The Prey in The Dark

After slipping up the side steps, Elyssa arrived in a dark hallway on the second floor of the castle. Now that her mate’s scent was gone, her wits had returned. She took a minute, leaning against the wall beside the heavy curtains, to savour in the discovery of her mate. Her mother’s description of the sensation did not compare; the throbbing, the yearning, and the insatiable desire to be near him. Her mouth watered as she thought of seeing him again. But did he feel it too? The moment his eyes met hers, they glowed a fiery amber that blasted the air out of her. Elyssa adjusting her dress and continued further into the hall, making sure to stay close to the wall so that she could duck behind the curtains in case anyone entered. But then Elyssa paused and turned to the empty hall. That was the most stupid idea, the building was packed with wolves who could sniff her out from miles. It would be better to step out in the open instead of hiding in the shadows, and drawin

Lucian led her to the ballroom, where a fierce, ethereal beauty stood in front of the live band. With her greying black hair brushed into a bun, her haughty pose screamed Luna. “We all know why we’re really here.” The guests murmured in confirmation as she stepped forward, smiling and gesturing to the room. “It’s time to hunt.” Elyssa glanced sideways at Lucian before turning back to watch the woman with an uneasy frown. Hunt? What had the Callisto’s turned the Moon Ball into? What were they hunting? She searched the hall for Taylor and when she didn’t see her, tried to find her scent. “A tradition so old and fine, where the wolves race through the goddess’ Labyrinth in search of their mates. We will send the most beautiful, unmated elite females into the Labyrinth, and if any one of them catches your eye, track them down and mark them by sunrise.” She gestured as she spoke. “Nevertheless, we’re not animals; there are rules; you can only mark a consenting fem

They snarled at Elyssa and darted off in the direction of Lucian’s howl, forcing her to sprint through the opening after them. Following them towards his scent, she struggled to match their unnatural speed. Elyssa shook her head, not wanting to focus on why he howled, was he trying to get himself killed? The monstrous creatures made a sharp left turn ahead and the Labyrinth moved, Elyssa dropped, shifting immediate she hit the ground and jumped through the opening before the passage could shut her out. She slowed to a halt when she reached the field where the beasts were now locked in a fight with Lucian. Elyssa shifted back, unable to believe her eyes, as she watched Lucian fight the beasts she had thought would be too much for him. With his sharp canines, he tore out one’s throat, before knocking the other into a puddle of black dirt. Transformed, Lucian was the same size as the beasts; heavy and terrifying

That was his meaning? She almost rolled her eyes at it. A few people could tell by looking at her that she was an azure, but since the fire that took her pack, they believed the azures to be extinct, so most people didn't think anything of her appearance.  As a child, her mother told her stories of the pack of beautiful wolves with hair as red as ruby, fur as white as snow, and eyes as blue as the azure sky overturned by savages. There were only a couple of survivors and their numbers had dwindled since, leaving just a few of them. Caitlyn Mazzeo was one of them. Her mother’s stories of her azure heritage started to make sense after her first shift, and the Ewing pack would not stop calling her a chosen. The azures were blessed with the goddess' grace and gifts, and were chosen Lunas of their packs. She didn’t even understand what it meant. Chosen for misery? To be alone, and forced to be the mate of the man who destroyed her life? “I hav

Lucian’s POV Amid the eerie darkness that followed the ungodly wind sweeping through the chamber, her soul-piercing blue eyes held his with an iciness that outdid the current cold. He was transfixed by her azure gaze, and whatever she had found out clearly upset her. “What, exactly?” he asked, turning away from her. There wasn’t anything the Callisto’s weren’t blamed for, and he was getting tired of it. Drizzles pooled in his palm as he held his hand out. There was no shelter around to wait out the impending heavy downpour, and the storm was picking up quickly. “Your mother drives the azure wolves in here as an offering to that witch.” Then he turned around and faced her. Her crimson locks dancing in the wind now, as did the short robe she had on. While his muscles tightened, he felt himself swallow; Elyssa was stunning. “What are you talking about?” He groaned. “She sent me here too, despite the fact t