The air in the room was tense as everyone watched the two men standing formidably at the door. All that could be seen of them was their eyes, so it was difficult to tell what their facial expressions were as they continued their affront on Damian's palace."Elite command! Fall into position!" Tristan called out to the men by his side, his mind filled with a sense of duty to carry out his alpha's instructions.The men, six of them, three on either side of their leader, fell into place and held battle-ready stances. Their eyes were fixed on the two mysterious figures at the door, their bodies tense and ready to strike at a moment's notice.The room was silent, the only sound the heavy breathing of the men and the faint hum of tension in the air. It was clear that a confrontation was brewing, and everyone was waiting to see what would happen next.Tristan spoke to the one of the impostors who had been doing the talking on behalf of the duo, his voice firm and menacing. "You still have th
Luna Seraphine rose to her feet and placed a hand on Arya's shoulder. "It's been quite a long day. You and the child must be tired. I'll have a maid fix up your old room in the guest house. Come with me." Arya nodded and obeyed, still looking a bit dazed from the events that had unfolded.Luna Seraphine looked up at Damian in his throne and said, "We'll be seeing you at dinner, son." Damian nodded and said, "Of course, mum. I'll see you at dinner, Arya." Arya nodded again and followed Luna Seraphine out of the throne room, leaving the tension and brutality of the scene behind.As they walked, Luna Seraphine's hand on her shoulder was a comforting presence, and Arya felt a sense of gratitude towards her. She knew that Luna Seraphine was trying to shield her from the harsh realities of the pack's politics, and she appreciated her kindness.The guest house was a cozy building separate from the main palace, and Arya remembered it fondly from her previous visits. She was relieved to be esc
Arya sat quietly, her senses coming alive as a train of maids and servants wheeled in their meal on different carts. The rich, savory scent of roast venison wafted through the air first, carrying hints of rosemary and garlic, mingling with the robust fragrance of slow-cooked stews.As the lid was lifted from a large tureen, the earthy aroma of mushroom and barley soup rose, mingling with the delicate scent of thyme. Nearby, platters of grilled fish emitted a fresh, briny scent, enhanced by a squeeze of lemon and the faintest hint of dill. Freshly baked bread added its warm, yeasty smell, promising a soft and comforting texture.The air was punctuated by the sharp tang of aged cheese, cutting through the richer, heavier scents with a crisp, nutty note. A final flourish came from the sweet, inviting aroma of spiced apple pie, its buttery crust and cinnamon filling providing a comforting end to the olfactory journey.The steward, Sigurdson, came in last, after the train of servants, and
Vivian resumed crying in the truck, her sobs echoing through the confined space as the vehicle slowly tore through the night. She was sorely afraid for the way things had turned out for her in the space of just one day. So much had happened. In one day, she had managed to betray her friend, end up in the dungeons, get exiled from her people, and now, she sat in the back of a truck carrying her off to an unknown destination.Alice grew impatient with Vivian's constant whimpering, as it was clouding her thought process. She needed some quiet to plot an escape plan for the both of them. She turned to Vivian and sharply said, "Can you shut up already!"Vivian's whimpers grew softer until they quieted out completely, leaving an uncomfortable silence in their wake. Alice's gaze never wavered, her eyes fixed intently on the men blocking their exit, her mind racing with strategies and possibilities. The only sound was the hum of the engine and the rattle of the truck's wheels on the road.Ali
Alice steered the truck towards a cemetery, the wheels crunching on the gravel path. Her family had used this place for decades, burying their dead with dignity and respect.But her brother's death had been different. Because of the circumstances, her father had buried him quickly and secretly, giving her no time to pay her final respects. The pain of that still lingered.From the details she'd heard, Leo's body had been dismembered by rogues. He'd died an agonizing death, and his spirit had been left to wander in loneliness. It was unheard of for pack members to associate or identify with anyone who met an end similar to Leo's. The pack's rules were clear: those who died in such a way were shunned, even in death.Alice's heart ached as she thought of her brother, and the fate he'd suffered. She'd always felt guilty for not being able to protect him, for not being there when he needed her. Now, she was determined to make things right, to give him the respect and honor he deserved. She
Arya ate her food slowly, her self-consciousness heightened by the presence of the court royals at the table. She was particularly aware of Damian, who had made a bold move by seating her to his left, beside him at the head of the table. The royals smiled and exchanged conversations, but Arya detected the subtle whispers beneath their breath, trading gossip about her.She longed to clear the air, to set the record straight about her parents' deaths. She wanted to tell them that her parents weren't the evil people they were rumored to be, but rather two young lovers who dared to dream of bridging the gap between their kinds. But, of course, her evil uncle had to snuff out their love.The memory left a sour taste in her mouth, and Arya quickly lifted her glass of wine to her lips, seeking a moment's refuge from the tension. As she took a sip, she couldn't help but wonder what other secrets were being whispered about her, and what lay ahead in this treacherous game of court politics.Ary
Alice drove the truck silently down the road, her eyes fixed on the road ahead. She hoped they were heading in the right direction, but the unfamiliar streets and bustling city lights made her feel uneasy. The full moon still hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the scene.Glancing down at the passenger seat, Alice's heart ached as she saw her brother's wrapped head, a constant reminder of their desperate mission. She prayed that the witch they sought could indeed cast a spell to regenerate his body and bring his consciousness back from the underworld.It wasn't entirely impossible for the old woman to do. She'd heard tales from the few werewolves who were brazen enough to defy the traditions of their kind. Wolves were never to consult the aid of mediums and spirits, but to leave all spirits be, in respect to the mother of the moon who gave them life. But here she was, about to go against the tradition.“Whatever has keeping to the rules gotten me anyway?” Alice thought to
Leo turned his attention back to Alice and Vivian, asking, "Where's this place?"Alice replied, "Welcome back to the land of the living, brother."Leo scoffed, "I was better off dead! Why have you brought me here? I had so much going on for me! I'd just seduced my way into the bedroom of the demon Lord's consort. I've been working on that for ages! You've messed up my opportunity!"Alice said, "You didn't think for a second that she could be setting you up to become the demon Lord's dinner?"Leo stared at her in skepticism and finally said, "Well, if you put it that way..."Alice continued, "Look, I don't really have the luxury of time. I need your help, Leo."Leo rolled his eyes and said, "And you didn't think it better to call your father? Sure, he'd have been more glad to help his favorite daughter. His lips stretched into a smirk as he added, "If he's not too busy with his many concubines down in the underworld. Your father has succeeded in learning the art of charm upon his death
Arya stood before the tomb, her body shaking with sobs as she gazed upon the final resting place of her son, Akira. The tomb, reserved for descendants of the alpha lineage, was a poignant reminder of the legacy that had once belonged to her family, but now rested with Damian.Luna Seraphine's gentle touch and soothing words offered little comfort as Arya's grief consumed her. The pain was suffocating, and the realization that she would never see her vibrant, full-of-life son again was a constant, crushing blow.Arya's heart seethed with anger towards Alice and Leo, her cousins who had orchestrated the palace attack. If not for them, Akira would still be alive, safe in her arms. The thought fueled her anguish, and she whispered into the wind, searching for the essence of her deceased parents, who had promised to always be with her.But their spirits seemed distant, and Arya felt only despair. The warmth and love she once knew were now replaced with an unrelenting sorrow. Even with Luna
The priest ran his hand through his thinning hair and let out an exasperated sigh. "Arya, I really wish there was something we could do. But the laws of our order expressly state that we must not interfere in conflict between brothers of the same kind. The consequences are dire. I'm sorry Arya, but our hands are tied," the man said somberly with his eyes closed.Arya thought to herself and knew there was no use trying to convince the order to go against their traditions. But there had to be a way to salvage the situation and stop her cousins from visiting evil upon the pack and perhaps, the whole earth. Just then, an idea flashed across her mind and she gave it no time to settle well before voicing it out."How about you train me to harness my magic and become powerful enough to stop the enemy. That's not something you cannot do, right?" Arya asked, hiding the pain and anxiety in her voice as she spoke.The priest squinted his eyes, deep in contemplation. He focused on a particular gr
Damian approached the house with a plastic bag containing their dinner, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of caution and confusion. He had parked the van a few poles back, just as he'd done when he was with Anika, and walked the rest of the way, his senses on high alert. As he moved through the night, he swept his gaze from side to side, high on alert to spot any strange movements, his ears perked up to catch the slightest sound. Not that he expected danger to be lurking around, but one could never be too careful.A sense of foreboding and dread sat in his stomach, and he suddenly felt goosebumps on his skin, a rare occurrence for a Vis Wood like himself. His heart raced slightly faster, and his hand instinctively went to the pocket where he kept his dagger, a habitual gesture that had become second nature to him. These were odd behaviors for his wolf, and he could only wonder what was wrong. The house came into view now, and he looked to the side, ready to cross over th
The Blood Sisterhood were a secret sect of elite female warriors who paid allegiance to the Luna alone. They were part of the hidden tradition of the pack, a secret passed down from one generation of Luna to the next.Luna Seraphine took a deep breath, gathering her strength. "Sisters, I need you to go and ask for help from the Order of the Sun, the coven Arya's father belonged to during his lifetime. Tell them a daughter of theirs is faced with the threat of death at the hands of wicked people."The forewoman spoke up with a hint of hesitation in her voice. "This thing you ask of us, it totally goes against all that we represent. It is against our ethos to seek help from the witches." She stated gently but firmly.Luna Seraphine's voice came barely audible above a whisper. "Unless you're up for a battle against hell itself, I suggest you do as I have just requested."The woman argued, "We shall fight till death then. Our pride as a group supersedes the need to ask for help from the l
"There's no chance that would ever work!" the witch cried immediately after Leo told her what he needed her to do. She gently extracted herself from underneath his piercing gaze and walked over to the other side of the room."And why is that?" Leo asked, his voice cold and impatient."You see, the only reason why your sister could call you back up from the underworld was because she had at least a part of your dead corpse. And the head especially, makes things easier. If you don't have her body with you, I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help," the old witch explained, feigning confidence and busying herself with arranging spices on a shelf in the corner.Leo flashed to her side using his heightened reflexes and hoisted her up in the air by her neck. "I'll go get her body. If you are not here when I return, I will find you, and I will kill you," he threatened through gritted teeth."I'd also have to wait for a full moon," the woman's desperate voice pleaded."I don't care! You'll
Damian consoled Arya over the loss of her child, but he couldn't seem to comfort her enough. She was a wrecking ball of sobs as she held baby Akira's dead form in her hands, even as Damian held her to his chest. What the bastards they had just killed did to the baby was heartless. Even in death, Akira looked like a beam of peace, his lips and skin now taking on the grayish pallor of death."I wish I had the words, my love," Damian found himself saying into the air, even though he was addressing Arya. It hurt him to see the woman he loved in such a state.Tristan and the other men from the elite command that had come with Damian to rescue his mate stood akimbo around them, at a loss for how to console both their alpha and his mate.Suddenly, Arya let out a loud gasp and began crumbling to the ground, struggling to breathe. Everyone was too stunned to do anything at first, until Damian snapped out of his shock and held her up firmly, struggling to contain both her weight and that of the
Damian sat in the backseat of the van, lost in thought. He was confident that after asserting his dominance in the Silver Crescent pack, Jasper and his followers wouldn't dare trespass again. He adjusted his new jacket, provided by Tristan, knowing his previous clothes would be ruined after his transformation.As they approached the Ember Moon pack, Damian's keen sense of smell detected something strange. He exchanged a concerned glance with Tristan, who nodded in agreement. "Kill the engines," Damian ordered, and the driver complied without question.Damian jumped out and crept behind the wall, motioning to Tristan to follow. "Break the men into groups," he whispered. "Take the secret side gates scattered around the fence. We need the advantage of surprise." Tristan nodded and relayed the orders to the men, dividing them into four groups to cover the North, East, West, and South wings of the premises.Damian led his group of six, including Tristan, towards the West wing. As they appr
Arya and Luna Seraphine sat on their seats, their senses on high alert. The sounds were getting closer, and Luna's voice was laced with urgency as she turned to Arya and said, "Quick, go to Akira. I don't like these sounds."Arya's heart sank into her stomach as she remembered her dream and recalled that Akira went missing in the dream. She never found him. If that were to happen now, she'd kill herself. She was sure of it.She ran as fast as her legs could go, her pace fueled by adrenaline. She turned into a side door to climb into a corridor when a body was tossed out of the corridor, and she stopped dead in her tracks. Her wolf instincts, though rarely active, screamed danger. The corpse was dressed in palace guard attire, partially shifted into its wolf form, badly disfigured, with a gaping hole where the left eye should have been and another in the chest.Slowly, she lifted her eyes to look into the corridor where the body was flung from. Her skin crawled at the sight before her.
Damian strolled into the garden, his eyes scanning the area for his mother and Arya. He recalled his mother inviting Arya to tea the previous night and smiled, remembering the closeness they shared. He had finally made up his mind to sire Jasper's child, and his thoughts were filled with Arya.As he approached the umbrella-shaded table, he beamed with a wide smile. "Top of the morning to you two, beautiful ladies." He kissed his mother's forehead and took Arya's hand, lifting it to his lips. His eyes locked onto hers, and he heard her subtle gasp."Hello, Arya. I trust you slept well?" Arya replied shyly, "Yes, alpha. Thank you."Luna Seraphine playfully rolled her eyes. "Yes, I slept well too, thank you." Damian chuckled and said, "I was going to ask you that, mother." He turned to Arya, his smile lingering.He noticed the tea on the table and teased, "I see you've both decided to have tea without me, then." He picked up his mother's cup, and she protested, "Put that back down, sil