By dawn, Soraya was completely healed. Seraphine and the other witches listened in horror as she told them what had transpired between her and Aldwin. "Why did you go by yourself? Do you have a death wish?" Seraphine admonished. "I have known him my whole life. I wanted to try and see if I could make him change his mind," Soraya said quietly. "Apparently, it didn’t turn out well," Seraphine scolded. "You could have died," she continued. "I know, but I couldn't just sit back and watch him kill innocent people. He killed the only man I have ever loved, and I let him get away with it. I won't let it happen again," Soraya said firmly. The night was thick with tension as the witches, Seraphine and her guards assembled outside Aldwin's house. The moon shone brightly in the sky, it was as if the moon goddess was with them. Seraphine exchanged a glance with Soraya. The woman had warned them of how powerful he was. "We are ready for anything," Seraphine said, her voice steady and unwavering. S
The women finally dispersed, Seraphine looked back at the gathering of the happy wolves. She got a series of subtle nods of respect and warm smiles from the people around her. A massive bonfire roared in the center of the clearing; its golden flames crackled, sending sparks dancing into the night. It reminded Seraphine of the late-night parties they used to have back at the pack where she was born. She leaned against a wooden barrel near a makeshift table piled high with food and jars of alcohol. A group of teenage wolves ran around the edge of the clearing as they played a game of tag. Their laughter was loud and carefree, making her smile. “It’s good to see them like this,” Soraya sat beside her, holding two wooden mugs. She looked more relaxed than Seraphine had seen her since she arrived and there was a rare smile on her face, but her eyes held a certain sadness in them. Seraphine was sure she had taken Carlson's death very badly. Seraphine nodded in appreciation when she handed h
Seraphine sat on the wooden bench opposite the fountain.Tear stains marked the path from beneath her eyes, through her cheeks, and down to her chin."Mommy, do you think the Luna will be okay?" A werepup asked. His mother squeezed his hand as she looked at Seraphine.She still wore the dress she had worn for last night's mating ball. Black, with a touch of red, just like Alpha King Alaric loved it. "I'm sure she'll be fine," The werepup's mother said to him as she led him out of the garden.As the duo left, Seraphine’s hand flew to her mouth, trying to muffle her sobs. Fresh tears rolled down her cheeks once more.She couldn't help but think the mother was wrong. She wasn't sure if she was going to get over his death. How could she?A week ago, Alpha Alaric had decided to throw a ball in her honor. He wanted to celebrate her being his Luna for a hundred days. "Don't be silly, Alaric. Who celebrates just a hundred days?" She asked him.Alaric laughed as he pulled her closer, gently
Four Months Ago,"Remember Seraphine, no slouching, no frowning, and no walking around. Keep your shoulders straight, chin up, head held high and."For goodness’s sake! Father! I've heard you for like the tenth time!" Seraphine said, interrupting her father.Beta Carl raised his hand to his face, stroking his chin with his fingers."Oh really? I didn't know it was ten times," he said."You're right Dad, it's not ten times. It's been twenty times!" Seraphine added. She sighed as she leaned on her seat in the carriage."Also, no sitting like this," Carl said.Seraphine glared at him, and he chuckled. She folded her arms beneath her chest as she looked away. "I still don't know why you want us to act properly before him when his Dad treated you like you were some traitor."Carl sighed. "Now I have told you for the thirtieth time that the late Alpha was my best friend and that he never treated me like a traitor," he said to her in a calm and firm tone.Seraphine turned to him, raising a b
Back to the Present"For how long do we have to wait?!" One of the court members yelled. "How long do we have to wait for her to get over his death?!"He pushed his seat away as he started pacing."You have to understand, Elder Derrick," Theon said to the official."We have already given her a day. What else do you want from us?" another official countered."She just lost her mate. She has just lost the Moon Goddess's gift to her. At least give her time to mourn him," Theon added.Derrick scuffed."Time, Beta? Time?!" He questioned. "May I remind you that time is what we do not have on our side—""You speak as though we are at war, Elder Derrick," a voice came from the entrance of the courtroom. Everyone turned. They were shocked to find Seraphine at the door. She had bathed and changed out of the ball gown.She walked towards them, keeping her head up as she headed for the Alpha's seat. Without saying anything to them, or showing any sign of wavering, she sat in Alpha's seat—the pl
Two Months AgoSeraphine sat on the bench, staring at the night sky. For some reason, the stars appeared to be more beautiful than ever."One, two, three," She said out loud as she counted the stars."I never would have thought I would find you here," Someone said from behind her.Seraphine tilted her head slightly to find a shirtless Alaric behind her."No!" She yelled as her right hand flew to her face, covering her eyes. "Why in the world are you half-naked, Alaric?"He chuckled as he walked around, and stood in front of her, buttoning his shirt."Well, someone went missing for the whole day, so I had to turn into my wolf so that I could find her," he said.Seraphine laughed." So are you dressed properly now?" She asked him."Yes I am," he replied.She didn't believe him." Are you sure?"Alaric let out a light chuckle." Really Seraphine?. Are you calling your Alpha a liar?"Seraphine laughed again. "Says the guy who tries to use any chance to kiss me," She replied."Well, I didn't
Back at the Palace."Ius Rematrimonii Sanguinis?" The Elders echoed as their eyes widened in shock."You asked me what I wanted, and I have told you," Seraphine said to them as she sat on Alaric's seat.Ius Rematrimonii Sanguinis was a sacred right that involved a widowed Luna marrying the blood relative of her late husband.Seraphine had read about it in the past. She knew she wasn't okay with anyone taking Alaric's place in her life, but that was the only solution she could think of.The old men were after something. Though Seraphine wasn't sure what it was, she was going to make sure she stomped on all their plans."So you are willing to travel miles in search of a new Alpha instead of appointing one amongst us?" Derrick asked her.Seraphine leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table, and her face on her clasped hands."I am only doing what I think is best for the pack which my husband left in my care," she said to him in a calm and firm tone.An Elder stood up. He had a smirk
Two Months Ago."Take off your clothes," Alaric commanded the kids. Seraphine watched from the royal canopy as the younglings, six boys and four girls in total took off their clothes and stood under the moon, waiting for the moon goddess to bloom bright enough to bless them with her gifts. "Why do the boys and the girls have to take off their clothes in front of each other?" Seraphine asked, marveling at the scene in front of her. "Shouldn't there be a separate training system for each gender?". Theon, Alaric's Beta, let out a light chuckle. He wasn't surprised that she thought that way. Her parents had moved out of the Pack years before she was ready to turn. He couldn't help but wonder how her first shift went. "Here in the pack, we are a family," Theon said to Seraphine. "Our bodies, are our bodies. We do not look away from each other to undress. We are a family, and we dress as one, undress as one, and live as one," he explained with a hint of excitement and pride in his voice. Se
The women finally dispersed, Seraphine looked back at the gathering of the happy wolves. She got a series of subtle nods of respect and warm smiles from the people around her. A massive bonfire roared in the center of the clearing; its golden flames crackled, sending sparks dancing into the night. It reminded Seraphine of the late-night parties they used to have back at the pack where she was born. She leaned against a wooden barrel near a makeshift table piled high with food and jars of alcohol. A group of teenage wolves ran around the edge of the clearing as they played a game of tag. Their laughter was loud and carefree, making her smile. “It’s good to see them like this,” Soraya sat beside her, holding two wooden mugs. She looked more relaxed than Seraphine had seen her since she arrived and there was a rare smile on her face, but her eyes held a certain sadness in them. Seraphine was sure she had taken Carlson's death very badly. Seraphine nodded in appreciation when she handed h
By dawn, Soraya was completely healed. Seraphine and the other witches listened in horror as she told them what had transpired between her and Aldwin. "Why did you go by yourself? Do you have a death wish?" Seraphine admonished. "I have known him my whole life. I wanted to try and see if I could make him change his mind," Soraya said quietly. "Apparently, it didn’t turn out well," Seraphine scolded. "You could have died," she continued. "I know, but I couldn't just sit back and watch him kill innocent people. He killed the only man I have ever loved, and I let him get away with it. I won't let it happen again," Soraya said firmly. The night was thick with tension as the witches, Seraphine and her guards assembled outside Aldwin's house. The moon shone brightly in the sky, it was as if the moon goddess was with them. Seraphine exchanged a glance with Soraya. The woman had warned them of how powerful he was. "We are ready for anything," Seraphine said, her voice steady and unwavering. S
"What was that?" Seraphine asked urgently as she and Soraya walked into the room. Seraphine had seen the look of sheer horror on the older woman's face when she was looking at what had happened outside. "It is called mind grabbing," a voice interjected. Seraphine looked up to see an old woman walk into the room. "Amaya," Soraya gasped, going towards the woman and assisting her to a chair. The old woman was almost eighty years old, but she was still as agile as ever. She shot the witch a look as she attempted to assist her. She was the older sister to the woman that died this morning, and she was one of the oldest people in the pack. "What you saw is one of the most dangerous forms of black magic. It takes over the soul and mind of the person hexed, and their actions can be completely controlled by whoever is behind it." She continued. Seraphine shared a look with Soraya as they both came to the obvious conclusion. "It's Aldwin," Soraya said, her voice resigned. "We have to stop him. H
With a sigh, Soraya took a seat opposite her. "This is going to take a while," she started. According to stories, during the purge when witches were being prosecuted, the world had presumed all witches to be corrupt. However, the problem was that the vast majority of witches then had started using dark magic, which fed on people's souls and rendered them heartless, and they killed people indiscriminately. That is what led to the misconception that all witches are wicked. And based on what I have known my whole life, all witches using dark magic have been killed, including my parents, until tonight." "What do you mean?" Seraphine asked. "When I was nineteen, I was kicked out of yet another pack. Alwin took me in when I was wandering around hungry and homeless. He took me under his wing and taught me almost everything I know." "Who is he? I would assume he is a witch too," Seraphine asked. Soraya was skeptical, growing silent for a moment. "How do I know if I can trust you with all this
The room was cool and shadowy, illuminated by multiple flickering candlelights. 'He' sat at the end of the room on what looked like his own personal throne. His eyes glinted with an almost unnatural intensity as he turned to face me. Seraphine held her breath as she leaped against the door that Soraya had just gone through. She had seen the older woman sitting all by herself looking sad and dejected, which came as a surprise to her. Before she could decide whether to approach her or not, Soraya had stood up and started looking around suspiciously. Seraphine had followed her when she took a mysterious turn to a passage that no one would have thought existed. She had almost given herself away when she stepped on a twig. She held her breath for what felt like hours before the woman continued. Seraphine couldn't get a glimpse into the room when Soraya entered. She leaned her ears against the door as she tried to hear what they were saying. "Soraya," 'he' said, his voice smooth and command
Later that evening at Casper's House, Casper watched a bit bored as his son paced around in his office. "Beta Theon is being stubborn. Can't we just get rid of him? He seems to have this sick idea that he will play Alpha for as long as he likes. Everyone should have started preparing for my coronation by now," he said, his frustration obvious. "No, we can't get rid of the Beta. If we do, the remaining elders will flock around the throne like flies," Casper said calmly. "He is being very difficult. How are we going to get him to work for us? What if the Queen returns? Let me go with a few men, and we will hunt her down and make sure she never does," he said, leaning over his father's table. "Everyone has a price. We just need to find the right thing one for Theon. He will work for us sooner or later," he said. "The little Queen is not going to return. Her little show of power was fun while it lasted. I have ordered men to discreetly kill her and anyone with her as soon as she tries to c
"The neighboring packs have stopped paying their respective tributes. We all know what could happen next. The werewolf kingdom needs a new Alpha King, and we need one now!" Another man yelled from the back, earning a lot of agreeing nods and murmurs from the rest. "What are you insinuating, Gerald? What do you mean, "we all know what could happen next" ?" Saleem, the leader of the eastern house, countered, walking forward. "How dare you insinuate treason in the Palace? The supremacy and power of the late King Alaric will never die," he continued, his face looking a bit red from his outburst. "Don't try to impress anyone with your fake and over-pronounced loyalty. We all know how selfish you are. " Whatever you say here can only be in your best interest," another man countered, making Saleem's face even redder. He wagged his hands in front of him at the offensive comment as he tried to get other words out, his face turning a sick shade of green. The sound of the main doors opening inte
"You do not have to kill her," I said nervously, my heart was beating so loudly that I was sure he could hear it. "You just have to make sure she doesn't return till after the coronation," I continued. "And then what?" He asked. "What will happen to her when she returns to the Palace? She won't just sit around and watch me rule, and I will have you know, I don't take it lightly when my authority is questioned," he said threateningly as he walked around me. "Well, you can make her submit," I stuttered. He was in my face in an instant, his hands gripping my jaw tightly. "That's not possible, I can't be the ultimate Alpha King if we have your sister going around with that little Luna power of hers. The permanent and only solution is that we kill her. Do you agree or not?!" He yelled. Trying my best not to shiver, I nodded and he released my face. "You can do with her what you please, as long as my conditions are met, we are good. We will rule the kingdom together," I said in a low voice,
Elara's POVOne of Alpha Daven's rogues carried me on his back till we got out of my sister's sight, then dropped me on the ground with a thud. I straightened my back to ease the pain. I didn't think Seraphine would realize I was gone so soon. These men were supposed to have taken me away before Seraphine managed to find out I was gone. I don't know why she had been hellbent on leaving Redmoon so quickly, she ruined all my plans, and now I had to think of a way out. ---------- A few hours earlier. I watched Seraphine as she turned to leave. She seemed to think everything that was happening was her fault. Well, technically, it was, if she had not insisted that we leave Redmoon in the middle of the night, we wouldn't have been attacked and no one would be so tired and injured. Grabbing the clothes she gave me, I walked to the back of the camp. After changing, I made a slow whistle and a black pigeon flew in and perched on my shoulder. Looking around to make sure there was no one looking