Himari’s POV.-Can someone just make this Demon kill me instead?Soulfully dejected, I’m sent away as a savage Zorien hinges his imposing aura in front of the mansion to watch me leave. I glance at the way I had to cover to arrive here, the street lamps leading in a straight road down the distance.I gulp tearfully, I’ve had to go through so much in one evening and all he cares about is my lateness? Does he have no heart at all? What am I even saying, weren’t Demons initially heartless and vile creatures with no emotions?Although these ones seem more rational and human-like, Zorien is no different from those Darklings. I bite my lip to prevent my sobs from expelling as I drag my aching body and stinging feet away, in the direction of the barn, maybe. I know Spring and Storm won’t mind having me with them.Zorien can swallow his mansion for all I care.‘Are you whining, Mari? Haha! This is so unlike you’ I hear Runa and roll my teary eyes as I growl at her, ‘Don’t make my
Himari’s POV.-“Well, what do you expect? There’s no way that filthy pup could stand to do it with someone else other than her beloved”.A cold shiver races up my spine at the haunting voice, and I glance aside to see Zorien stepping out of the wall close to the bedroom door. What? Did he just walk out of that wall? It’s the first I’m seeing him in slacks and a button-up formal dress shirt and an overcoat on; everything in his usual black. His hair is worn all back with a couple of strands dripping down his neck.When I brush the faint crimson in his orbs, I’m reminded of the words he had just spouted, and panic grips me. I whip my head to Ciel who’s frowning Zorien’s way, fisting his hands as he asks, “Would you mind explaining what that’s supposed to mean?”The energy between the two is foul and sinister, and Zorien does a casual shrug, tossing his intentional smirk my way as he parts his malicious saucy lips, “Why don’t you tell him yourself, pup? How that scummy thing ha
Himari’s POV.-Zorien? Why is he here? I scoot as I pace past the other tables in the lunchroom and am lucky to find Flynn with his hand in the air signaling at me.I quickly settle in like some criminal on the run and Flynn blinks at me, leaning to ask in a low voice as if he’s trying to consider me. “What’s with the hurry? Is someone on your tail?”I hold my hands to ease my shaken state as I tell him squarely, “Zorien and Loren are in here” I whisper-yell and watch the shock dye into his face. Flynn falls back in defeat, expelling an exhausting sigh. “Dang it.”Wait, why am I feeling this way? It’s not like I’m indeed doing anything bad, is it? I’m only here to have lunch with a friend and catch up for the time we’ve been apart. Why do I have to allow that Demon in so much? ‘It’s a good improvement. You’re starting to see things the way I do’ Runa commends and I frown, turning to peer down at his position further by the glass wall. I didn’t come here for him.“That’s
Himari’s POV.-I scream with my eyes snapping shut when I feel his hard hand grip my arm and pull my body forward abruptly, tossing me somewhere. Against my fear, I collide with softness and the scent of fabric softener. With my heart a pounding mess and my mind nearly fraying, I bring my eyes open with heaving breaths, now contorting my thoughts to the right as I take in the feel and look of the sheets.This is Zorien’s bed. How did we get here so fast?“Don’t go tuning me out of your head, pup. I’m yet to dish out your punishment accordingly, so turn this way.”My body is turning around to meet him as if in compliance with his clipped order, and I shudder at the sight awaiting me. The button of his black dress shirt is unbuttoned and presents a thin view of his pale skinned defined torso, his glossy hair tousled from the messy way he’s run his fingers through, and his rigid face with knit brows and a begrudging look dying his orbs darker than black. He looks like danger it
Himari’s POV.-“What does he see in you? Gold-digging wench!”I wince from the pain stinging my scalp, looking into the mirror to see an angry Loren behind me and pulling at my hair. Beside her is a pompous Kitra, glossy red lips up with a smirk as she commends her friend’s brutal attack on me.“W-what do you want from me?” I groan, struggling against her cruel hold to set my hair free, but she beats me to it, hauling me forward with a shriek. I almost bang my face into the mirror, gasping as I clutch the edge of the basin to prevent the face smack.Kitra snorts behind me and I’m lifting my head, pushing my hair that’s been poured forward, back behind me. A hand grabs my shoulder and I’m turned around to meet their berating faces. Loren is ever decked in her heavy makeup with her tall slender body in a silk pink short dress with only one small hand. Kitra surprisingly knows she doesn’t need makeup to display her natural beauty and only ever touches her face a little and sme
Himari’s POV.-“So, this is what’s been keeping you away from me, pup.”A gruff voice chimes into the busy kitchen and I twist my neck to see a groggy-looking Zorien leaning in the doorway with arms folded. His hair is wet and hanging like rope-like strands that drip droplets of water over the shoulders of his deep-ashen hoody.I just stare at him like everyone else is emulating and he crumples his face, “What is it? Is it that strange to have me come down here?” Zorien looks irritated by the surprising way he’s being stared at, and he leaves the doorway and comes sauntering in.He has a scowl on his face when he looks at me at the farthest end of the kitchen. I shrink in my seat, thinking he’ll start coming to scold me, but Valera intercepts him and speaks nicely, “Would you like some lavender-honey lemon tart?”Valera seems to be the only one in the mansion who appears to overlook his flaws. She treats him with kindness and is very patient with his unstable mood swings.
Himari’s POV.-I’m giddy to attend to the people flocking to our booth, emboldening myself to fight off my anxiety to face the crowd as I serve them on disposable plastic plates and hand them flyers. Welma comes to nudge me, “You’re doing so well today, Mari. You’ve been in high spirits since this morning”.I smile at her as we observe our break while the other three take charge. “I’ve never participated at such a big event like this before, and seeing how everyone’s caught up in the same upbeat excitement, it’s only natural I unwind and get blown as well”.Glossing over the shimmering faces of families and friends, the laughter ringing into the winter afternoon air and just people looking forward to having a good time, I feel my chest swelling with an unfamiliar sweet feeling. It might be cold out, but with this dazzling elated mood, no one seems to remember the chills at all. Did I ever have such explosive moments like this when I lived on the other side of the Bracken rive
Himari’s POV.-I break free from the little crowd and chase after Ciel. He’s going to escalate the scene if I let him go beat that man up. “Wait, Ciel” I grab his tensing bicep and enforce a pull to have him stop in his tracks. Worriedly, I speak, “You can’t, everyone’s watching”.This helps to dissipate the anger vibrating through his body as he turns around to face me just a step away from the man nursing his bleeding nose and groaning from external inflictions. Ciel brings a calm hand over mine and I meet the simpering smile on his face. Sigh, I was so scared he’d kill him for sure.“Mari, why don’t you take a break with him? We can handle things here” Welma and Tess walk up to us as the people in the hallway begin to pay no mind to the ruckus just now and return to their business. I look at her questionably, but Tess seems to be in support as she tells, “You could take them with you” She speaks about the two men standing behind them and the one still on the floor.I loo
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