Himari’s POV.-“They’ll be thrilled to meet you.”Zorien prevents me from saying anything when he begins to bring me through the crowd of guests and toward the main entrance of the mansion. We stop right here, with Zorien acting ignorant of the paparazzi taking endless shots and making my eyes flood with lights.‘He’s here’ Through the chaos in my mind, I hear his sleek voice and feel his hand clutch my shoulder to press my side into him. I bring my eyes to peer forward and notice the flooding lights seem to have changed their brutal target to someone else.Zorien leans to tell me, “You’ve met him before. He’s Ashton’s father”.‘I knew it’d be him’ Runa scoffs in my head and I frown. That’s one Demon I don’t wish to meet. I’ve got no issues with his son, but I still can’t sympathize with my first encounter with him. I drag my frown up to Zorien, “You didn’t mandate I go to greet any of the guests that arrived, so why do you have to bring me to welcome him?”Zorien simp
Himari’s POV. - “You’ve kept this from us all so inconspicuously, Zorien. But not anymore, I know what they are. You’ve compromised our trust and let the Wolves in.” My feet screech to a halt upon that disdainful voice, and I look up at the solid back of my mate who huffs and scares me when he begins a slow and malicious deep laugh. I shudder and step back, what’s going on? How has Ashton come to know of what we are? Did something happen while I was still in the hall? Panic grips me, and I whip around to my family and see them all with unhappy faces. Then I notice someone is missing from the group. Where’s Vilma? “You must’ve thought I wouldn’t get a whiff of their scent, is it? Too bad then, this one got too excited and expelled her scent without knowing” Ashton speaks again, in a very disgusted voice and shock hits me upon realization. I whip back and step to Zorien’s side to gasp when I see Vilma begin held in Ashton’s hands. She whimpers from this grip on her neck and I frow
Himari’s POV.-I beam around the egg, crouching my frame as I drag my feet around with large inquisitive eyes blinking with an enthusiastic smile. Welma busy doing her magic stuff sighs at me for the hundredth time and gives a push against my temple just before I hit her with my poked-out head.“Ugh, calm down, Mari. They’re not hatching today either.” She frowns at me who giggles and mutters my apologies. Kitra and Vilma chuckle at us, and Vilma leans forward from where she’s sitting on the floor away from me.“You’ve become a parent so suddenly” Vilma teases and Kitra huffs with a grin as she adds, “More like an adoptive parent. She didn’t lay the egg”.I force a tight smile as I look across at them who rear back like they expect me to jump on them. “Say whatever you want, they’re my babies nonetheless” I remain adamant about my joy as I continue to watch the egg heat up in a warm golden glow.Before our eyes, crack lines begin to trace over the shell of the egg. I recei
Himari’s POV.-“Their coming here only means I should look forward to a revisit. With their eyes on me, I can’t play recklessly anymore. So I’ve decided, you’ll all go away until this is settled”.Zorien’s decision has me snapping at him with a shake of my head. “You can’t just decide that. Are you going to send us back to the Pack?-”“Pipe down, you. The safest place for you and everyone else is not here, you’ll all have to go down to Winter’s. The Coven can protect you, and I can’t risk losing you” Zorien shushes me up and I flush and lower my gaze in turmoil.Does it all come down to this?“Isn’t there anything we can do to help?” I hear Elsa’s frail voice and lift my head a bit to see her staring at us worriedly. Zorien hums for a moment and replies with a grinning voice, “Stick to Winter and do as she directs. It’s only for the time being while I set things right”.I bite my lips as my eyes swarm with tears. I can’t believe how unbothered he’s behaving right now. H
Himari’s POV.-“I love you….”“Mari”I turn around and meet gazes with my mom, and instantly run into her arms. My tears take the moment to pour freely as I wrap my shaking arms around her tightly. I’ve never let the thought of separation once cross my mind during my time beside Zorien. I don’t know if I’m overreacting or doing otherwise. I just can’t quell this dreary pound in my chest.“Himari, calm down child. You need to believe in your mate” Mom coos at me while rubbing my back slowly, and I feel a different hand over my head, recognizing it to be dad while I sniffle and try to fight back my sorrow.“The timing though, how’d they know to come so soon?” I hear Kitra say in an angry voice and I slowly calm down and bring myself free from the soothing embrace.That’s one thing I need urgent answers to. Zorien had spoken about being revisited by the same Demons who came that day. But Ashton’s report had featured a different thing. I look at the worried faces of my paren
Himari’s POV.-“I’m afraid you can’t go with us, Himari. The enemy knows who you are and they know your whereabouts. Not to mention the danger you’ll be plunging not just yourself, but the Chimera offspring as well. You must stay here”My lips wobble in defiance, but I can’t go against Winter’s orders. I look to my parents who conform to her reason and I sigh rattlingly. Even while our territory has been bordered by dormant Darklings like a ticking time bomb, we can’t do anything to help just yet. Numerous lives are in danger because the enemies want me, and all I can do is ‘stay put and keep out of notice’.“Mari, you can do this much, right? Don’t feel as if we’re pushing you away on purpose. We only want to protect you” Elsa holds my shoulders, staring down at me with sympathy and I just listen with my heart in turmoil.They’re setting out to aid the subjugation forces to prevent the plague from getting to the town. While the Coven does help, it’s almost pointless since
Himari’s POV.-In this world of temporary darkness, I manage to synchronize minds with Zorien’s, weaving the thin thread of our consciousness as my hands remain afloat in search of a tangible spot to establish a connection. But I stumble upon a blockade in form of a massive black wall that distinguishes itself from the rest of the darkness shrouding around it.I pound many times but it doesn’t budge. When frustration pushes me to stop, a sudden wave of gusting wind comes expelling from the wall to sweep me away. In my screeching scream, I feel tendrils wound up around my limbs, wrapping my body speedily as I writhe and struggle.What is this compressing pressure crushing me from all sides? Tears sting my eyes as the pain ruptures through my body. I feel a fire, so intense and sinister as it swells in my chest and threatens to gut me out. In the height of this curdling pain, I see something flash before my eyes.“Zorien- Ah!”My eyes snap open and my body jerks off the be
Himari’s POV.-The safe limit long went off and I do pick up the presence of many Demons pouring into the dungeon, but I know my friends are alright by themselves. So I vest all my focus on this Demon Queen relentless to snatch my head.I’m only on defense and scaling through with my unrivaled skill for dodging. I can’t use my powers, for fear I might jeopardize the safety of my friends as well. As I dodge another strike and skip away while she pulls her fist out of a barred cell door, I begin to feel a tremendous pulse throbbing along both my arms.I can feel the impatience, the nagging urge to burst out and incinerate the enemy before us. My black flames are even more erratic at this moment and a terrifying realization dawns upon my mind.The Queen Mother is a Darkling as well.“Let’s see how much longer you can keep up that speed of yours!”She comes lunging at me and I react a little late, smacking my back against Zorien’s cell door and missing her slicing fingers
Himari’s POV.-I don’t think I’ve ever met a guy as meek as Damon. Especially not a Demon. He reminds me so much of the late King, and it’s a warmth that makes me smile tenderly as I watch him rise tentatively to tower easily over Vilma’s 5ft, 10inches.Zorien and Kitra huff together and Zorien teases while leaning over me and placing his chin atop my head. “What spell did you cast on my little brother, Vilma? He’s become subservient to you”.I frown, “Zorien, get off, you’re heavy”.He ignores me, avenging what I did to him earlier and Vilma flushes briefly as she timidly glances at Damon who’s still shy to show us his red face. She mumbles, “It’s not like I did anything diabolic….”I’m giggling with Kitra when Vilma jumps into sudden action and grabs Damon by the hand. She pulls him away, escaping from our taunts in the next second. Kitra turns to face us while laughing cruelly, “She talked so big, and there she goes running away with her Demon lover. They’ve got somethi
Himari’s POV.-Zorien twirls me free and when I’m expecting to go back into his arms and stretch my arms out in his direction, someone comes sweeping me neatly away and I gasp to see the red-haired Demon.He grins cheekily at me and I pout, accepting to continue the dance with him in hopes to appease Zorien later.“I heard about your heroic achievements from the war. I understand now, why he’s kept you his biggest life’s secret” He says to me with a twinge of interest, and I flush embarrassedly, blinking my eyes low as I speak in a small voice, “Well, it’s not like I’m still a secret anymore”.“I disagree.” He objects and I lift my gaze to see him still hosting the same expression on his face as he goes on to say, “The rest of our cousins still don’t know about you. They’ll scorch Zorien when they get the word”.Damien chuckles at my shocked expression and prepares to let go of me as he drops a note, “There are many continents out there, Luna Himari”.I’m caught in a tra
Himari’s POV.-After the war and our lands were left in devastation, all three races were left in a state of commotion on what would be the way to drive forward to recover from the damages suffered. Queen Zorah had risen to revive hope in the hearts of her people and the humans. And for the Were-beings, they’ve been opining I take the title of Luna and not just lead my Pack, but the entirety of my race henceforth.I rub my hands nervously as I keep glancing out the window from the pulled curtain to see the warriors outside my family’s home. I’m so anxious that I could die right now. Werewolves, Were-Bears, Were-Cats, name them all! They’ve all arranged for a ceremony at the Grey Woods Pack which is the largest among the Wolf Packs, where I’ll have my coronation as the supreme leader of our race.Oh gosh, I can’t go out there!It’s been six months since the war and Wisterne is still firming its feet and making do without crutches. Ever since Queen Zorah took over the throne
Himari’s POV.-I watch with a warm smile as she pulls Zorien into her embrace, continuously fiddling with his hair as her other arm holds him tightly around the torso. Zorien looks clueless about this form of affection, and it cracks me a bit when he moves his arms awkwardly to hold her.I’m about to start poking fun at him when we’re rudely interrupted by a malicious presence. We snap towards the sudden presence and see the Queen hovering above us with a vile smile on her haunting face.In her captive, is the unconscious King?“Well, well, what do we have here? What a heartful family reunion, is it? How can you go ahead with it when you’re missing one more member?”Tch, how’s this coward still alive? I glower infuriatingly at her and I’m about to make a move when Zorien steps into my front. His demonic aura is maddening and I recoil from him with haste.“You lied and made them believe my mother was behind my father’s death. The biggest mishap I made was ever trusting yo
Himari’s POV. - The blaring call of my name snaps me out of my reverie right in time with the expulsion of black fire that basks the air around me. I fall, colliding my back into crispy crushes of rapidly incinerating things that deafen my ears with their agonizing cries. Strength returns to my arms and I jerk them to try and control the crippling pressure of the repugnant fire erupting more destructively beneath me. Of course, I’m hit by the rebound as well, having the tremendous force slamming into my body and sending me to crash against the hard and uneven ground with a painful scream. I hit my body in many areas as I roll to lay still on my back. The pain tremors along the erratic rhythm of my unstable pants and rip wringing cries from my lips. Yet, I need to get back up and see what has happened to my friends and my Familiar. Who called my name back then? Was it Welma? Is Vilma okay? Ow, my head hurts. Dragging my aching body up on shaky legs, I realize I’ve fallen on a comp
Himari’s POV.-‘Mari, I think they’re coming. The Were-Bears and Were-Cats are here’.As Welma’s message filters into my mind, Runa nearly falters as we close in on the PackHouse. Just then, I pick up the deafening roar of an Alpha Bear and I turn around to see them. A huge Black Bear, bigger than any I’ve seen, comes charging forward with a numerous horde behind it. Without any further hints, I recognize its heavy aura that informs me it's that Alpha Bear I had challenged a few hours ago.I wonder what must’ve gotten them to change their minds. Either way, that’ll help speed things up and we can ensure the safety of my people. Runa rears back as Tristan guides the people where to go. The Bears catch up and I meet direct gazes with the Black Bear.‘You have our sincerest apologies, little Omega. We were foolish to have doubted our own in favor of a traitor’ He communicates to me and Runa shakes her head softly, lowering to gently nudge the side of a little boy to prevent hi
Himari’s POV.-“Pardon my intrusion, Alphas, but the negotiations end here.”Whatever discussion that must’ve been ongoing stops at my rude entrance, and I shudder beneath the heavy atmosphere ridden with the auras of the eight Alphas that constitute the Were-Bears and Were-Cats Pack Leaders.All eyes fall on me and I nearly feel my soul about to abscond this scene immediately. I have to bear with it, I need to brave through and get my intention across. All Alphas are seated at the large round table, and along the wall nearest to me, is a fully stocked long bar counter. I see my dad standing not too far from me with Winter beside him.The manner I find them is enough to decipher how little progress they’ve made. To have them not seated and on their feet instead, depicts their arrogant disregard for us. They’re not even willing to give us a fair hearing, is that it? Alright then, here goes nothing.I take quick strides as I enter further into the room, seeing Winter and d
Himari’s POV.-“Mom! Dad!”I race up the porch steps and push the door to get into the house while panting and trembling. Haru appears in the corridor and I hasten up to her with the others coming in as well. She looks at me anxiously and says, “They’ve gone to your Pack since an hour ago. They wanted to go warn the other Packs about your Alpha and ginger them into war”.“What? But mom said they were still here and we needed to go here” Welma darts to my side urgently and Haru only sighs solemnly and pauses for a moment.“There’s no time, the Darklings are no longer dormant and after discovering Zorien’s mother’s action earlier, they had no choice. Your territory could go extinct”I stagger and step away from Haru, reeling into dysphoria. Things are plunging worse each second. I have to go there, the people I love are still there. The Omegas, Tristan’s, and Vilma’s families are there. The other Were-beings...everyone’s lives are at stake.“Mari!”I’m bounding out the d
Himari’s POV.-There’s a massive hole that’s been carved to the outside as my feet struggle to firm their footing. As the daylight pours in and debris falls from above and hit the nearly completely deleted ground, my awing eyes continue to expand stupendously as I take in the beauty of these beings staring down at me.Their emerald eyes, large and gem-like, seem to be particular as they concentrate on me. Large heads with a blue-lit symbol of the crescent moon carved into the middle of their foreheads, huge black Dragon wings a little open at their sides as their massive bodies prop up on their limbs. The one to the left has a thick fine grey mane that frames its face, while the other appears to be a female without a mane.Oh dear...they’re so huge. Are they supposed to come out like this? How did they fit inside that egg? Not to mention they’re two!My mind dizzies and I stagger, falling back against Zorien who speaks, “I don’t think this is the right size they should come