Vahn POVStanding at the door of Cecilia's bedroom, I found nothing but the bare bed. Even the wicker chair and small table from the balcony had been removed overnight. I remembered how Cecilia used to sit on the balcony with her tea, saying that she loved watching the sunset over the Thorn Pack."Such a sunset makes me feel healthy and optimistic," she used to say before she became Luna.Now, she was really gone—she had even erased all traces of herself from this place.I loved Freeda, but I never denied the mate bond I shared with Cecilia. 'Is Cecilia's heart made of stone?'I pounded on the door, cracking the panel.'Isn't this what you wanted?' Kai, my wolf, taunted."Shut up!"After enduring this torment for 24 hours, Kai and I were drained. When I finally returned to my room to collapse into bed, Freeda came over."How are you feeling?""I'm okay.""You've moved on. Congratulations!"I forced a smile, hiding my resentment."I came to discuss our wedding. I've picked
Cecilia POVIt took us an hour to reach the airport, followed by a two-hour flight. Finally, we arrived in Monia, the nearest city to the Lotus Pack.Since the Lotus Pack was situated in a valley, we had another three-hour drive to reach Lotus Mountain."It's already 9.00PM. Why don't we spend the night in Monia and head up tomorrow?" I suggested.As much as I wanted to get home, the mountain roads weren't safe at night. I didn't want to trouble Julian any further. He had already driven Pearly and me all day, essentially acting as our unpaid bodyguard—a task far beneath his status."Now that we're on your turf, we'll follow your lead," Julian said with a smile."Pearly, book us the priciest hotel in town," I instructed, channeling my inner girl-boss attitude.After dropping off our luggage at the hotel, I took Julian and Pearly out to try some local Monian cuisine. I hadn't been very hungry on the flight, but now that we were back, I felt rejuvenated. My appetite seemed to have
Julian POVFor the first 10 seconds of the race, I stayed in my lane and kept a deliberate distance from Ashton.When he neared the bend and began to slow down to make a right turn, I seized the opportunity. I slammed on the gas and rammed into his car.Without seats or doors, the impact sent Ashton flying out of the vehicle and tumbling down the mountain. Meanwhile, my red car, aided by the resistance from Ashton's car, managed to veer right and crash into the rocks but successfully made the turn. Before I lost control, I jumped out of the car.The whole maneuver took only 20 seconds."You're really lucky!" Wesley wasn't upset about losing the race. Rather, he patted me on the shoulder in excitement."It's not just luck. It's about calculations. Timing and speed are everything," I replied."So, you planned to use Ashton as your brakes and steering wheel from the start? Man, I didn't expect such intelligence from a werewolf. I thought you guys were just impulsive."He draped an
Cecilia POVI felt like I was consciously drowning, immediately regretting my decision not to knock back additional shots. If I had been drunk, the voices telling me I couldn't do this would have faded away. But perhaps it was precisely those doubts that fueled my rebellious urge.There was no harm in breaking some of the rules.As werewolves, we were acutely aware of each other's desires. Hence, I surrendered completely to the passion of the moment.His hands roamed up and down my spine. The way he kneaded his thumb into my breasts had me feeling needy.His kisses traced a fiery path across my collarbone and traveled over my entire body. When his stubble brushed against the inner part of my thigh,the warmth was intense as it radiated from me, but the burning between my legs made me press my thighs together. The movement forced me to let out a small moan. I needed him. The only thing I wanted was having him between my legs, whether it was his hand, face, or cock.His hand s
Julian POVWhen I woke up this morning, I glanced over to see Cecilia sleeping soundly beside me. The morning light caught the peach fuzz on her face, giving her a golden glow. Her steady breathing was gentle, and the gentle rise and fall of her chest bore a red mark. I carefully lifted the blanket and saw her body dotted with hickeys. A mischievous satisfaction bubbled up inside me, like a child reveling in a well-played prank.I never realized how mesmerizing it could be to watch a woman sleep.Though the usual morning desire tempted me to wake her, I knew she needed rest more than anything else right now, so I didn't wake her up.I headed to the hotel lobby and inquired about the best boutique nearby, hoping to buy her a dress. I chose a fiery red one, thinking of how I always cleaned up and dressed well for my mother after a battle. I wanted Cecilia's mother to see her looking radiant and vibrant.After buying the dress, I walked back to the hotel, my thoughts turning seriou
Cecilia POVI listened to Julian and slid into the passenger seat, acknowledging that his driving skills were a bit better than mine.As we drove home, my mind kept drifting back to the creature we had seen. Pearly wasn't the only one who had never seen anything like it.When I was younger, my father and brothers had taken me all over the mountains near the Lotus Pack. We had encountered all sorts of bizarre animals—giant glowing blue snakes, massive worms with hammer-shaped heads, and many more. But something like that? If it really lived here, I would have seen it before.A nagging unease settled over me, so I decided to call my mom. I tried twice, but she didn't pick up."Why isn't Mom answering?" I muttered, frowning as I prepared to dial a third time."She's probably in the kitchen making something delicious for us and didn't hear her phone," Pearly said from the back seat, handing me a bottle of lemon juice."But—""Pearly's right," Julian chimed in. "You're just getting
Julian POVI thought I had become desensitized to the horrors of war—the screams, the bloodshed, the fallen bodies. Yet, the scene before me was profoundly disturbing.Cecilia's grief left me at a loss.I immediately called for an ambulance. Upon their arrival, the medics confirmed that there were no survivors of the 19 wounded. Among the victims was a child, horrifically decapitated. Pearly identified him as likely being Aaron Shore, the youngest son of Norman, just 13 years old. His silver spaceship toy lay next to his bed, drenched in his blood.Most victims had either their throats slit, or daggers plunged directly into their hearts. The blades were coated with lethal wolfsbane, rendering even the most adept witch doctor powerless to save them.Strikingly, there were no signs of struggle at the scene. It appeared as if the victims had been assassinated in their sleep, their faces eerily serene. Only Norman's body was in a horrifying state. He sustained multiple wounds, his
Cecilia POV Aria's scent, like her body warmth, was fading.This was what happened when a werewolf died.After our first shift, we each developed a unique scent. Upon death, that scent vanished from the world.Aria had always smelled of lilies. Now, all that lingered in this room was the metallic scent of blood.I cleaned her body gently, as though I were tending to a withered lily. Aria was meticulous about cleanliness; she would have hated for anyone, even the forensic specialist, to see her blood-stained.In the morning, the forensic specialist transported her and the other 18 bodies to the hospital for autopsies. We expected results by night at the earliest."She died instantly, so she probably didn't suffer," the forensic specialist offered, perhaps in an attempt to comfort me as he carried her away.Stepping out of my mother's room, I instinctively raised my hand to shield my eyes from the harsh sunlight, which stung. Now, it was just me and my shadow that remained of th