Chapter: 69 ****** ALTAIR: I lay there on the training mat, my head buried in my hands, trying to block out everything around me. The weight of the moment pressed down on me, suffocating and maddening. Talon’s soft moan echoed in my mind, each replay sending jolts of heat coursing through me. My arousal had surged the instant I heard that sound, a primal reaction that had awakened something deep within me—I could have sworn I felt Vale stirred. I felt him for the first time since my birthday. “Altair, are you okay?” a fellow student called, concern lacing their voice. I barely registered the question, muffling my response as I nodded slowly, my voice barely a whisper. “I’m fine,” I lied, though the truth was anything but. “Do you need help getting up?” they pressed, their voice tinged with worry. “No, I’ll just lie down for a while,” I replied, the words slipping out before I could think better of them. I couldn’t face anyone—not yet. Not when the heat below my belt had me
Chapter: 70 ****** ALTAIR: As the days passed in Elysium, I fell into a rhythm. Mornings were filled with classes, where I learned about the intricacies of combat and strategy, as well as academic prowess, and evenings were reserved for training, where I pushed my body to its limits. I made friends, shared laughter, and even felt a sense of belonging within the camp. But despite the oneness surrounding me, an ache settled deep in my heart, a hollow feeling that nothing seemed to fill. After the incident on my first day of training, Talon had avoided me like I was some kind of plague. It was as if he had erected an invisible barrier between us, one I could never breach. Each time I managed to catch his gaze, he would look away so quickly it felt like a knife twisting in my chest. He wouldn’t spare me a moment to say hello, and before I could even approach him after training, he would vanish, leaving me standing there in a cloud of confusion and longing. I felt tortured by it, th
Chapter: 71 ****** ALTAIR: Hours passed, and the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The camp would soon be buzzing with night activities, but I couldn’t find the strength to return. I took a deep breath, allowing the quiet of the trees to envelop me, seeking comfort in the solitude. Just as I was about to rise and head back, I heard a rustle behind me. My heart raced, and I turned to see Talon stepping through the trees. He looked different, his expression serious, and for a moment, I felt a flicker of hope ignite within me. “Altair,” he said, his voice low and hesitant. I swallowed, unsure of how to respond. “What do you want?” The words slipped out before I could filter them, laced with a mix of hurt and frustration. Talon ran a hand through his hair, a gesture I recognized as a tell of his own unease. “I… I wanted to talk to you.” I narrowed my eyes, confusion and anger battling within me. “Talk? After months of a
Chapter: 72 ******* ALTAIR: The sun poured through the tall windows of Elysium College, casting a golden glow across the training hall. I sat in the back of the classroom, my eyes barely focused on the lecture. My mind drifted away, landing somewhere between the warmth of Talon’s embrace and the echo of his soft moans. The professor droned on, but I could hardly hear him over the thundering of my heart, which always seemed to quicken at the mere thought of him. My instructor. My obsession. After class, I found myself wandering the hallways, aimlessly searching for a glimpse of him. The day felt interminable, each minute stretching like taffy. I could hardly concentrate on my studies; my thoughts were consumed by the anticipation of our evening training sessions. I had pleaded with Beta Knight to remain under Talon’s guidance, even though he was meant to train only new recruits. I had no interest in learning from anyone else. My resolve was unwavering, and I would not allow anyo
Chapter: 73 ******* ALTAIR: As he sank his fangs into my skin, a wave of warmth washed over me, and I felt a rush of intimacy that transcended the physical act itself. Talon’s mouth was gentle, yet there was an undeniable hunger in his every movement. I could feel his lips working against my skin, a tender caress that sent shivers of pleasure through me. At that moment, I began to secrete my pheromones, a heady fragrance that filled the air around us, but only he could smell me. I watched as Talon’s eyes fluttered, his breath hitching as he inhaled the intoxicating scent. It was a primal response, one that sent a thrill of power coursing through me. I reveled in the way he moaned softly against my skin, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night. “Altair…” He whimpered my name, the sound a mix of reverence and yearning. Each syllable sent a rush of heat through me, igniting a fire deep within my core. I could feel him losing himself in the moment, the restraint he had
Chapter: 74 ****** TALON: The days went on, stretching into a void that swallowed me whole. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, the darkness pressing down like a suffocating weight. My thoughts spiraled, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t escape the image of Altair’s hurt eyes. They haunted me, flickering in the back of my mind like a candle struggling against the wind. I had once relished the quiet hours, slipping out into the night to hunt, to feel the thrill of the chase as I stalked rabbits in the moonlight. But now, the thought of stepping outside filled me with dread. Each time I considered it, I pictured Altair, the way he looked at me during training—his gaze flickering with hope, only to be extinguished by my indifference. I had tried to remain distant, to keep him at arm’s length, but it was a futile effort. The more I avoided him, the more I felt my spirit wither. During the day, the sunlight poured through the training grounds, illuminating the laught
Chapter: 75 ****** ALTAIR: Days had passed since I last saw Talon, and the memory of waking up in his bedroom lingered vividly in my mind—the remnants of my unconsciousness from losing too much blood still fresh. Recovery had come swiftly; I returned before curfew, and the next morning, I felt as if I hadn’t lost any blood at all. I moved through the day with buoyant spirits, yet an undercurrent of longing pulsed beneath my composed exterior. After classes that afternoon, a surge of anticipation coursed through me as I made my way to the training ground, eager to see my vampire again. But when I arrived—my stomach still pleasantly full from a hearty lunch at the Howling Hearth—I found only Murray waiting, his usual training gear in place. Talon was nowhere to be found. As the training session unfolded, I feigned focus, but my mind drifted incessantly, circling back to thoughts of Talon. I pushed myself through drills, each movement mechanical, my heart heavy with his absence. T
Chapter: 76 ****** ALTAIR: I had left the Pack's manor, my home in flames for the sake of Talon but all I could focus on was Talon lying before me. His body, though battered and healing, radiated a warmth that pulled me closer. I had nearly lost him, and the thought alone sent a wave of anguish crashing over me. I had fought tooth and nail, faced my own fathers, attacked my Birth Omega, and set the manor ablaze—all for him. As I knelt beside him, the storm of emotions swirling within me erupted into a torrent of desire and urgency. I reached out, my fingers brushing against his cheek, tracing the contours of his face as if committing every detail to memory. “You’re here,” I murmured, my voice breaking. “You’re alive.” Talon’s gaze met mine, and in that moment, the world outside faded into oblivion. “I thought I wouldn’t see you again,” he confessed, his voice trembling as tears welled in his eyes. The vulnerability he displayed tugged at my heart, and I felt my own tears threat