He hid in the shadows at the back of windows watching Miranda walk out of her old house. Leo's glare was cold and calculating; his fists were clenched at his sides as he waited for the sound of her footsteps to fade into the distance. Still, he can't tear his eyes off of the house that holds so many secrets for him."You do bother, don't you?" Leo said to himself, a sour smile spreading across his face. "You finally use that bean, Miranda. After all these years."He'd waited for this, waited for her to do something, make a move. And now, she had. Miranda had retrieved the paper of prophecy, the one that would decide their fate to save them all or destroy them. Leo wasn't nervous about the prophecy, however. No, his anger went much deeper than that.His chest tightened at the familiar ache of loss. A wound still, unwounded. Remembering Sarah, his sister, and their father who built him into the man he was today-they were gone, taken by the very people Miranda was trying to protect. Maxi
Maxine poured milk into a glass, watching it swirl before handing it to Coreen. She looked at her sister’s swollen belly, trying to imagine what it would be like to hold her own child in her arms.“So, you and Trevor?” Maxine asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter.Coreen grinned, placing a hand on her round stomach. “I didn’t know I’d fall for that jerk, either,” she admitted with a laugh. “But he’s hot, I’ll give him that.”They both burst into laughter, the sound filling the small kitchen. It felt good to share a moment of levity, especially given how serious everything had become lately.“How many months now?” Maxine asked, her gaze flickering to Coreen’s belly as she took a sip from her own glass.“Eight,” Coreen replied, her voice casual despite the significance. “It all started after that one wild night, and well… it just kept going from there.”Maxine shook her head, smiling. “So, you’re about a month ahead of me, huh? You always were a bit ahead of the ga
Miranda paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, her heart racing as she tried to keep her tears from falling. The weight of her decision was suffocating, and her chest tightened with every step she took. She glanced at Erick, her oldest and closest confidant, hoping he might have some way to ease the unbearable pain in her heart. But his face was set, his eyes focused."You know what will happen!" Miranda snapped, her voice breaking under the pressure. "I already told you that! This isn’t just some story or legend. It’s real, Erick."Erick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "I know, Miranda, I know. But we have to do it anyway. We don’t have many options left.""What options?" Miranda's voice was laced with frustration as she threw her hands into the air. "What way out do you think we have? I don’t want to lose Maxine! She’s the only one I have left." Her voice faltered as her fear took hold. "You know how dangerous it is to have the eclipse essence in one bloodline. I
There she lay in the bed, her body now enervated but the spirit of her high and big. She could hear the softly crying sounds of her newborns-the twin babies that she had fought hard to bring into this world. They were perfect, tiny, with so much life within them. One boy, one girl. She already decided on the names: Hannah and Hadzen. And as she looked at them there, all rolled up in their cradles, they all seemed like such ordinary babies. Their innocence filled the room, and it was quite impossible to believe that so much danger still surrounded them.Her heart hurts to love and to worry for them. She was a mother now, and truly, she wanted to be able to protect them. However, at the back of her mind is the warning her mother had given her: the curse of the eclipse essence. It still lingers over her, over her family. She needed to know the truth.Coreen, her stepsister, stood in the same room with her maids. She had come to visit as soon as she heard about the birth, but Maxine could
Eight months had passed since the arrival of her twins, Hannah and Hadzen, and the house was full of baby laughter and gentle cooing. Sunbeams streamed through the windows as she sat on the floor playing with Hannah cradled in her arms. "Dada, tell him Dada," Maxine said, nodding towards Alph, who was sitting nearby cuddling their son Hadzen.Hannah's look remained steady, directed up at Alph as her mouth worked on the syllables with a visible effort. "Da-ah," she said, her voice unstable but clear enough to send a shiver down Maxine's spine.Maxine opened her eyes widely in amazement. "Oh my gosh! You spoke!" she squealed, hugging Hannah closer. "That is my baby girl, such a rapid learner!Not to be outdone, Alph grinned and held Hadzen aloft in the air, bouncing him lightly. "Okay, little man, let's show your mom what you've got. Can you say 'Ma-ma'?"`Hadzen was shrieking with laughter as Alph twirled him around, his chubby little hands reaching up toward his dad. Though no words
Five years had passed since then, and the children's laughter was again louder, as Hannah and Hadzen played with their cousin Dylan under the great oak tree in the courtyard of their estate, a warm afternoon spent in sheer energy as the three children ran round the great oak tree in the garden."Hannah! Slow up, wait for me!" he yelled as he chased after her as she plunged toward the tree. He had just been bumped by Tylan, their family friend, and was laughing as he tried to catch up with Hannah who always seemed faster."Catch me if you can, Dylan!" she laughed as her brown curls bounced and she climbed higher into the branches of the tree.Hadzen sat on a nearby bench, with a book in his lap, reading and looked up from his story with a frown. "Hey, don't be so noisy!" he said sternly.Hannah stopped half-way up the tree, looked down to Dylan who stood under, panting. The two looked at each other, their mischievous grins even as they understood each other without words — this was som
"Hadzen!"The hysterical voice echoed through the night as Hadzen leapt out of bed his heart pounding. He could hardly see the figure in the darkness on the balcony but he knew he wouldn't mistake that shriek."Hannah!" he yelled jumping to his feet as his twin sister's body was dragged away by a tall, dark figure.Looking over his shoulder, he flashed Hadzen a derisive smile before leaping over the balcony. "Catch you later, Hadzen."He plunged into darkness with Hannah's screams."HANNAH!" Hadzen shouted, sprinting toward the balcony-but she was already gone."Hadzen! Wake up!" his mother cried in a panic, shaking him out of dazed shock.Hadzen blinked, dazed. To his left was his mom, Maxine, crying, her face streaked with tears, scared. His father, Alph, paced around the room, scanning everywhere, up and down."Where's Hannah?" Hadzen stuttered his words, his voice thick with panic. He looked to the bedside he shared with Hannah; she was gone."M-mom. she was here, right next to me
Days slipped by, going to waste and slipping past one another in that little village where Lenor and her family dwelled. Hannah could see reason in her new life; she curled up in their little house in the warm spots and clutched a blanket she had spotted the first night there - light in scent with a fragrant smell of lavender - which Lenor brought home those aspects of comfort after years of love and care.In those early days, her quiet sobs filled the home, breaking the silence every morning and night. Only Victor, the ten-year-old boy who found her by the riverbank, could sometimes pull her out of her sadness." Hadzen…," she would whisper the name of her brother, softly, as if a fragile yet determined voice; as if saying it may somehow bring him closer: "Hadzen… "Victor would sit there, looking at her with a tearful light of sadness and determination in his eyes. He didn't understand the depth of her pain but could see how much she was hurting, and he wanted to help. After digging
Thirteen Years Later…."Maxine, your daughter was found in the woods," the messenger said his voice quivering in shock and disbelief. "It's not confirmed yet, but the healer said her blood matches yours. It is … from your bloodline."Maxine froze, the aching ache of longing in her chest now replaced by the flicker of hope that she hadn't felt for years. She had scoured the earth for Hannah, year after year, refusing to let go of hope. The pack continued to move forward, living and thriving, but for Maxine, her heart was suspended in time. Since Hannah was taken from her by Leo, nothing in her life had held the promise of joy ever again.Rededicating herself, Maxine sped off to the healer's chambers. As she entered, her breath caught in her throat. There lay, on the bed, a young woman who resembled she had been taken from the very pages of Maxine's memory—a young Hadzen, her son, at the age that had passed since his own existence. This young woman was carrying his features that so clos
Hannah P.O.V.It was going to be perfect. Tonight. I wore my white dress. Wildflowers clutched in my hand. The heartbeats in my chest are not from fear but with excitement. It's going to be the beginning of our new life. Now he stood before me at the altar, his face alight with a radiant smile as he looked out at me as if I were his entire world, the small circle of his family smiling warmly to engulf me in a feeling of belonging that, up to now, I had never known."Victor," I panted, barely above a whisper. This was it. We were here finally, about to promise our lives to each other. Away from the craziness, away from the world of packs and politics, we had found a haven within the humans. We could just. exist. Love. Grow.But I could take only one step in his direction when a sound pierced the stillness, like a knife. A heavy thud of paws on earth. My body tensed, my instincts screaming at me. I knew that sound. Wolves.They descended upon us before I even had time to react.The cere
Days slipped by, going to waste and slipping past one another in that little village where Lenor and her family dwelled. Hannah could see reason in her new life; she curled up in their little house in the warm spots and clutched a blanket she had spotted the first night there - light in scent with a fragrant smell of lavender - which Lenor brought home those aspects of comfort after years of love and care.In those early days, her quiet sobs filled the home, breaking the silence every morning and night. Only Victor, the ten-year-old boy who found her by the riverbank, could sometimes pull her out of her sadness." Hadzen…," she would whisper the name of her brother, softly, as if a fragile yet determined voice; as if saying it may somehow bring him closer: "Hadzen… "Victor would sit there, looking at her with a tearful light of sadness and determination in his eyes. He didn't understand the depth of her pain but could see how much she was hurting, and he wanted to help. After digging
"Hadzen!"The hysterical voice echoed through the night as Hadzen leapt out of bed his heart pounding. He could hardly see the figure in the darkness on the balcony but he knew he wouldn't mistake that shriek."Hannah!" he yelled jumping to his feet as his twin sister's body was dragged away by a tall, dark figure.Looking over his shoulder, he flashed Hadzen a derisive smile before leaping over the balcony. "Catch you later, Hadzen."He plunged into darkness with Hannah's screams."HANNAH!" Hadzen shouted, sprinting toward the balcony-but she was already gone."Hadzen! Wake up!" his mother cried in a panic, shaking him out of dazed shock.Hadzen blinked, dazed. To his left was his mom, Maxine, crying, her face streaked with tears, scared. His father, Alph, paced around the room, scanning everywhere, up and down."Where's Hannah?" Hadzen stuttered his words, his voice thick with panic. He looked to the bedside he shared with Hannah; she was gone."M-mom. she was here, right next to me
Five years had passed since then, and the children's laughter was again louder, as Hannah and Hadzen played with their cousin Dylan under the great oak tree in the courtyard of their estate, a warm afternoon spent in sheer energy as the three children ran round the great oak tree in the garden."Hannah! Slow up, wait for me!" he yelled as he chased after her as she plunged toward the tree. He had just been bumped by Tylan, their family friend, and was laughing as he tried to catch up with Hannah who always seemed faster."Catch me if you can, Dylan!" she laughed as her brown curls bounced and she climbed higher into the branches of the tree.Hadzen sat on a nearby bench, with a book in his lap, reading and looked up from his story with a frown. "Hey, don't be so noisy!" he said sternly.Hannah stopped half-way up the tree, looked down to Dylan who stood under, panting. The two looked at each other, their mischievous grins even as they understood each other without words — this was som
Eight months had passed since the arrival of her twins, Hannah and Hadzen, and the house was full of baby laughter and gentle cooing. Sunbeams streamed through the windows as she sat on the floor playing with Hannah cradled in her arms. "Dada, tell him Dada," Maxine said, nodding towards Alph, who was sitting nearby cuddling their son Hadzen.Hannah's look remained steady, directed up at Alph as her mouth worked on the syllables with a visible effort. "Da-ah," she said, her voice unstable but clear enough to send a shiver down Maxine's spine.Maxine opened her eyes widely in amazement. "Oh my gosh! You spoke!" she squealed, hugging Hannah closer. "That is my baby girl, such a rapid learner!Not to be outdone, Alph grinned and held Hadzen aloft in the air, bouncing him lightly. "Okay, little man, let's show your mom what you've got. Can you say 'Ma-ma'?"`Hadzen was shrieking with laughter as Alph twirled him around, his chubby little hands reaching up toward his dad. Though no words
There she lay in the bed, her body now enervated but the spirit of her high and big. She could hear the softly crying sounds of her newborns-the twin babies that she had fought hard to bring into this world. They were perfect, tiny, with so much life within them. One boy, one girl. She already decided on the names: Hannah and Hadzen. And as she looked at them there, all rolled up in their cradles, they all seemed like such ordinary babies. Their innocence filled the room, and it was quite impossible to believe that so much danger still surrounded them.Her heart hurts to love and to worry for them. She was a mother now, and truly, she wanted to be able to protect them. However, at the back of her mind is the warning her mother had given her: the curse of the eclipse essence. It still lingers over her, over her family. She needed to know the truth.Coreen, her stepsister, stood in the same room with her maids. She had come to visit as soon as she heard about the birth, but Maxine could
Miranda paced back and forth in the dimly lit room, her heart racing as she tried to keep her tears from falling. The weight of her decision was suffocating, and her chest tightened with every step she took. She glanced at Erick, her oldest and closest confidant, hoping he might have some way to ease the unbearable pain in her heart. But his face was set, his eyes focused."You know what will happen!" Miranda snapped, her voice breaking under the pressure. "I already told you that! This isn’t just some story or legend. It’s real, Erick."Erick leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temples. "I know, Miranda, I know. But we have to do it anyway. We don’t have many options left.""What options?" Miranda's voice was laced with frustration as she threw her hands into the air. "What way out do you think we have? I don’t want to lose Maxine! She’s the only one I have left." Her voice faltered as her fear took hold. "You know how dangerous it is to have the eclipse essence in one bloodline. I
Maxine poured milk into a glass, watching it swirl before handing it to Coreen. She looked at her sister’s swollen belly, trying to imagine what it would be like to hold her own child in her arms.“So, you and Trevor?” Maxine asked, raising an eyebrow as she leaned against the counter.Coreen grinned, placing a hand on her round stomach. “I didn’t know I’d fall for that jerk, either,” she admitted with a laugh. “But he’s hot, I’ll give him that.”They both burst into laughter, the sound filling the small kitchen. It felt good to share a moment of levity, especially given how serious everything had become lately.“How many months now?” Maxine asked, her gaze flickering to Coreen’s belly as she took a sip from her own glass.“Eight,” Coreen replied, her voice casual despite the significance. “It all started after that one wild night, and well… it just kept going from there.”Maxine shook her head, smiling. “So, you’re about a month ahead of me, huh? You always were a bit ahead of the ga