Chapter: 65 ****** ALTAIR: I pushed open my bedroom door, the familiar scent of my sanctuary enveloping me. I stumbled toward the bed, collapsing face-first into its soft embrace. Tears flowed freely, blurring my vision as they fell like an unrelenting river. After a few moments, I heard the gentle creak of the door. Bernie appeared, her eyes scanning the room for me. She wouldn’t be able to remain happy knowing I was in pain. “Al?” she called softly, carefully approaching my bed. “What’s going on?” She settled beside me, her warmth a comforting presence. “You know you can tell me anything.” I sat up, leaning into her as my tears soaked into the fabric of her beautiful dress. I felt her breath hitch, a sign that she was holding back her own emotions. “They severed me from my wolf,” I finally whispered, my voice trembling. “It was my Birth Omega, my fathers, and my grandparents who agreed to have my wolf ripped from within me. They stole the memories of Talon, so I wouldn’t
Chapter: 66 ****** ALTAIR: As we descended the staircase, the sounds of laughter and music grew louder, wrapping around us like a warm embrace. The flickering glow of candles illuminated the lively scene below, casting playful shadows against the walls. I could see friends and family mingling, their faces bright with joy, but my heart felt heavy with the absence of my half, and Talon. Bernie squeezed my hand, pulling me back to the moment. “You ready?” she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement. I nodded, though uncertainty still lingered in my chest. As we stepped into the vibrant atmosphere, a chorus of voices rose to greet me. “Happy Birthday, Altair!” they shouted in unison, their cheerful faces beaming up at me. I managed a smile, the energy of the crowd washing over me like a wave. My parents stood by the buffet table, my Birth Omega’s eyes alight with pride, while my father Seth clapped me on the shoulder, his hearty laugh echoing in my ears. “Eighteen! Can you beli
Chapter: 67 ****** TALON: I sat in the dimly lit hall of the campus, the anticipation coiling in my stomach like a tightly wound spring. The night stretched on, shadows creeping across the walls as I waited for the omegas to arrive. The Elder, tasked with binding me to them, shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his patience visibly waning. Finally, with a weary sigh, he rose, his voice echoing in the stillness. “I think they changed their minds, Vampire. You can return to your home.” Confusion washed over me as his words sank in. Why hadn’t they come? They had seemed so eager just days before when they arrived with my uncle, eyes bright with hope. Now, their absence felt like a weight pressing down on my chest. After a few more hours of waiting, I made my way home, the Elder’s words replaying in my mind. As I stepped into my living room, a familiar scent enveloped me—his pheromones, rich and intoxicating. They clung to the walls like a lingering memory, evoking a rush of emotio
Chapter: 68 ****** TALON: The night dragged on, heavy and suffocating, as I lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling. My uncle's warning echoed in my mind, a relentless reminder of the turmoil that lay ahead. Training Altair while pretending his pheromones didn't affect me felt like a punishment from hell, one I was utterly unprepared to face. Each time I closed my eyes, I could almost feel the weight of his presence, the intoxicating scent that had haunted my dreams for months now. Evening arrived, dull and gray, but I had no choice—I had to push aside my fears and face the day. I dressed slowly, my hands trembling slightly as I buttoned my shirt. The mirror reflected a mask of calm that I was far from feeling inside. I inhaled deeply, reminding myself that I had faced challenges before. This was just another—albeit a particularly daunting—task ahead of me. Upon arriving at the training grounds, I spotted my students gathered in a tight cluster, their eager faces animated with a
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