SELENE'S POV"Are you okay?" The words, tender and laced with concern, rolled from his mouth. It was all it took to destroy the facade I had been nurturing for so long.If I opened my mouth to speak, nothing but a loud wail would escape, so I kept silent and hugged him as my life depended on it, letting my silent tears speak for me.I honestly didn't know where to start. The trip down my ancestral memory lane? The torture and realization of my origin? The realization of my agonizing future? Or when I got lost in the ancestral spirit world, hiding from enraged spirits trying to shred my soul apart?If not for Claud, I don't know how I would have survived. At that moment, I had already accepted death. I wanted its peace so badly... I wanted to not exist.Ethan tightened his embrace, his steady heartbeat grounding me in the present. "I'm here," he whispered, his voice a soothing balm to my shattered soul. "Whatever it is, we'll face it together."I took a deep breath, drawing strength fr
King Lockwood’s eyes closed in concentration as he channelled his ethereal energy through the thread. King Nicholas’s stoic expression softened slightly as his regal strength flowed into the circle. My father’s commanding presence bolstered the magic, grounding it with his unyielding resolve. Alicia’s mystic aura intensified, the green flames around her body flaring as she poured every ounce of her power into the barrier.I shifted my attention from the Elders to Arthur. His presence disturbed me to the core; I just couldn't shake that feeling off.[You suspect him,] I heard Lena's voice in my head, and my eyes swelled with tears.'Lena, you're back!' I squealed inwardly. 'I missed you so much.'[I'm so sorry I couldn't be with you. My consciousness was sealed away,] Lena said and I nodded.'I understand. As long as you're here now,' I replied. Truth be told, not every werewolf is lucky to have a wolf with its consciousness, but I am. I have Lena, my wolf with her consciousness, which
"We have to stop this," I said, and was about to go pull Nicholas out of the formation."We can't! They are already joined together by our celestial thread. Breaking them apart will make things worse," Avery said, making me stop in my tracks."Princess Avery is right. The celestial thread binds power and soul together. They are one now. It's either they finish the formation or they lose their souls and powers," Selene explained, her voice steady despite the turmoil around us."What are we going to do now?" I asked, frustration seeping into my tone."It's not working. Their energy is blocked... We need a purer force! Something stronger," Avery yelled, on the verge of tears.I immediately turned to Selene, seeing her quiet and pondering with her head tilted to the side. I knew what was on her mind instantly. "No!" I said, and she heard me. She looked at me, and her eyes spoke to me, 'I don't have a choice.' I shook my head, not in support, but before I could do anything she appeared rig
**SELENE'S POV**A splitting headache forced my eyes open. My vision was blurry, so I closed my eyes and then opened them again. Now I could see clearly. I looked around in confusion. Where am I? This doesn't look like my room... How did I get here?The headache increased as I tried to remember what happened. I held my head and groaned in pain. The last thing I remember is letting that burst of energy engulf me... The rest is a blank. My whole body ached terribly and was numb. What happened?I tried to sit up, but my muscles protested, sending waves of pain through me. I managed to prop myself up on my elbows, surveying my surroundings. The room was unfamiliar, yet it had a certain warmth to it. The walls were adorned with soft tapestries, and the air was filled with the faint scent of lavender."My Love! You are awake! You are finally awake". I heard this warm voice and turned in disbelief, "Mom?".She hugged me tight in the blink of an eye, I was stunned but I hugged her back witho
Ruby gave me one last look, her eyes filled with both concern and affection, before excusing herself. "I'll go help Luna with dinner, my lady," she said softly, giving me a small bow. "Thank you, Ruby," I replied, watching as she quietly left the room, closing the door behind her. The room felt emptier without her, but I knew she was just as eager to make sure everything was perfect for my first meal since waking up. With Ruby gone, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My thoughts immediately drifted back to the letters waiting for me, tucked away in that secret compartment. My heart swelled with anticipation. I could almost feel Ethan’s presence through those letters, the connection we shared bridging the distance between us.I took another bite of the fruit, savoring its sweetness as I imagined what his letters might say. His thoughts, his worries, his love—all there, waiting for me to discover. A part of me itched to dash to my room and read them all at once, but I
My ears perked up at the mention of this, "Mundonile", I muttered, Father nodded and continued, "Yes, Mundonile, Legend says it has the pure essence of the moon goddess herself, Agatha said if we could find it, then your mother could be healed and she will be able to conceive", Father paused again, he took in deep breaths and continued, " On hearing this news I was overjoyed along with the pack, I sent wolves out to find it but our efforts were fruitless, I went to all the clans on the search of it but still no good news, worry gripped me I thought maybe the flower is just a legend after all in the past decades no one has ever seen or used it, I started to lose hope, just then I realized I have searched the whole of the supernatural realm but not the mortal world, so I went to the mortal world and I found leads to the flower, the Hunter Family, Mundonile is their Family Heirloom, passed down from generations to generations ".My eyes widened in shock on hearing this, "Hunter Family?!
Mother taught me sword dance because I had no other hobbies except fighting, she didn't want me to grow with only fighting in my head so she taught me sword dance, a unique way of combining violence and peace, the best way to relieve and express myself, it's a pity I have been too busy with the Hybrid attack I forgot about it.Claudio waved his hand, and a drum appeared in his hands; he sat down calmly, ready to beat it. I smiled happily; it has always been like this: he drums, and I dance.Excitement surged through my body the minute his hands started to beat the drum majestically. Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum.With my twin swords in hand, I let the rhythm guide me, each beat coursing through my veins like a long-lost melody. I moved gracefully, my feet gliding across the earth as if I were dancing on air. The blades became an extension of myself, slicing through the wind with precision and elegance, their sharp edges catching the light of the moon.I twirled, leapt, and spun, the sound of C
"Oh, what would I do without you?" I asked, shaking my head, the faintest trace of amusement in my voice.Claudio grinned, his confidence shining through as he replied without missing a beat, "Nothing."I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound breaking through the lingering tension like sunlight piercing through storm clouds. He joined in, his deep chuckle blending with mine, and for a moment, the heaviness of everything we faced felt a little more bearable."You’re insufferable," I said, still smiling."And yet, you’d be lost without me," he teased, his tone light but his gaze warm and steady.I rolled my eyes, but my smile didn’t falter. "I hate that you’re right.""Get used to it," he said with a wink, leaning back against the nearby tree.As the moon continued to cast its soft glow over us, I realized that no matter how hard the road ahead would be, I would always have Claudio by my side. I silently thanked the Moon Goddess for our friendship.But then, a prickle of unease crawled up
The thick, metallic liquid flooded my mouth, and I drank greedily, the fire in my veins momentarily quenched with each gulp.Maxwell continued pulling blood bags from the bag, lining them up beside me. I drained one after another, each one barely dulling the inferno inside me. The room spun, my vision fading in and out as the primal need began to fade, replaced by heavy, oppressive exhaustion.“More…” I rasped, reaching weakly for another bag. Maxwell handed it to me without question, his face set in a mask of grim understanding.I drained the last one, the empty bag slipping from my fingers as my body finally began to succumb to the overwhelming strain. My breaths slowed, ragged and uneven, as my head lolled back against the wall.The hunger was gone, but so was everything else. A heavy darkness pulled at me, dragging me down into its depths. My limbs felt like lead, my mind clouded and sluggish. The last thing I saw before the blackness claimed me was Maxwell’s face, his expression
Veins bulged along my arms and neck, their pulse erratic, as if liquid fire coursed through them. My breaths were shallow and ragged, each one a struggle against the growing weight pressing down on my chest. The transformation clawed at me, demanding control, but I refused to yield. My trembling hands gripped the desk like a lifeline, but even that began to splinter beneath my strength.“Not now,” I hissed, my voice low and desperate as I clenched my teeth against the pain. My vision blurred, the room warping as the migraine clawed deeper into my skull. It felt as though my head would split apart, the pressure building to unbearable levels.“Not now!” I growled again, more forcefully, my fangs fully extending, and my voice echoing with a monstrous undertone that wasn’t entirely my own. My fingers dug into the desk, carving grooves into the wood as I clung to the only anchor I had left: Selene.Her image burned in my mind, her smile, her voice, her scent—a fleeting reminder of sanity.
"What a lovely way to start my day," I muttered with a rare smile, carefully holding Selene's letter. Her familiar scent of grapes and lavender still lingered on the paper, driving me crazy.Just as I began to read it again, a knock at the door disrupted the peace of the moment. My smile faltered slightly, but I immediately recognized the faint scent of metals; it could only be her."Come in, Natalie," I said without looking up, my voice calm but firm.The door creaked open, and Natalie stepped inside, her graceful movements and steady demeanour as composed as ever. She was one of the few in the empire who dared approach me unannounced. Her sharp eyes scanned the room before settling on me, and a faint smile tugged at her lips."Good morning, Your Highness," she greeted, her tone polite but laced with curiosity. "I see you've received something… interesting."I folded Selene's letter, "What is it, Natalie?" I asked, keeping my expression neutral. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, n
ETHAN'S POVThe clash of swords rang in my ears, but my mind wasn’t in the fight. Every movement, every swing, every parry felt hollow, mechanical. I could tell Valdemar, my sparring partner, was growing frustrated. His strikes became sharper, more precise as if he was daring me to retaliate with the ferocity I was known for.But I didn’t. My thoughts were elsewhere—on her.Selene.She hadn’t replied to any of my letters. I’d sent so many, each carefully crafted yet desperate, hoping for some sign that she was okay. The silence gnawed at me like a huge rock was placed on my chest.“Crown Prince Ethan!” Valdemar’s sharp voice cut through the haze in my mind. His blade hovered a hair’s breadth from my chest. I hadn’t even registered his approach.My eyes narrowed, meeting his steely gaze. “What?” I snapped, my voice cold as ice.“You’re distracted,” he said bluntly, lowering his sword. “If this were a real fight, you’d be dead.”I sheathed my blade with a deliberate motion, the scrape o
"Sel," Claudio began, his voice steady but heavy with concern. "The celestial power sealed within you is breaking down. Your body can withstand it, but it will take time—and a lot of meditation—to adjust. As a result, you may experience temporary blindness whenever you tap into the celestial power."His words struck me like a thunderclap, silencing the thoughts racing through my mind. I swallowed hard, my voice trembling as I asked, "You’re saying every time I use the celestial power, there’s a risk of losing my sight?"Claudio nodded solemnly, his eyes meeting mine. "Yes. Today, I was able to cast a rejuvenating spell to help you find balance. Without it, you would have been without your sight for at least twenty-four hours.""A whole day…" I repeated, the weight of his words settling over me. I forced a sad smile, trying to mask the growing unease in my chest. "Well, that’s not as bad as I thought." I hesitated, glancing down at my hands before whispering, "For a moment, though, I t
My heart dropped again at my own words, the weight of them crashing down on me like a tidal wave.The darkness pressed in, thick and suffocating, wrapping around me like an old, cruel companion I had hoped to never meet again. It was the same as before—the endless void, the familiar feeling of weakness and helplessness. My body froze, unresponsive, while my mind spiralled into a panic."My lady!" Ruby's voice broke through the oppressive silence, sharp and filled with worry. I could hear her footsteps rushing toward me, the faint sound of paper rustling as the writing materials were pushed aside.My trembling hands rose to my face, my fingers brushing over my eyes. I blinked—once, twice—but the darkness remained. My chest tightened painfully as dread clawed its way up my throat."I… I don’t understand," I muttered, my voice barely a whisper. My words trembled as much as my hands.Ruby knelt beside me, her hands gently cupping my shoulders as she shook me lightly, trying to draw me bac
I didn’t want to make them worry again, so it seemed best to head back to my quarters. And yet, my heart ached with anticipation to read my Mate's letter. Just the thought of it warmed me in ways I hadn’t realized I needed. "I’ll send word to them," Ruby said, her voice steady, and I nodded in agreement. Hand in hand, we made our way back to my quarters. As we arrived, I noticed the six wolves guarding the gate. I recognized them instantly. They sensed my presence before I could even speak, their deep, resonant howls filling the air in unison. The sound was a song of reverence, a celebration of my return. Their fur shimmered under the moonlight, their eyes glowing with recognition as they stood in their full, imposing forms. The moment I approached, they howled again, softer this time, as if acknowledging my return. Their joy was palpable, and it lifted my spirits more than I could have imagined. A smile tugged at the corners of my lips, warmth flooding my chest at the sight of th
"Oh, what would I do without you?" I asked, shaking my head, the faintest trace of amusement in my voice.Claudio grinned, his confidence shining through as he replied without missing a beat, "Nothing."I couldn’t help but laugh, the sound breaking through the lingering tension like sunlight piercing through storm clouds. He joined in, his deep chuckle blending with mine, and for a moment, the heaviness of everything we faced felt a little more bearable."You’re insufferable," I said, still smiling."And yet, you’d be lost without me," he teased, his tone light but his gaze warm and steady.I rolled my eyes, but my smile didn’t falter. "I hate that you’re right.""Get used to it," he said with a wink, leaning back against the nearby tree.As the moon continued to cast its soft glow over us, I realized that no matter how hard the road ahead would be, I would always have Claudio by my side. I silently thanked the Moon Goddess for our friendship.But then, a prickle of unease crawled up
Mother taught me sword dance because I had no other hobbies except fighting, she didn't want me to grow with only fighting in my head so she taught me sword dance, a unique way of combining violence and peace, the best way to relieve and express myself, it's a pity I have been too busy with the Hybrid attack I forgot about it.Claudio waved his hand, and a drum appeared in his hands; he sat down calmly, ready to beat it. I smiled happily; it has always been like this: he drums, and I dance.Excitement surged through my body the minute his hands started to beat the drum majestically. Dum Dum Dum Dum Dum.With my twin swords in hand, I let the rhythm guide me, each beat coursing through my veins like a long-lost melody. I moved gracefully, my feet gliding across the earth as if I were dancing on air. The blades became an extension of myself, slicing through the wind with precision and elegance, their sharp edges catching the light of the moon.I twirled, leapt, and spun, the sound of C