The echoes of my scream still lingered in the room ,when the door burst open. Rosita and Kara rushed in first, followed by Lemuel, his eyes scanning the room widely. "My lady," Rosita's voice was filled with panic as she hurried to my side, gripping my arms tightly and it was the first time she was addressing me as such."Are you all right? What happened?"I shook my head, forcing myself to sit up . My chest rose and fell rapidly, the terror still gripping my heart. "it.. it was just a bad dream," I whispered forcing out a lie, glancing at Lemuel whose gaze remain fixed on me.Rosita's shoulders slumped in relief, and Kara offered a soft smile."it's okay. We are here now."I nodded, swallowing hard."Thanks, both of you. I just need a moment. Please go and rest I will be fine."Kara hesitated, looking at Lemuel for approval before she and Rosita eventually left the room. Once the door clicked shut behind them, I turned to Lemuel. I could see it in his eyes, he knew there was somethi
MERIDAI couldn't sleep, I was too scared too, I was thinking of so many things at the same time.Finally I got out of bed, my troubling thought couldn't let me sleep, I had to check on Lukan.I stepped into Lukan's room, The familiar scent of antiseptic mingling with the midnight air from outside where it had rained, few minutes ago .The guards at the door had nodded respectfully, their eyes conveying silent understanding of my worry, they had let me in and I couldn't care less if Julietta had given them an instruction not to let me see Lukan .Lukan lay still, his face pale, a slight frown creasing his brow even in unconsciousness.Seeing him like this made my chest tightened. I took a deep breath and quietly approach his bedside, sinking into the chair beside him. For a few minutes, I just watched him, willing him to wake up. He looked almost peaceful, except for the occasional twitch of his fingers as if he was locked in a dream he couldn't escape. I reached out , my fingers sli
LEMUELI stood outside mother's door for a moment, my knuckles resting against the polished wood. My heart raced not from fear, but from frustration. The situation was spiraling out of control. I knocked once ,the sound echoing down the quiet hallway. Her cool voice called me to enter.I stepped inside, finding her as I expected, she was standing by the window with a wine flute in her hand. Her posture was tense, her fingers lightly gripping the delicate glass and her sharp gaze locked on the Packhouse grounds, I knew she was thinking about something.She didn't turn to face me immediately, but I could feel the weight of her worries. Everyone was worried about Lukan."How is he?" she asked her voice quiet but firm."He's still unconscious," I replied walking closer." The doctor is doing everything he can."Mother's hand tightened on the wine flute, the sound of her sigh barely audible." Lemuel.. it shouldn't have come to this " she finally turned to look at me, her eyes heavy with s
MERIDAI woke up with the morning sun streaming through the curtains, the warmth pulling me out of a restless sleep. Yesterday's event lingered in my mind but I pushed them aside. No time to dwell on it. I had checked on Lukan once and also felt his temperature. It was breakfast time and as usual I had no clue where the maids are disappeared to. The smell of bacon sizzling in the kitchen greeted me as I walked down the stairs and there was Lemuel — standing over looking the table mildly annoyed, spatula in hand. "You are cooking? I asked my voice still groggy from sleep.He glanced up at me and smirked."Someone has to. Apparently the maids has taken the day off. Or gone on strike."I chuckled, shaking my head as I grab the seat at the small dinning table."First you are cooking and now the maids are missing. Seems the world is coming to an end."Lemuel rolled his eyes but there was a hint of a smile in his lips."I wouldn't get too comfortable. This might be the last edible mean I
MERIDA.I sat beside Lukan's bed staring at his still face. The room was quiet ,except for the steady beeping of the machinesHis hand felt cold in mine, and I squeezed it gently ,hoping for a response, anything to tell me he was still in there, fighting. My head throbbed beneath the bandage, a reminder of the accident that put him here. I winced as I shifted in my chair, trying to ignore the ache in my ribs. It was hard to feel any comfort sitting in this room, seeing him like this.My heart twisted, the pain from the accident mixing with the fear of losing him. I sighed softly and leaned my head against the bed. "Dean and Lemuel tried to make me laugh this morning." I whispered, closing my eyes as I remembered their silly banter."Lemuel also prepared breakfast and Dean kept teasing him." I smiled thinly"They were only doing it to cheer me up."Then I left out a small chuckle, but it quickly faded. The reality of the situation weighed too heavily."But it didn't really help. How
ZAYNAI walked in, my heels clicking against the marble floors, the night air did little to calm me down.My thoughts churned with frustration and confusion. Father had given me a call on my way back and I knew he was thinking the same thing.What surprised me most, was the audacity."You called," I said. I met him at the balcony, his fingers gripping a wine flute and he didn't turned when I walked in. "How is everything at the pack house?"he asked his voice, low and intense and it seems like the question had plunged him in the chest .I knew he wasn't asking because he was interested in anything. He was angry. Someone had sabotaged our plans."Everything is under control, but Lukan is still unconscious. "I replied, my tone light, though my heart beat a little too faster I paused and then added." Lukan's badly injured. ""I know."he said almost immediately cutting me off." The car brakes." He took a sip." So I heard."There was something I wanted to say, it kept crawling at my c
ZAYNA I went back to my room after the discussion with father. I heard his car leaving and I hated the fact that he seems to care about Elisabeth this days.His words still echoed in my ears, each syllable as sharp as the chill that seemed to seep into my skin. There was someone meddling in our plans—someone willing to gamble everything to disrupt the other we can carefully crafted. I didn't know who it was but I intended to find out soon just as father had instructed. Stripping down , I left the cool water from the shower wash away the tension clinging to me.Even as the water ran over my skin my thoughts circle back to the incident.I shook my head , almost laughing at their foolishness, if only they knew, they were playing a very dangerous game.Dressed in my favorite bathrobe, I caught my reflection in the mirror studying the determination in my eyes. The absurd bonding ceremony with Lemuel had been canceled for now, it was actually a minor miracle and I was glad it didn't pu
MERIDADinner ended on a quiet, somber note. My mind wandered with each bite, leaving the table before I’d even stood up. Once everyone was distracted, I slipped out of the dining room, sneaking up through the hallways toward Lukan’s room. I didn't care to explain myself. My thoughts were locked on one thing only: him.When I finally stepped into his room, a chill settled over me. He lay still, a faint rhythm in his chest the only sign of life. In sleep, he looked vulnerable, almost painfully human—so different from the powerful, untouchable Alpha everyone knew him to be. I felt a pang of something I couldn’t name, an ache that crept up the back of my throat. After setting down the basin and towels I’d brought, I took a moment to compose myself, fighting the turmoil of my own pain—the poison still lingering inside me, slower to fade than I’d hoped. I would tell Lemuel about it but not now, I had taken an anti poison to wash it off.With a shaky hand, I picked up the damp cloth, gent
ELIZABETHThe room was filled with flickering shadows as the fire in the hearth cracked. As Merida tried processed everything I had said.Her eyes widened and her face went pale as I sat across from her. This was more than just her past it was the reality that had strapped my soul together for years. "You deserve to know everything Merida. . But its difficult to hear what Im about to tell you." I said my voice trembling a little, as I looked around the room ,at everyone listening to me.Julietta handed her a mug of tea and she nodded while her fingers clenched around it. The tone of as "Your parents Naomi and Nathaniel were the most honorable wolves I ever knew." I said my voice was so sorrowful"The love they had for you and your sister , Nahla was greater than life itself. Bit love was insufficient to shield them from the packs evil. "Merida opened her mouth to speak but she remained silent. "There was a struggle for power ."I added. “Some believed Naomi’s bloodline was too
ELIZABETH 𝑭𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌I remembered the night of Lukan and Nahla's bonding ceremony clearly as if it had been burned into my soul. Deep crimson and royal gold colours which stand for strength and unity were used to decorate the grand hall. Music, laughter and the lovely scent of roses in bloom filled the air. In order to witness the ceremony that would bring two influential families together, every member of the pack was present and dressed to the nines. Lukan was a commanding presence in the middle of the room, his dark eyes searching the crowd for Nahla. A silence descended upon the hall as she eventually emerged. Nahla's smile was more brilliant than the chandeliers above and her silvery gown shone like moonlight. It was a hopeful smile that offered joy for the years ahead. My sense of obligation to them as their aunt had always been very strong. I made sure everything went according to plan . Bit something about that evening seemed strange, that I couldn't place my
ELIZABETH I could remember vividly when I was a little girl,our family had long held dinner as a sacred ritual a time to forget about problems and just spend time together. Tonight Julietta insisted reminded me of that.The table was exquisitely arranged with candles illuminating the food spread. Lukan sat next to Merida and they occasionally smiled as though they were trying to reassure one another. Nahla sat beside me, she had a small smile on her lips but her eyes betrayed everything as she kept stealing glances at Lukan.I sighed, we had discussed about this before coming here today, I can't blame her though. She was still in love with him. Always the gracious hostess Julietta clapped her hands together. "All right everyone start eating! Dean dont argue over the mashed potatoes. " In mock indignation Dean gasped. "Just once ,Mother ! Just once and I'm permanently branded. " T
MERIDAThe warmth of Lukan's hand in mine brought back to reality . I looked up into his delicate grey eyes which were filled with so much emotions that mirrored mine. He ran his thumb over my knuckles and the corners of his lips curled into a slight smile. "Merida I need you to listen to me." He said, his voice was steady and low I nodded for him to go on as I swallowed the lump in my throat. "You're mine Merida." He stated firmly but there was a tenderness in his voice that soothed my jangled nerves. "You will always be my mate regardless of what happens or what you may believe. It won't change anything. " I didn't realize the cracks in my heart were being filled with emotions until his words swept over me. All of my uncertainties, anxieties and confusion seemed to vanish for a moment as the weight of his words struck me. “I…” I tried to say something but
MERIDAI sat in the grand halls, my heart racing as I tried to understand what had just happened . Everything was just too much for me. Questions spiralling in my head . That woman who had suddenly reappeared today of all days on my birthday. My twin sister. Someone I barely remembered. To worsen the situation she was *Lukans first love*. I replayed the scene which happened minutes ago over and over again as my hands balled into fists and my nails digging into my palms. I still remembered Lukan's expression. His face and eyes softening as he gaze at her like one of the wonders of the world. Had he ever looked at me like that ? Is he still in love with her ? Now she was back what will happen to me ? Will he still love me just the same way ?This and many other questions ran through my head as tears threatened to spill.“Merida. . . The sound of his voice jolted me out of my thoughts. His
LUKAN Lemuel's words were still ringing in my ears as I gazed at him. It was unbelievable. I blinked severally maybe it was one of his sick jokes but it wasn't.I turned to Merida."Let’s go." I said in in a more steady voice than I actually felt. We got up from the dining table and made our way to the living room after Merida gave a silent nod. I felt like a something had gone off when I saw what was waiting for us. The room was filled with — Nahla Lemuel wasn't jokingShe was not alone, she was with someone else and she was alive—miraculously impossible alive. The woman stabding next to her recognized me to , I exhaled and looked away.A mixture of emotions made my chest tightened that I didn't know what to feel.My gaze swiftly returned to Nahla as she rushed st me, her arms circling me in a fierce tear bear hug.I closed my eyes allowing the moment to pass. We all thought the past was gone but she was here and happiness surged through me.and the memories of our time toget
MERIDA Despite the thick blankets I had wrapped around myself the cold was still in the room when I woke up and getting into my skin. Even with the heating on, the morning air still had an icy bite to it as winter quickly approached. Instinctively I reached out to feel Lukans warmth but my hand found a cold empty sheet instead. . . My heart skipped a beat. . . Lukan? I yelled softly my voice heavy with sleep.. There was no answer. I sat up massaging my arms to produce heat. There was a spooky silence in the room the kind that made me uneasy. His habit of leaving without saying anything was unusual. Still struggling with the uneasiness that was tearing at my chest I slipped my feet into my slippers and put on a cardigan. As I left our room I had the feeling that the house was empty. The corridors were deserted and the dim winter sunlight streaming in through the windows cast shadows on the floor. Though there were traces of last nights celebrations in the air like the faint scen
MERIDA I stood at the balcony of our room, the sky was without a moon tonight but I wasn't thinking about how beautiful the night was or about Lemuel because it made me feel sad. My mind was elsewhere. I was thinking about something entirely different. In this room, my thoughts and my world were centered around him. Lukan I was thinking about us. But Lukan's calming voice brought me back. "You've been looking out there for some time. What's on your mind?" I looked over and saw him standing by the door, his tie loose and shirt unbuttoned a bit. A wife smile on his thin sensual lips that made me want to kiss him. He appeared like the perfect dream I never thought could come true. There was a way he looked like me. Like I was the most important person in the world. "I was ... thinking about something. About us." I said in a small voice which was barely above a whisper. "I love talking about 'us'," he said, moving closer. "It's what I enjoy the most." I grinned, and h
MERIDAThe waves crashing against the shore was just a beautiful sight to behold. The sun was already going down in the horizon and the orange glow was pretty to watch, but nothing could beat the feeling of Lukan holding me close. That tender feeling of love made my heart soar.We had spent the evening laughing and walking around the beach and at some point he wanted us to dive in and swim but I suck at swimming and i had laughed."I wish we could stay like this forever." I whispered feeling the cool breeze brush past my cheeks as I rested my head on his shoulders."Me too." He agreed with a low, relaxed voice." To stay here for eternity." I smiled when I thought about it. "I feel the same way." Everything stopped for a moment, and it felt like time stood still. The gentle smell of salt and hope for the future was brought by the sea breeze, the waves crashing softly making a second that matched our heartbeat." Time wasn't important in this place. It was only us, the sea, and the