and noticed the bruises on them. Had they been beaten? 'They are getting what they deserve,' Dina growled. 'Don't focus on them.' On the stage, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through stained-glass windows, sat the eight elders, their presence commanding reverence. Elder Richar
'Will this hurt like he says, Dina?' Lily asked. Dina didn't immediately answer. 'Yes. It will be excruciating. Mate marks aren't meant to be removed. This is old magic.' 'Will Garrett be able to mark me again?' Lily asked. 'I do not know,' Dina responded, causing Lily to bite her lip. She wanted to run, but she needed to play along. She needed to act like she was willing to do this, which would give her an opportunity to escape later. As the crowd watched with bated breath, warriors, their faces stoic, stepped forward and seized Lily. Some muttered their apologies to her, as they were against this. Lily didn't resist. With firm but gentle hands, they led her toward the stage, where Elder Richard awaited with a gleaming dagger whose blade glowed an eerie green. 'We need to get down there. We need to rescue our mate!' Berric screamed within Garrett. He agreed and moved to intervene, but Ethan and his father restrained him by his arms. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" Ga
The sound of flesh slapping against each other could be heard throughout the quiet dungeon. Soft grunts and moans were muffled as Matthew thrust quickly into Brandy. He gripped her hips, yanking her backward toward him with each thrust. "Oh, goddess, Matthew, I missed you so much," Brandy moaned. She had been surprised that Matthew snuck into the dungeon to come to see her. The last time they spoke, he told her that she wasn't good enough. Matthew grabbed a fistful of Brandy's hair and yanked her backward so he could whisper in her ear, "Tell me you love me." "I love you," Brandy gasped as she could feel her orgasm approaching. "Say it again properly," Matthew growled, thrusting faster and harder. "I, Brandy Bray, daughter of Kenneth Bray and Mandy Bray, accept you, Matthew Hunter, as my mate and owner of my mind, body, and soul!" Brandy screamed out. Matthew bit her hard on her back as he climaxed, and Brandy followed soon after. Brandy attempted to mark Matthew back, bu
Matthew smiled to himself as he felt himself and his wolf getting stronger after the mate mark on Lily's shoulder had been removed. He did feel a little regret for her pain, but she would get over it. A little pain and sacrifice are normal for a budding relationship to flourish. 'Do you realize how crazy you sound? I can't believe you did this to our mate,' Baldur growled within him. 'Isn't this what you wanted? You wanted our mate back. This is how we do it,' Matthew responded. 'No, this is wrong. You have caused her harm and humiliation. She will never want us,' Baldur said. His tone was defeated as he went silent again. Matthew ignored him. He wanted to jump in between the argument between Kenneth and Elad, but things got out of hand, and Elders requested a recess. Matthew smiled, hopeful. He was going to see Lily and discuss plans for their future. Matthew could smell Garrett's pain and sorrow in the air and grinned. He would speak with Lily, but first with Garrett. It
Elder Dominic accepted the folder from the scout with the Alpha King's crest, his mind swirling with questions. The scout quickly retreated down the hallway, leaving Dominic alone with the weight of the documents in his hands. He couldn't help but wonder why Ethan hadn't used the usual mind link to contact him. Ethan had always reached out through that channel for matters of importance. Closing the door behind him, Elder Dominic wasted no time. He carefully unfolded the folder, revealing a trove of letters, ledgers, transcripts of phone calls, and reports. His eyes scanned the contents, his initial confusion giving way to anger as he pieced together the disturbing puzzle before him. Meanwhile, within the private chamber where the Elders deliberated on decisions, Elder Richard found himself under the stern gaze of his fellow council members. Suspicion had simmered for years, with rumors of favoritism and covert dealings with Alpha Kenneth circulating throughout the pack. Today, th
The world around Lily was a blur of chaos and destruction. The deafening roar of the onslaught reverberated in her ears as she fought to regain her bearings. The blast had launched her, and she wasn't sure where she was right now. Her vision blurred, and she could taste the metallic tang of blood in her mouth and smell the poisonous wolfsbane in the air. With every labored breath, she tried to push through the pain and disorientation. 'Move. We have to move, Lily,' Dina said within her. 'Get up or let me take control.' Lily forced her eyes open, her heart sinking at the nightmarish scene that unfolded before her. Rubble and debris were strewn about, limbs were strewn everywhere, and bodies lay motionless in the rubble. The sanctum, once a place of council meetings and decisions, had been transformed into a battlefield. 'Was there a bomb? How could this have happened?' Lily thought. 'This was a planned attack in case Kenneth didn't get his way. We have to keep moving and find
The adrenaline coursed through Garrett's veins, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He stood amidst the chaos of the battleground, panting heavily, his wolf form still dominant. With a guttural growl, he crushed the last remaining hunter in his mouth. Garrett's breaths came in ragged bursts as he released the lifeless body and turned to face Adam, his Beta, who looked ragged. The blade of a dagger was still stuck in his eye. He was surprised to see him as he assumed that Matthew would have remained with his mate. "Adam," Garrett panted, his eyes wild with the remnants of the battle's frenzy. "How many casualties?" Adam's golden eyes met Garrett's with an understanding that ran deeper than words. He nodded, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "Many. Everyone has lost someone and some have been lucky. One of the prides that was closest to the bomb, the son only remains. The hunters have retreated. Whatever they came here for, they have gotten," he began. Garrett shifte
When Lily came to, she found herself lying on a cold metal table, surrounded by surgical instruments and unfamiliar technology. She tried to move, but restraints around her wrists and ankles held her firmly in place. 'Dina, Dina, help me. We are strapped down. We need to get out of here,' Lily called out to her wolf, but there was silence. She couldn't even feel Dina. Panic surged within her as she strained against her bonds with a feral growl. "So interesting. The color of your eyes changes when you reach out to your beast. So very interesting." A figure stepped out from the shadows at the sound of her struggles. It was a woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes. She wore a white lab coat, and Lily could tell that she was the one responsible for her being bound to the table. The woman regarded Lily with a cool detachment, as if she were nothing more than an object to be studied. "I'm pleased that you're awake. I was worried they may have given you too much of the se
"No, I know who you are," Amdis said firmly. "You are my mate. I would recognize you anywhere." The sincerity in his words made her heart skip a beat. Kasia's heart thundered in her chest, its pulse thudding through her veins as if attempting to escape her very being. The room itself seemed to press in on her from all sides, suffocating her. "What are you talking about?" she asked. The crackle of thunder from outside caused her to jump in surprise. Her mind reeled as she struggled to process his claim. How could this be? Alpha King Ethan was her mate; there was no doubt in her mind about that. Panic bubbled up inside her, and she fought to maintain control over her emotions. "I keep telling you that you're wrong. You have me confused with someone else. I don't know how many times I must tell you this," she said firmly, trying to mask the fear in her voice. "My mate is Alpha King Ethan, not you." The mere mention of Ethan's name caused Amdis' features to contort into a frown
Kasia awoke with a start, her heart pounding. Her body felt cocooned in silk, the fabric clinging to her like an unwelcome lover. As she tried to make sense of her surroundings, memories of Amdis, the vampire who had taken her away, flooded back. She glanced down at herself, noticing for the first time that she wore nothing but a sheer camisole. Anger flared within her, and she clenched her fists, cursing silently. "Who does he think he is?" Kasia muttered under her breath as she threw off the silk sheets and slid out of bed. For a moment, she considered tearing the offensive garment from her body, but practicality won out. She needed to find a way out of this place, and she couldn't do that naked. The room was bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, casting long shadows across the ornate furnishings. Kasia's instincts kicked in, and she moved cautiously towards the window, scanning the room for any potential threats. As her eyes adjusted to the fading light, she realized tha
'Go back there and rip her throat out!' Deva snarled. 'No, he made his decision. We will not fight over him,' Kasia responded as she continued walking away. How could he have done this to her? She should've known better. This was all just part of the plan. He just wanted her close because she is a blessed blood. That's all it was. "Kasia, stop!" Lily said, grabbing her wrist. "Calm down. It's not what you think it is." "I saw what I saw. He was with that b****! I know what I saw," Kasia growled. "That's not what I saw," Lily responded, causing Kasia to squint at her. "What do you mean that's not what you saw? He was humping Aimee," Kasia retorted. "Yes, but when I first saw them, she looked a lot like you," Lily explained. "That…that doesn't make any sense," Kasia said. "How could Aimee have gotten to him so fast? We had just seen her. I don't know. I think something else is going on," Lily argued. "It doesn't matter," Kasia replied, her voice strained. She tried to
'You didn't have to be so mean,' Kasia scolded Deva. 'And he didn't have to have females all over him like he doesn't have a mate for WEEKS,' Deva growled back. Kasia watched as Ethan walked away and sighed. She regretted being coy with him. Perhaps he would have been able to tell her what he needed to say before he got pulled away. The mood was ruined, and Kasia didn't feel like dancing anymore. She moved away from the stage where the live music was playing. "This is only temporary," Lily said, surprising Kasia as she looped arms with her. "Let's get something to eat. Have you ever had fairy pastries before?" "That's a thing?!" Kasia asked, causing Lily to laugh. Lily and Kasia sampled mouthwatering dishes at one of the many food stalls. The scent of spiced meats and vegetables filled the air, mingling with laughter and chatter from the crowd. Kasia's hazel eyes twinkled with delight as she savored a bite of grilled meat skewer, not caring what she was eating because it was
The sun blazed high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the city as the Summer Solstice festival commenced. Colorful banners and streamers adorned the buildings, while stalls lined the bustling streets, offering food, games, and trinkets to the celebrating crowd. Laughter and lively music filled the air, setting a jovial atmosphere that reached every corner of the city. At the heart of it all, Ethan scanned the festive scene before him. "Relax, Ethan," Garrett encouraged with a knowing smile. "This isn't something you haven't hosted before." Ethan let out a strained chuckle, doing his best to maintain a calm facade. "Easier said than done," he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Kasia, who had been avoiding him for days. The uncertainty gnawed at him. "You're still worrying about Kasia, aren't you? Lily says she has been super busy with Kasia to get her prepared for today. She's not avoiding you on purpose," Garrett stated. "She
"Are you sure about telling him now before finding out anything else?" As they neared the door, Lana asked nervously. "We haven't even done any research on the paperwork." "Positive," Janet replied, her voice steady. "We need to tell Alpha Ethan what we found immediately, so we can figure out our next moves." Deanna nodded in agreement as they stopped in front of the heavy wooden door. With a deep breath, Lana knocked firmly, and after a moment, the door creaked open, revealing Ethan seated behind his desk and the pack doctor, Brian, with him. "Come in," Ethan said calmly. "I am happy to see that we didn't have casualties." "Thanks to Lana. She was right about those traps," Deanna said as she entered the room, followed by Janet and Lana. "We have a report on the base we found." "Go on," Ethan prompted. "What did you find out?" "Not much. The base was pretty much destroyed," Deanna answered. "What do you mean?" Ethan asked. "It's not just us that have a problem with th
The moon cast an eerie glow on the ground as Deanna, Janet, Lana, and a few warriors made their way through the dense forest. The air was thick with tension, and Lana led them with quiet determination. Sweat beaded on her brow, but she focused on the task at hand. "Remember," she whispered to the others, "the closer we get to the hunters' base, the more traps there'll be. Stay alert." An impatient warrior, his face contorted in frustration, grumbled under his breath. He'd grown tired of following Lana's slow pace, and he decided to speed forward. Lana's hazel eyes flashed a warning, and she called out to him. "Don't! You don't know where the traps are." But her words fell on deaf ears. Just as the warrior was about to step into a well-hidden pit filled with sharp spikes, Lana lunged at him, pushing him aside. In doing so, her arm grazed one of the silver-tipped spikes, and she winced, silver oozing from the wound. "Idiot!" Lana hissed as she clutched her injured arm. "You could
Milo frowned, confusion etched on his features. "How is that possible? You don't smell like a human anymore." "Long story," Kasia replied, glancing away from him and out the window at the blurred city lights. She felt exposed and vulnerable under his scrutiny. "Hey, I've got time," Milo said, leaning back in his seat with a casual air. He studied Kasia intently for a moment before asking, "Where are you headed?" Lily chimed in, her voice soft and hesitant. "We were going to grab dinner. You're welcome to join us if you'd like." Kasia shook her head, dismissing the suggestion. "That would compromise your cover, Milo. We can't risk it." "About that," Milo began with a smirk. He reached up and removed his contacts, revealing striking gold eyes that burned with intensity. Next, he pulled off his blond wig, displaying his true hair color—black, cropped short, and messy. Kasia blinked in surprise at the transformation. Finally, Milo took a cloth and wiped his face clean of make
"Come on, let's try this store," Lily suggested, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she pulled Kasia into a boutique overflowing with colorful garments. Kasia couldn't help but smile as she browsed the racks, selecting pieces she'd never dreamed of wearing before. The normalcy of the moment brought a sense of comfort, something that had been sorely lacking in her life since her parents' deaths. "I've never really had the chance to do normal things like this, you know?" Kasia confided in Lily as they sat down on a plush bench, laden with clothes to try on. "Ever since my parents died, it's just been... surviving, and then I joined them, but I still felt like I was struggling. I don't know why I am talking about this now." Lily's face softened, her gaze full of understanding. "I'm so sorry, Kasia. What happened to your parents?" Kasia took a deep breath, feeling the familiar ache in her chest. "We were foragers, living off the land. One day, Lana and I went out to gather sup