The drive back to the city felt like an eternity. My mind was boggled with pent-up anger, frustration, and a gnawing sense of helplessness. The Garvalles always knew exactly where to press to make me fold, and it infuriated me. When I pulled up to the hospital, my stomach churned. The sleek black cars parked near the entrance screamed of wealth and power. I hesitated, gripping the door handle, if only there was a possible way to avoid this confrontation. “Get it together, Daniella,” I muttered under my breath. “You can do this.”With a deep breath, I stepped out and walked into the hospital. The sterile smell of disinfectant hit me instantly, making my nausea worse. As I approached the room, I saw her. Mrs. Garvalle stood in the hallway, her posture immaculate, her designer dress free of even a single wrinkle. Her hair was swept back in a perfect bun, and her face wore a serene expression.Mrs. Garvalle greeted me with her usual grace, her smile polished and polite. She was a woma
Daniella’s POV“Daniella can also move in. Mom, I don’t think you’d have any objections to that, would you?” Liam’s voice rang out confidently, as though he had just suggested a perfectly reasonable solution.Mrs. Garvalle’s brows shot up in surprise, but she quickly masked it with a practiced smile. “Yes, Daniella,” she agreed, nodding, her expression almost too eager. “You can come back and move in. I’d feel much more reassured knowing you’re here to take care of him.”“I’m afraid I must decline, Mrs. Garvalle,” I said, shifting my gaze to Liam. “I’ve been busy lately and simply don’t have the time. Liam will have to find someone else to take care of him.”The room fell into stunned silence. No one expected me to refuse, least of all Liam Garvalle. For a moment, he said nothing, only studied me, as if trying to decipher a puzzle he couldn’t solve. Finally, he asked, his voice low and deliberate, “What exactly do you want, Daniella?”I let out a bitter laugh, one that carried years
Daniella "You’re not fit to drive. Please, get in my car. I’ll take you home." Dalton saidI wanted to argue, to tell him to leave me alone, but I didn’t have the strength. I nodded. He opened the passenger door, his hands steadying me as if I might shatter into pieces. I sank into the seat, wrapping my arms around myself. We drove in silence. The only sound was the hum of the engine, i felt physically and emotionally drained. Worst was that Liam's words echoed in my mind relentlessly. “Stop the car,” I whispered, my voice trembling. Dalton glanced at me, concerned. “What?” “Stop the car,” I said louder, my hand already reaching for the door. I barely waited for the car to come to a halt before stumbling out. The nausea hit me hard, and I clutched my stomach as I vomited. It felt like I was ridding myself of every ounce of pain, humiliation, and heartbreak. My body convulsed until there was nothing left but bile. I collapsed to my knees, my body shaking as silent sobs
I still remember the first time I saw Daniella. It was a cool autumn morning on campus, the kind of day that makes you want to stay in bed and forget everything else. I was running late for class, struggling to carry a cup of coffee, my stack of books, and my old satchel. She had appeared out of nowhere, wearing a yellow scarf wrapped loosely around her neck. What caught my attention most was her wavy red curls, and the way they caught the sunlight, made her look etherealShe had been helping another student, crouched low to pick up scattered papers. I had stopped mid-step. Something about her struck me deeply, a pull I couldn’t explain. She was beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. It was her presence, her warmth, the way she seemed to radiate light around her.After that day, I started seeing her everywhere—at the café on campus, in the lecture hall, sitting cross-legged on the lawn with a notebook and pen. She always looked busy, always deep in thought, and I found myself draw
Seven years had passed before I decided to return to the city, and I was more than determined to start afresh. I convinced myself that Daniella and Liam were living their best life together, and I vowed that whatever lingering feelings I’d once had for Daniella were long buried. It was foolish to think otherwise—or so I told myself. However, on my arrival, I was left with no donut that the Moon Goddess had other plans in store for me. Not long after I settled back in, I decided to run a few errands at Target, and that was when I saw her. She looked as ethereal as ever, and her presence still had that magnetic pull that I couldn’t resist. But something had changed—her eyes. They were still as striking and hazel-colored as I remembered, but now they carried a quiet sadness that hadn’t been there before. The worst part about seeing her again was that every emotion I thought I had buried—every flicker of longing, love, and heartache—rushed back to the surface, confirming to me that
I buried myself in work and convinced myself that if I worked hard enough if I exhausted every ounce of my energy, I wouldn’t have the time—or the strength—to think about him. About us. About what could have been, what should have been.However, I started to notice that I was becoming tired, too tired. The kind of exhaustion that seeped into my bones, making it difficult to function. At first, I blamed it on overworking, but then the nausea started. Subtle at first, like a mild uneasiness in the pit of my stomach, but soon it grew. The scent of coffee made her gag. Even the perfume I had worn for years suddenly smelled foreign. And then there were the dizzy spells—small ones at first, I also started noticing a foreign scent around me, it was nothing like the way Liam used to smell, it was different and worse, it seemed as if it was coming from within me.I should have known something was wrong but I ignored it until I almost fainted on my way back from a meeting.“Daniella, you okay
FOUR YEARS LATERDaniella’s POVThe airport was as busy as I remembered, bustling with people moving in different directions. The scent of fresh coffee and cheap perfume clung to the air, mixing with the sharp tang of jet fuel. Announcements echoed overhead, calling out delayed flights and final boarding calls. I gripped my phone tightly, pressing it to my ear as Roy picked up on the third ring. “Daniella?” His voice was warm and familiar—a tether to a past that didn’t hurt as much anymore. “Hey, Roy. I’m back.” I exhaled slowly, steadying myself. “Can you come get me?” There was a brief pause then he chuckled lowly. “Took you long enough, Thornhill.” A small smile tugged at my lips. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll wait outside.” As I ended the call, I adjusted the strap of my purse and started toward the exit, weaving through the crowd. My heels clicked against the polished floor, my heart lighter than it had been in a long time. And then I saw them. Liam Garvalle and Matilda. Ti
LIAM'S POVIt had been four years. Four years of silence. Four years of searching, questioning, and coming up empty-handed.Daniella was gone.I never thought she had it in her. Leaving me? No, that was impossible. For years, she had been by my side, unwavering, constant. She belonged there—or at least, I had believed she did. But she vanished without a trace, walking out of my life like I never mattered like we never existed.I had searched. I had sent men to track her down, combed through records, and called in favors from people who owed me their lives. But there was nothing. No trail, no whispers, not even a ghost of her existence left behind. It was as if she had been swallowed by the earth itself.I had confronted Grace and Roy more times than I cared to count, demanding answers. Their unwavering silence was infuriating. They had sworn they didn’t know where she was, but I knew better. They were loyal to her, not me. I could have used my Alpha command to force them to speak, to
The cell door creaked open with a groan that echoed through the narrow corridor, the iron hinges protesting the movement. Arya stepped out, her heeled boots clicking sharply against the damp stone floor. Her posture was elegant, commanding—her chin tilted ever so slightly upwards in that familiar way that made her seem like royalty in a place that reeked of rot and fear.She turned to the guards, her lips curling into a tight smile.“Lock the cell,” she ordered coolly without glancing back. “I don’t want any accidents.”The guards nodded silently and pushed the thick iron door shut with a deep metallic clang. One of them turned the key with a rough twist, and the deadbolt snapped into place with finality. Arya stood still for a moment, watching them with feigned patience, her hands clasped lightly behind her back.“The trial is scheduled, correct?” Arya asked in a silk-smooth tone, as if she were inquiring about afternoon tea, not the brutal torment of another living being.“Yes, my
“Arya…” Elizabeth’s voice rang out, quiet but clear, halting Arya’s retreat.Arya stilled, her hand on the door’s iron handle. “What?”Elizabeth swallowed hard, her voice cracking beneath the weight of pain and disbelief. “Why?”Arya paused mid-step. Her fingers curled around the keys at her hip. She did not turn.“Why what?” Arya asked, her voice smooth and clipped, though it carried an edge.“Why go to such desperate measures to get rid of us?” Elizabeth’s voice trembled with hurt and confusion. “Do you hate us that much? Why pretend? Why go so far? Was all of it a lie?”Arya stood still, her back to the bars. For a moment, Elizabeth thought she might walk away, might ignore the question entirely. But then Arya turned slowly, her brown eyes glowing faintly in the dim torchlight.There was a sneer on her face, cruel and cold, but beneath it, Elizabeth saw something else—bitterness, long-nurtured pain, and something dangerously close to heartbreak.“You really want to know?” Arya aske
The damp chill of the underground cell gnawed through Elizabeth’s thin, torn tunic, and the stench of mold and decay lingered in the air like a curse that refused to be lifted.Chains rattled faintly with her every movement, and little Habibah lay curled in her mother’s lap, her breath warm against Elizabeth’s bruised skin. Elizabeth’s fingers ran slowly through her daughter’s tangled curls, each strand a small comfort against the storm of fear in her chest. For a brief, aching moment, there was silence. Suddenly, the silence broke. The sound of heavy boots echoed down the corridor—slow, deliberate, merciless. Elizabeth stiffened, her hand tightening around Habibah. The child whimpered.A cruel laugh drifted through the air, low and mocking, bouncing off the cold walls like a specter.“No,” Elizabeth whispered, eyes lifting toward the cell bars. “Please, not again.”The shadows moved, shaped themselves into a familiar figure. A woman stepped into the dim torchlight, flanked by three
Elizabeth sat cross-legged on the cold stone floor, her back against the heavy, fortified wall of the secret chamber. “Will Papa really come back soon?” Habibah whispered for what felt like the tenth time, her voice barely a breath.Elizabeth gave a small, reassuring nod. “Your father said to stay put. He’ll come for us when it’s safe. We just have to trust him.”Habibah bit her lip, glancing nervously at the heavy steel door that kept them hidden from the chaos outside. The chamber had been built centuries ago as a refuge, and it was nearly impenetrable, soundproof, and sealed tight. Until—A sound broke the heavy silence — the soft, unmistakable creak of footsteps approaching.Elizabeth stiffened immediately. She pressed her hand gently to Habibah’s arm, signaling her to stay silent. Both of them leaned in, hearts pounding so hard it was almost deafening in their own ears.The door handle shifted, moving slightly.Habibah's breathing quickened, and Elizabeth gripped her hand tightl
Three years had passed since little Habibah was birthed and welcomed into the Emerald Pack. In those years, she had blossomed like a rare flower, her laughter ringing like bells across the pack grounds. The pack loved her fiercely — not only because she was the Alpha’s daughter, but because there was something radiant about her, she had a bright and untamed spirit with the gentleness of her mother, Elizabeth, and the fire of her father, Czar.Elizabeth, her mother, watched her every day with quiet awe. Sometimes, she would run her fingers through Habibah’s dark curls and wonder how such a miracle had come into their lives after all the pain they had endured.Czar, the Alpha, was no different. He had vowed since the day Habibah was conceived and born that he would protect her with everything he had—even if it cost him his life.But these were troubled times.The werewolf territories were embroiled in an endless war — pack against pack, hunters against wolves, betrayal seeping into once
Elizabeth basked in the glow of an expectant mother, she could not be more thankful for the peace, joy, and love that found her. She and Alpha Czar counted the days till the birth of their child, until word arrived that the Willow Creek Pack — an ally under Emerald's protection — had been attacked, the news shattered the pack's peace, especially that of Elizabeth. Alpha Czar knew his position and wasted no time. Without hesitation, he assembled his warriors; his vow to all allied packs must be fulfilled no matter the cost or consequences. "Under my watch," he had sworn, "no friend shall fall alone."Elizabeth, heavy with child and only weeks from her due date, had begged him to stay. But duty was a jealous, unyielding master. Alpha Czar kissed Elizabeth's forehead, lingering there a little longer than usual, his hand pressed over her swollen belly. His voice, low and steady as he made her a promise, “I’ll be back before you know it, my love. You and our little one — you’re my world
Czar's parents, welcomed Elizabeth with open arms. Their trust in their son's judgment was unwavering. “He’s never made a decision that endangered this pack,” he told the council once. “If he sees a Luna in her, then so do I.”The majority of the pack mirrored this sentiment, embracing Elizabeth as one of their own.However, not all shared this enthusiasm. A few elders from the high council murmured amongst themselves. They saw her lineage—or lack thereof—as a threat to tradition. A Luna should come from a bloodline of power, they argued. Not from nowhere.“We do not doubt your leadership, Alpha,” Elder Harran had said, rising to speak. “But a Luna must come from strength. Her background is unknown. How can we be certain she is the right choice?”Czar had risen slowly, his frame imposing, his voice calm but razor-edged."Have I ever led this pack into ruin?" he asked, locking eyes with each elder."No, Alpha," they replied in quiet unison."Have I not fought, bled, and sacrificed to k
The forest had always whispered ancient secrets, but Elizabeth had never expected to be part of one. She’d only wanted to explore some of the old trails beyond the marked boundaries. But somehow, she’d wandered too far, drawn in by the haunting beauty of the wild and the unearthly quiet. Trees loomed like sentinels, and the shadows stretched deeper than they should have. Before she knew it, a group of imposing men had surrounded her.They moved with eerie grace and frightening precision, their eyes glowing with something primal. She hadn’t even had time to scream before she was bound and blindfolded, the cold roughness of rope scraping her skin.When the blindfold was finally removed, she found herself in a cold stone cell deep within a prison under the Emerald Pack's stronghold.****************That was the first time Alpha Czar laid eyes on her.He was there for a routine inspection, flanked by two of his guards. His towering figure filled the hallway, his black coat whipping behin
ALMOST 30 YEARS AGO Many, many years ago, before the moon ever looked kindly on the Emerald Pack, before it bore the name that would inspire awe across the territories, it had another name — one spoken only in hushed tones by the old and the haunted. Once, it was a place of shadows and fear, ruled by a tyrant whose reign had withered every shred of hope from the hearts of its people. His name had long since been erased from the histories, not out of ignorance, but out of deliberate intent. The pack had chosen to forget.This alpha, cruel and insatiable in his thirst for power, ran the pack with an iron fist. He saw his members not as family, but as tools — to be used, to be discarded, to be punished. Families lived in fear, mothers whispered warnings to their children, and warriors bore scars not only from outside battles, but from within. The woods that now stood tall and proud were then filled with silent dread.But change, as it often does, came from the unlikeliest of places.He h