[Not Your Luna] ARIELLA He peeled his hand away from my neck and pushed me down on the bed. “What I’m offering you is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The chance to become the most feared Luna among our kind. For the life of me, I can’t understand why you’re so opposed to my offer.” “As I said before, I. Am. Not. Your. Luna,” I enunciated each word through gritted teeth. “I can offer you anything your heart desires. Wealth. Power. A position of respect and admiration.” He paused as if gauging my reaction. “And, of course, love.” “Love?” I scoffed. “You think you can just buy me with material possessions and an empty promise of love? I’m not some cheap whore that you can just throw money at.” Alpha Jasper’s face darkened at my words. “You would do well to remember who it is you’re talking to,” he warned. “I could have your throat ripped out before sunrise if I so desired.” “I get it, you’re scared. I would be too if I were in your position. But think about it this way—what othe
[Battle Plans] ARIELLA “I said go away!” I snapped. “Tell Alpha Jasper I’m not hungry, so he can dine without me.” “Miss, please,” she begged. “You won’t want to make the Alpha angry, do you?” The woman’s voice was soft and pleading, but I wasn’t in the mood to listen. All I wanted was to be left alone. “I don’t care if he’s angry,” I said. “I’m not going.” “Miss, the Alpha said this is no longer a request,” she added. I stalked to the door and yanked it open, glaring at the petite omega. “Listen to me and listen carefully. I do not care if your Alpha gets angry or not. Nor do I care if he kills me. Matter-of-fact, tell your Alpha I say to go to hell.” The words came out venomous, surprising even to me. It wasn’t until the door slammed shut that I realized how they must have sounded. There was a sudden commotion outside my room and I knew Alpha Jasper had been informed of my defiance. A moment later, he barged into my room without so much as a knock on the door, his face dark
[Hunters Revealed] SEBASTIAN “Over my dead body,” I snarled, gritting my teeth. “My daughter will never be a Luna, much less a monster like Jasper.” “I agree with Sebastian,” Sierra said. “My daughter is an alpha in her own right. Not a Luna to a man old enough to be her father. Men like Jasper prey on the weak, and I’d be damned if I let this happen.” My hands fisted so tight; my knuckles turned white. I could feel the anger bubbling inside me, ready to explode. How dare he kidnap my daughter and force her to become his Luna? He would have to go through me first. “Don’t shoot the messenger,” Zaiden remarked. “You asked me to find out what the Alpha was planning. There’s your answer. Whatever you’re planning, you better do it quickly.” “I’m going to kill him,” I growled. “No one takes my daughter from me and gets away with it.” My phone started ringing. Picking it up off my desk, I noticed a familiar number. This was a call I hadn’t expected so soon. I asked. “What’s the matte
Book 3 -19-[Jasper’s Downfall]ARIELLANervous, I paced back and forth at the foot of the bed, gnawing at my fingernails, trying to calm my frazzled nerves. Was it effective? I’d have to say no. No matter how many times I sit or tell myself to relax, my nerves tense up and I break out in a cold sweat.“Ariella, I understand you’re nervous. We all are, but you’ve got to take a breath. You’re making me nervous just looking at you,” Declan said, running a hand through his unkempt hair.That made me laugh. I stopped pacing and faced him. Leaning against the wall, I released a deep breath and plastered on a smile. “I’m sorry,” I apologized with a downcast glance.He stared at me with those kind brown eyes of his, waiting for my nerves to subside. But they never did—not fully, anyway. “Please try not to worry,” he whispered.I nodded, and gripped my hands tightly together, trying but failing to relax. “Trying,” I whispered back. “Talk to me, then. Tell me why doing this is so important to
[Jasper’s Downfall II] ARIELLA I knew where Declan was taking me the minute we left the packhouse and headed toward the tree line. We didn’t have to sneak past the guards this time, though not everyone seemed pleased with what we did. While a handful of pack members sneered at us when we walked by, others wandered and chatted openly about the pack. “Everyone doesn’t seem too pleased with what we did,” I admitted as I picked my way through the foliage like I had done it a million times before. “I could understand why,” he responded in a gruff tone. I asked, “What do you mean?” Declan exhaled and inhaled a deep breath and stopped. He turned and faced me, a pained expression on his face. “Not every member of the pack thought what Jasper was doing was wrong. But I had to act. I sat idly by for so long as Jasper did awful things, hurt innocent people, and benefited from their misery. My parents must be rolling in their graves, knowing I stood by and did nothing while Jasper ruined o
[Saving Her] SIERRA I awoke in a daze, dressed in Sebastian’s shirt and lying in our bed. I sat up, disoriented, and emptied of feeling, the hollow pang of loss resonating deep within me. The room was dark and quiet, the only sound coming from the rustle of the sheets I moved on. Instinct made me reach out to my left, which was my mate’s side, and I felt an ache deep in my chest I knew only too well. “Angel?” Sebastian’s voice echoed through the mind-link. I smiled, feeling giddy inside. “We’re ready to set out for the Whitewater pack.” I replied, “Just woke up.” My heart stuttered a beat. The time was finally here. “‘Kay, I’ll grab a quick shower and be down in ten.” “Okay, Angel. Katherine left you a plate in the microwave for breakfast. See you soon.” I leaped from the bed onto the wooden floor and slowly stood. I shuffled quickly into the ensuite master bathroom. The warm mist filled the room with steam, and I stepped into the glass-walled stall. My mind wandered to my d
[Homecoming] ARIELLA My mother ran to my side and nuzzled me as I stared at Jasper’s lifeless body in shock. I threw my arms around her as tears streamed down my face. “I’m so sorry I ran away,” I cried, tightening my hold on her. “Did that bastard hurt you? Are you okay?” She soothed me as she rocked me back and forth. “No,” I babbled, as more tears fell, blurring my eyes. “You’re safe now,” she whispered, wiping away my tears. My mom kissed the top of my head, and pulled me even closer as I sobbed against her chest. I cried out all my pain and sorrow, letting the tears wash away my fear and sadness. As the sun set over the horizon, casting a soft glow across her face, I took a deep breath to calm myself down. Jasper’s death hung in the air, silencing the remaining Whitewater wolves, who surrendered. I glanced up at my father. His eyes met mine and softened. “I love you, princess,” he told me before turning to give orders to his pack. My mother and I walked away from that bl
[Road to Recovery] ARIELLA I didn’t think climbing stairs would leave me feeling winded. Then again, my body was far weaker than normal right now. Abby walked beside me; her arm linked with mine for support. My mom was a pace or two ahead of us, leading us down the corridor toward my room. “Here we are,” Abby said, and opened the door, momentarily releasing my hand. Upon entering the room, I let out a long sigh, marveling at the warm sunlight streaming in. Rainwater and vibrant flowers mingled in the air, creating a crisp and fresh scent. The room itself was a contrast to the prison Jasper held me captive over the last few days, with its soft furnishings and plush carpet. The walls were decorated with warm yellow tones, soothing in their tranquility. Abby wandered over to one of the large windows overlooking the garden below, gazing out at all the blooming flowers bathing in golden sunlight. I couldn’t help but feel awed by it all—there was something so magical about this place t
[This Is Not The End] ARIELLA It took us a while to get there, but it was a pleasant walk. The trees were all in full bloom, and it smelled delightful. As we walked, I started feeling a little better. I felt lighter and happier. He was right, though. I didn’t need to worry about him. He was fine. And if he wasn’t, I would be there to take care of him. We reached the stream, and it was gorgeous, surrounded by a ring of tall redwoods and the sun setting behind them. The water glistened in the light. “It’s beautiful,” he murmured. “Yeah,” I agreed. I sat on the edge of the stream, watching the ripples in the water as the gentle breeze stirred the surface. Malik lay on his back next to me, his eyes closed and a contented expression masking his features. “I could get used to this. The tranquility here is unlike anything I’ve felt in a long time.” I rested my chin on my shoulder, watching him, feeling the butterflies flutter with glee in my stomach. Immediately, I felt better than I
[Memories] ARIELLA “I have a better idea,” I murmured as I studied the guard. “Instead of repeating everything to my father, why don’t you tell him yourself? Or, even better, have my mother look into your memories.” “Look into my memories?” Malik’s brow quirked in question. “How is she gonna do that?” I flashed him a smile, confident in my plan. “Here’s what hunters don’t know about my mom. Unlike the other wolves, my mother was born a witch from another realm. A realm where only witches, wizards, and mages existed.” “That’s, uhm... that’s something,” Malik acknowledged, the wheels in his head clocking overtime as he processed the information. “Yeah, so recently I learned my mom has this cool ability to see people’s memories,” I explained. “Lucky for me, I was born with a similar power. Mine is to see the outcome of major events. At least that’s what I think. Which was how we had known to expect another attack.” “From the moment we met, I knew there was something special about y
[A Favor] ARIELLA “All right, I can do that. I’ll tell you everything once you promise to do something for me in return.” He nodded, continuing to eat. “What will that be?” “I just need to know my family is okay. My cousin Amanda, the one I was here with recently, is pregnant. My mom is sick and—“ “Say no more,” I chimed in, cutting him off. “It is mainly my fault you are in this cell. Had you not been my mate—although you could’ve died in battle—you wouldn’t have been here.” He stopped chewing, looking at me with intense curiosity. “Are you sure you don’t want to know what I need you to do for me or the time to think it over?” I shook my head. “I doubt it’ll be worse than you locked in a cell.” “Okay.” He gave a brief chuckle. “I think this will be the first time I ever requested a favor from a wolf—a favor for a former hunter.” “A favor from your mate,” I corrected, which made him smile. “I will check on your family, Malik. If they’re okay, I’ll come back and tell you, an
[Debatable] ARIELLA Infuriated, hands balled into fists, nostrils flared, and hatred burning in my eyes, I stormed after my father. “Was locking him away seriously necessary?” I called out, trying to catch up with my father’s long strides. “He proved he was a wolf, yet you locked him away anyway, like some rabid dog.” Ahead, my father stopped and turned halfway towards me, leveling a look that said he’d heard enough. I had crossed the line and was making things worse. “I have to be sure he’s not an imposter, a hunter pretending to be a wolf. It’s like Alpha Declan pointed out. Nobody knows what made him a wolf.” I shook my head in disgust. “Malik did nothing wrong. He’s not some test used to see how well we can protect our pack.” “You’ve got no clue what you’re talking about,” Dad said, returning to his earlier pace. “There’s a lot to do. I suggest you focus on that before you join your mate in the cells.” “Ugh!” I let out an angry growl and kicked a small stone in my path, sen
[Not A Threat II] MALIK The moment I saw her face when I awoke after blacking out earlier, I realized how grateful I was to still be alive, even as a werewolf. Not just that. I also understood the severity of this werewolf bond Owen had told me about. The bond was more than just a physical connection. It was also both emotional and spiritual. It sure would take some getting used to. The love and concern in Ariella’s eyes, despite her efforts to hide it, told me she was also thankful I was alive. She was worried about me and hoped I would be okay. Little did she know how much effort it took not to kiss her then and there. Then, suddenly, the world got quiet. The wind rustling trees, the birds tweeting, and the insects chirping all stopped. Her breath was in my ear. I could feel her heartbeat, fast and steady. For a split second, my body froze, and my heart stopped beating. Just for a second, but once my body registered what was happening, it was everything and nothing like I imag
[Not A Threat] ARIELLA I placed my hand on his chest and willed him to wake up. His skin was warm to the touch, but he didn’t stir. I glanced around frantically, trying to find something to help him. My eyes landed on a large tree branch lying on the ground a few feet away. On my feet in seconds, I grabbed it and ran back to his side. I placed the branch under his arm and tried to apply pressure to the wound, but it was gushing blood. I had to do something, and fast. Or he would bleed out. Ripping off a piece of my shirt, I tied it around the branch, hoping it would stem the flow of blood. Thank the goddess, it had the desired effect. The blood slowed to a trickle. “El!” Abby screamed behind me, her heavy footfall letting me know she was running towards me. “Over here.” I shouted, never taking my eyes off my mate. I stripped off my belt and wrapped it around his arm, compressing the wound. “Oh, thank goodness!” she said as she knelt down next to me. “What the hell happened?”
[Is This The End?] DECLAN We marched further into the woods, where we came across a small camp. From where I stood, ten clicks away, I could smell the faint scent of death. As I approached, I noticed the bodies of several wolves, burned and bloody, lying in the dirt. I pulled out my bow and approached with caution, trailing behind the group. I held my breath as we stepped over the dead bodies. In an instant, my body grew tense as I scanned the area, trying to discern what had taken place at the camp. My fingers tightened around my bow out of reflex. “Are they all dead?” someone murmured in a low voice. “It looks that way,” I replied, my tone grim. “We have to be careful; whatever or whoever did this could still be out there.” My men nodded and followed me through the camp, their guns drawn. They found the bodies of several hunters, but no sign of what had killed them. A stillness hovered in the air, as if all life had been sucked out of this place. I peered into a nearby tent,
[Waiting Impatiently] DECLAN I set my jaw and drummed my fingers against my leg. You could hear the tension in the air. Over the last twenty minutes, my troops and I had been waiting in my parents’ old cabin for the hunters. I recall my parents taking me here as a child. When things were quiet on the pack lands in the summer, we’d come up here, and I’d spend hours in the lake five clicks north of here. Though I didn’t want to sully those fond memories of them by utilizing the cabin as a hideout during the war, it was the only accessible spot where we would be safe and keep an eye out for the hunters closing in on the pack. Hopefully, my parents wouldn’t be angry at me for using it other than as a vacation home. As the minutes ticked by, I felt my anxiety rise. I felt out of control, waiting for something awful to happen to my pack. I tried to tamp down my fear and focus on what we needed to do. All this panicking had me wondering if this was my last day alive. Since Jasper to
[Betrayal] MALIK I took the western route when Ariella and her companion were out of sight, heading toward the location where I knew the hunters would camp. I needed answers for this betrayal, despite the existence of a treaty between the two species. Trekking over fallen logs and broken twigs, I drew in a deep breath, filling my lungs with fresh air. I quickened my pace as I drew closer to the location, scanning the forest around me for any signs of movement. My heart thumped as I finally spotted the camp, its tents distinguishable among the trees. Owen emerged from the tent. He dialed something on his cell and pressed it to his ears. “Gil, it’s Owen. Bruno reported he saw four wolves heading your way. He said Malik killed Titus to protect a she-wolf and another wolf.” He said, frowning. “Yeah, I believe it’s her,” Owen answered after a minute, his voice slightly hushed. I froze, my stomach dropping to the ground. He paused, his frown deepening. “I’ll handle it,” he said. “