Celine Pain wakes me up. It‘s in the middle of the night, and while most immortals are still out and about, I went to sleep two hours ago. And now this. I grip my sheets and groan in pain, writhing on the bed. It feels like someone took a dagger to me and is tearing me apart. The pain is everywhere and nowhere and my teeth hurt from gritting them. For the first time in all of my years, I feel a solid connection to my wolf, and I’m far from thrilled. She howls and claws at herself, sharing the pain and my body shudders as sweat racks my body. ‘Mate.’ She growls. I don’t have time to be stunned. It is the first time I ever heard her voice. How? Not everyone can hear their wolf’s voice. It takes a much more powerful and intelligent wolf to speak to their other half. The pain scalds me again and I bite my lip to keep from screaming. “Stop.” I grit out. “Stop, stop, stop it!” It hurts like a bitch and she cannot hear me either, lost in her pain. ‘Mate!’ She howls again. I almost bu
CelineIt is morning when the heat finally recedes and I collapse. The brilliant days of the sun streams through my window, highlighting me and him and all the forbidden things we did through the night.I think of the random visits I get from Emma about one thing or the other and my heart pounds. Shit. Emma. What have I done? This is not how I wanted this to happen at all. I was supposed to break it to her first, not jump the gun and go straight to being fucked by her husband throughout the night. Not her husband. My mate. Shit, shit, shit, what have I done?“Celine.” His voice is husky, commanding my attention but I don’t look at his face as I scramble off the bed. His hand lashes out and grips my arm and I yelp. He is looking at me with a hard displeased face. “What do you think you are doing?”I’m holding the sheets to my chest and I think of how ridiculous I must look, covering myself from someone that had my ass in the air as he fucked me some minutes ago. “Let go.” I sque
NeemI collapse back into the bed with a sigh and Aden’s body covers mine. This is my favourite position, his weight pressing down on me with him still inside me. He holds me tight as always, inhaling my scent deep. This is home. “You know, I was at the beach yesterday and as I watched those waters I saw a fish, one I’ve never seen before. It bobbed to the surface and looked at me and I felt like it was saying hi. I just know it Aden, that there are others that share the waters with us.”“Yes. The fishes.”“No.” I smack him. “I mean other wolves on the outside.”He rises up on his elbow and looks down at me. “What is it?”He pulls out and sits on the edge of the bed and I sit up. “Aden.”“We talked about this Neem. You promised me you would stop talking about The Outside. Just thinking about the damn Outside is a capital offense, punishable by death. It is ‘treason’. Is that not enough to get such damning thoughts from your mind?”“But why?” I ask, exasperated. “Why is it treason t
NeemI place the pineapples in my basket and continue forward in the market. I paste a smile on my face and take small easy steps, blending in with the hundreds of other wolves. Anything so I don’t attract the attention of the myriad king’s soldiers on patrol. A hint of rebellion or trouble-making and these soldiers will sink their claws into you and march you towards the palace. And you bet that would be the last you will be seen. There is nothing like crime in Lyria, we are too ‘civilised’ for that. A pretty coating for the truth. Every crime no matter how petty is punished. Thieves and liars are taken into those mountains, and they are never seen again. “Pretty lady, I have something that will interest you.” The owner of the next stall calls. It’s Melda, the fat she-wolf. She is somewhat of a mystery because werewolves have such a fast metabolism that we burn away any excess fat straight away. But not her. Some people say it is because she used to work in the castle before she w
Celine “You called for me?” I ask, stepping into the meeting room. Lor is there, and so is Tate and his third in command, Ken. “Hello.” “Hello there beautiful.” Tate says. We both look up to see Lor glaring at him and Tate holds up his hands. “Behave Tate.” He says. “What’s wrong?” I ask, looking down at the small map they have rolled out on the table. “A body was found.” Lor says. “Again?!” I say, alarmed. Maybe because I wasn’t paying attention to the case before but it’s been a very short period since they did that to Hart. Was the time between the kills always this short? “Why?” “We don’t know. I hear the male was easy going and unproblematic. He disappeared on their way back from a hunt and wasn’t discovered until after a day after.” “I mean, how could he have been stolen right from under their noses?” I sputter. “It’s a hunt. There must have been at least ten wolves. And not even one of them smelled anything off?” “My thoughts exactly.” Tate mumbles. “Ken, you and
CelineIt physically hurt to be apart from him. All day, his absence yawns wide in my heart and I count the minutes until I can see him again. Emma’s visit yesterday is an unwanted memory plaguing my mind but by the next evening, when I feel weak with longing to see my mate, she is no longer the principal thing on my mind. Finding justice for Emma can wait. I need my mate. I’m talking with the ladies when Ken comes over. My heart leaps and I look behind him, expecting to find him but he’s not there. “Miss Dontellar, If I may have a minute?” He says and I quickly excuse myself, my feet growing wings as I follow him away from the rest. He hands me a paper and a car key. “From the Alpha.” I take it with a grin, grateful for his non-judgemental eyes, not that I would have cared. “He’s back?” “Yes. See you around Miss Dontellar.”“Just Celine.” I say and he smiles. I peel it open to a single description neatly scrawled. ‘The High Noon.” I have no idea where that is. Nessa should. I
Celine“What are you up to?” Nessa pops into my room. She’s one of the people I’m always happy to see. “Just ended a video call with my sister.” I say and her nose wrinkles. “Goddess, how do you tolerate those noisy little traps?” She asks and I shrug. “Skye would not let me leave without one. And it doesn’t really affect me.”“I detest those things. They make me sick.”I put it away sympathetically. It is probably because my wolf is so weak that I can stand it at all, and Skye was sacrificing alot to make sure I’m fine. Wolves cannot normally stand the technology of phones. Cars are just barely tolerated, a sacrifice for the greater good, though most wolves still prefer to run in their primitive forms. “Did you come here to nag?” I ask, teasing her. “Oh hell yes. Come with me.” She says and clutches my arm, dragging me up. “Where are we going?”“Remember I was talking to you about how much I’m bothered that you are lonely when we have so many charming males that could entertain
Celine“Why exactly did you want to grab a drink?” Nessa asks. “It’s not even night yet.”“Not grab a drink. We’re going to get drunk.” I correct. The good waiter delivers my order. Bottles and bottles of Droll beer. Normal beer wouldn’t get me drunk, but this one was mixed with a special poison that affects werewolf system in much the same way beer affects humans, at least for a few hours before our bodies purge it out. I need it. I can’t bear to think straight for the next few hours. “Wanna talk to me about what’s bothering you?” She asks and I shake my head. “Just drink with me.”“Oh well, it’s been a while I did this.” She says and drains her glass. “Damn that hit the spot.”I drain mine too and immediately refill both of our glasses. I won’t feel the effects until my fifth cup at least. “I used to abuse Droll.” I say with a fond smile. “Really?”“Yes. You must have noticed how weak my wolf is. It wasn’t easy, being an alpha’s daughter and being so weak. I used to get picked o
Neem "I thought you would be done dressing up. We are going to be late." I tell Aden. "These buttons are hell." He mutters. "There should be about a hundred buttons on here.""Hardly." I say, amused. "There are only fifteen."Our clothes in Lyria never had buttons and it's always amusing that something so simple always gives him so much trouble. "Might as well be a hundred." He mutters and shaking my head, I go to help. He stares down at me as I work one button to the next. "You are staring.""I can't help it, you're beautiful." He says and I smile. "One would think you were only seeing me for the first time.""It feels like that sometimes." He says. "Sometimes I wake up amazed to have you by my side.""Only sometimes?" I tease him and he laughs. "Come here." He pulls my lips to his and kisses me and I forget about the buttons as I hold on, revelling in the movement of his lips on mine. I moan when his tongue darts in to taste me and his hands clench conclusively on my ass. "D
EmmaOne of the creatures runs at us, foaming at the mouth and bleeding from a dozen cuts. Celine intercepts him and kills him and I stare at her. “They said you controlled these creatures. Control them and end this wretched war.”She shakes her head. “It’s not that easy anymore. I was able to control them when my cat was dominant, when they absorbed my wolf. Someone donated her energy to bring back my wolf, but she neglected to mention that I would lose control of the soldiers when she is restored. I wouldn’t have it any other way anyway.”I sneer. “How pathetic. Of what use are you with your wolf then? You should sacrifice her to save hundreds of lives if need be but you are nothing but selfish as ever.”Her brows rise. “I’m not receiving a lecture on selflessness from you, am I? Now I have seen it all.”Behind us, Lor finally rips the king’s heart out with a roar. The war seems to stop for a second, everyone watching as he twists his head off his throat and sends it flying. And t
Celine They are unending. It is as if the entire world has moved against the Island. My soldiers are not enough, and so people of Lyria have joined, fighting against the enemy but they are lacking in spirit. Perhaps because they have been broken down by the economy but they fall like corn stalk against the enemy. I keep soldiers on their leader constantly, but he is not the only one to be worried about. My soldiers tear into most of the soldiers before they have a chance to defend themselves but too many of them are experienced killers, cutting through our numbers in swaths. I glance behind me but the king and the Whisperer are now gone from their perch, and then finally the harpies are released. Terrible terrible creatures that can ice the blood in your veins with a touch. Where they go, death follows, immortals shrivelling up and dying in numbers. And yet more of their army comes. There are about ten of the harpies and I’m surprised when one of them streams from the ground right i
CelineI feel it when Ismir dies, like a lance directly into my heart. I scream in pain and my attack falters. No. I look back, knowing I will not find him at he balcony he once occupied with his father and the Whisperer. My eyes meet his father’s and I wonder if he knows. My distraction costs me. Strong arms wrap around me from behind and I’m plastered hard against a male chest. “Stand back.” He orders the creatures, keeping them in front of us and me as a shield between them. They angle and pace, the front liners reluctant to attack and skewer me. “What do you think you are doing?” I grit out, trying to break out of his grip but he’s too strong. “You’re coming back with me.” He says, shuffling back. I burst into laughter, a little hysterical. “Are you daft as fuck? You want to leap through the barrier to freedom? The both of us will die before our next breath.”“I passed through the barrier to get here.” He says, his voice resolved. “By some freak accident. You will not be so
EmmaHe has grown so much in three days alone, this baby that has become my last surviving shield.“Dan!” I snap, heading to the balcony. “Yes, Emma.” She says from where she balances precariously on the ledge, not even bothering to look up. I thought the female stuck to my side because she had grown a soft side for me, as I have worked hard to lower her guard. I should have known better, she is an omega herself, an emotional fortress. Since the end of the three days that we raised Alaric, she has completely withdrawn, not even bothering to stand for any other person but the little brat. ”You said the three days were all we needed to ensure his survival.”“Yes. Your boy is stronger than a horse.” She says, raising her face to the sun. “Mama!” The culprit comes toddling out, holding chubby little hands out to me with a grin. I stare at him, my face going sour. “So why the hell does he still follow me around everywhere?!” I ask in dismay. I can’t look across a room without finding h
Neem“You found the source.” He says. His voice is cold and the way he is looking at me scares me. I affect a light tone. “Prince Ismir-““I cannot allow you to live.” Chills race down my spine and I laugh awkwardly. “What are you talking about?” I say, my voice pleading. I always knew my inquisitiveness would land me in trouble one day. I cannot believe the day is finally here. “Why do you always have to go around snooping and putting yourself in situations you have no business being in?”“I’m sorry!” I say, taking a step forward. “I’m sorry okay? This will never happen again.”“You are right, it won’t.” He says and then he shifts. I scream and dive to the side as he leaps, coming up on my knee and watching him nearly crash into the crystals. He sidesteps them in a precarious move in the last second and spins around, furious. I’ve never seen him shift, and for good reason, I realise. That is no wolf, he looks like he belongs amongst the deformities on the front line. He is thre
NeemI burst into the library, unconcerned about the racket I’m making as I race through the shelves to the back. Maria is reading a book and doesn’t bother to put it down. “Ordinarily, you should be banned from coming into the library.” She says placidly. “Outside.” I say urgently. “They are engaged in a fight. Celine and-““I know.” She cuts me off, not taking her eyes off the book. I gape at her. “You do? Then how can you be so calm?”“I am calm. I would recommend some to you too. What concern is it of mine if two idiots want to kill each other?”She’s right, she doesn’t give a fuck. She has said it enough times and yet she was the first person I thought of when I needed help.“I need your help.” I say and she finally puts the book down and pins with a stare piercing enough to make me squirm. “I see you got your tongue back.”“I need your help.” I say again, refusing to be redirected. “No.” She says, making me gape again. “No? But you don’t even know what I want to ask.”“I d
Prince Ismir“How did he come through the barrier?” Father snarls, finally thrown off his feet by the unexpected happening. “I don’t know.” The Whisperer says, my first time hearing him utter those words. “It should be impossible.”Apparently not, if he’s right there. “What do you know about him?” I ask. There is something about him that has my hair standing on end. It is simply my most primitive instincts recognising a threat, a major one.“Nothing,” The Whisperer says. “But judging by his power and the fact that he entered the barrier unscathed, there are only a few people that come to mind. I believe that is her mate, the one commonly known as the demon wolf.”“What?” I say, startled out of the blue. Is that where the sense of familiarity comes from? Am I feeling her familiarity with him? “She does not look like she recognises him.” I say, tracing her location.“Not with the the amount of poison we had to pump into her system.” He says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t ev
LorFor the umpteenth time, I put a hand on the barrier and it goes straight through. My hand curls into a tight fist and I punch it hard. Nothing. It is just air. The demarcation that shows the island of Lyria, a slight shimmer in the air is quite obvious if you know what you are looking for. Otherwise, your eyes would probably skip right over it. We have besieged this perimeter for two days now and to my frustration, we have nothing to show for it. Not a soul has stepped out of it, and neither can we step inside either. If I didn’t have a strong gut feeling that she is behind that barrier, I would have believed that it is all a conjecture of my deranged mind.Maddilla comes to a stop beside me and peers into the barrier. It is not just Bloodbound pack but nearly every damn pack this side of the world out here. There are more than a hundred and fifty packs here, each one of them as eager and enthusiastic to pierce the barrier of the island as the next. I didn’t have much convincing