Novels by Birdy Edwards

CHAPTER 71Layla's POVI was still in the room where Derek left me, but I could hear all that was being said in the living room. My heart was pounding rapidly, and I slowly began to feel that darkness spreading within me again. She was trying to slip back in.The foul smell of the darts stuck in the bed and the wall was also driving me crazy. I had to get out of there. I had to be beside Derek; if not, I feared I wouldn't hold Malkin out for any longer.I hurried out into the living room, where they were all gathered around the assassin, who was now dead, but it was Derek's words that surprised everyone.“Are you sure of what you say, your majesty?” Beta Rowan asked carefully. “Your own stepmother is behind this assassination attempt?”Derek scoffed and grinned sarcastically.“You find it hard to believe?” He muttered. “As if Evelyn is some kind of a saint or something. She is pure evil and capable of doing even worse than this. I'm only angry that I had underestimated her. I should h

CHAPTER 70Derek's POVMaybe I was only imagining it, maybe it was just a night animal out to hunt for food or something. I held my breath and listened with intention. I couldn't afford to make a mistake.The sound came again slowly and deliberately. It was definitely someone creeping around, and I was able to pinpoint the exact direction of the sound now.I slowly sat up, making sure not to make any sounds. Layla had finally dozed off to sleep, but I had to warn her. I moved closer to her and gently clamped a hand on her mouth, and her eyes opened immediately in alarm. Her hands immediately rose to push me off, but I reacted quickly, holding them still with the other hand.'Someone's sneaking on the roof.' I willed myself into her thoughts without risking even the noise my voice would make. 'I'll go take a look, stay sharp. Understand?'She managed a small nod, and I slowly began to creep away from the bed. Beta Rowan was sleeping in the other room, but I reckoned I'd only be wasting

CHAPTER 69Derek's POV“Come, let's sit down.” I gestured towards the couch in the living room.Together, Beta Rowan and I sat down opposite each other. I could see the urgency in his eyes, and with that, I was able to deduce that what he was about to say was something really horrifying. I braced myself and waited for the worst to come.“What is it?” I prompted.“The Luna of Evergreen, Daven's mate…” He hesitated with his eyes searching mine.“Go on,” I said coldly.“Turns out she was pregnant, but after your… encounter, she lost the baby to a miscarriage.” I didn't react. At least not facially, but my teeth clenched tightly at the news, and my heart tightened. The Luna had just witnessed the brutal murder of her mother and father, and the way I slammed into her… I was only trying to protect them both; I was trying to protect her as well as Layla. I didn't know things would escalate that badly.“Well, you already know how Alpha Daven is.” Beta Rowan continued. “His already using that

CHAPTER 68Derek's POV“Prince Derek! Prince Derek.. Over here..”I turned towards the direction of the voice and saw Clara, the maid, waving eagerly at me. I turned and walked over to her.“My parents live just two blocks away.” She spoke enthusiastically. “We'll give you shelter for as long as it takes to figure out all this mess.” She began to lead the way, and I followed.“Thank you,” I muttered.“You don't need to.” She replied. “The moment you left the pack house, the Luna Queen…” She paused as if she'd just realized she made a mistake. “I mean your stepmother…”“Just call her Evelyn.” I cut in.“Well, Evelyn summoned all the councilors. They had a really long meeting, and at the end of it, she came out and announced herself as the ruler of the Bloodwood Pack and beyond. But I hear this decision really wasn't what the council wanted, but I hear lives were threatened and loved ones were kidnapped too!”“You hear a lot of things, Clara,” I remarked.“It's what we maids do.” She re

CHAPTER 67Derek's POVThere was no way I'd risk her falling back under the control of the death goddess again, so I did what I had to keep her safe. To make sure that the death goddess doesn't use her. The realization of what she had done had shaken her out of Malkin's control, and based on her shock, I knew she had realized the horror of what she had done.I carried Layla over my shoulder and continued the return journey, going as fast as I could and not too fast to avoid exhaustion. But as I traveled, one thing kept repeating over and over in my head.She had said it, the moon goddess had asked me not to let Layla out of my sight, and I intended to do just that. But then again, the moon goddess talked about a ritual and a mating within the next five days.The ritual, no doubt, was the Alpha King's ritual, marking my ascension to the throne, but the mating… I knew that was still referring to me and Layla, but at the moment I didn't know if she had a flicker of a feeling for me.At l

CHAPTER 66Daven's POVIt really sucked, the time freeze was almost the most painful thing I had experienced that day! It was really agonizing to see Derek and Amy right before me and within my grasp, but I did nothing!I saw them escape through my window, and even then, the time freeze took a while before it finally broke, and we all gained control of our bodies. What witchcraft were they using now?! This was something never heard of!“They're gone! They've escaped!” Daisy wailed with frustration. She had reverted to her human form now, but was holding her side, the same place where that bastard Lycan had slammed into her!“I'll go after them!” I told her. “I'll make them pay for what they've done!”I was made to go forward, but then she grabbed my hand, and I stopped abruptly and turned to look at her. She seemed weak and so fragile at the moment, and her whole body trembled violently.“I'm.. I'm scared..” She whispered. “Stay with me.”“I wish I could,” I replied. “I really wish I

CHAPTER 68Ethan's P.O.VMy heart came to a standstill when I saw Brian collapse to the ground. The duel was over, and Mord stood victorious over Brian's bloody form as the crowd cheered and clapped. I could not afford to let them see my emotions, else they'll take it as a sign of weakness, so I remained emotionless with my face registering no expressions. Mila turned towards me, and I could see her happiness and pride oozing out of her devious sneer. Nathan's eyes met mine, and I could see the man's smug grin too. Clearly, Mila and Nathan had gotten what they wanted, and so did the cheering crowd. Just as I began to move out of my seat, I noticed something: Brian was twitching. My sharp and keen eyes caught this movement, but when I looked around at everyone else, it was evident that they missed this, as everyone else's attention was on Mord, the giant. I returned my gaze towards Brian, and I could see that he was moving slowly as if testing his limbs. It occurred to me suddenly th

CHAPTER 67Ethan's P.O.VThe time came at last. The time we were anxiously waiting for. Brian was calm and collected, giving away no sign that he was anxious or worried about the duel he had coming up against an unknown foe. The servant girl Maya had disappeared entirely, and we didn't see her before the appointed time.When it was time at last, the pack guards were sent again to escort us to the venue they called the arena. I walked beside Brian, carefully analyzing the man, and I could see that his body was carried calmly, giving away no anxiousness. My keen and high-end sense of hearing picked up his heartbeat beat and it wasn't rapid at all. His heartbeat was keen to that of a sleeping baby, and I was left in awe of my Beta. This was one of those moments where I was proud to have chosen Brian as my Beta.We were led to the arena that was built like a colosseum with raised seats where spectators would sit and witness an event below. We were marched to the center of the stage, where

CHAPTER 66Elena's P.O.VEver since my conversation with Logan that morning, I had been scared of being left alone in the same room with him, and I even began to look for excuses not to sleep in the same room with him either. To me, the man had become dangerous all of a sudden. His warm smiles and his romantic personality had vanished, leaving behind a vicious and cruel creature.My times, I've caught him staring at a small picture he kept in his coat, and whenever I come upon him, he would quickly put it out of sight. I was confused and puzzled about this strange behavior, and I simply wanted to dig deeper into what was going on with Logan, but the man had become unapproachable all of a sudden.I believed that the picture he carried was my key to learn what was really troubling him, so I began to think of ways in which I would get that picture. Had it not been for the days he and I were on good terms, that wouldn't have been an issue for me, but with the current fracas that ensued be

Chapter 65Ethan's P.O.VI stared hard at Mila in horror. It was then that it dawned on me that I had made a mistake in coming over here to Moon Shadow Pack, leaving Isabella home. Even though I left her with people to watch over her, I still felt like she was defenseless. Who knows how many of my guards Mila had bought now? She smiled cynically, rejoicing in my discomfort, and I almost lost my calm and attacked her there and then.I was distracted by the sound of the huge double doors opening. I turned and saw the cabinet members streaming into the hall with their Alpha taking the lead. Nathan walked with his hands behind his back and a satisfied grin on his face. The man wore a fancy blue suit over shiny black shoes to match, and I must admit that the man had a penchant and flair for the dramatic."Come now, Alpha Ethan. We must not tarry any longer." He said as he took his seat at the center of the table. Brian had made his way inside with the crowd and was sitting in the same spo

Chapter 64Ethan's P.O.VAccording to Nathan the man who attacked us was one among those who were rebelling against him. The fabric he showed us bore the painting of a sun that was dropped in a red cloth across it. "They call themselves the rising sun Liberation Front," Nathan explained. "They've been hiding among us slowly wreaking havoc in my territories.""And what do they want?" I asked. "They want power," Nathan answered. "Their leader identifies as Marcus. No one really knows what Marcus looks like and no one knows where he is, either. He's just like a ghost that's latched itself to my pack like a parasite itching me all over." As he said this his brows furrowed in frustration with his hand running through his hair. I exchanged a glance with Brian. A civil war was at its brink here and the Alpha was doing nothing to thwart it. This sounded like a Mila thing and I began to see my sister on a whole nother level. She was downright evil and seeing the look on Nathan's face and his

Chapter 63Isabella's P.O.VIn Ethan's absence, I began to learn a lot of things about the blood moon pack. Ethan's OCD was the biggest news I've heard so far. Tricia had explained that Ethan experienced a traumatic event when he was younger and that left him with the case of OCD. Come to think of it, I was beginning to understand that there was truth in this after all judging by the way Ethan always wanted everything organized and arranged perfectly. But when I asked what happened to Ethan, Tricia would not say. I continued to wander the grounds from house to garden and garden to house. I was basically like a prisoner at Blood Moon Pack. And I dared not wander out of the house in Ethan's absence and the guards would not even let me do so. They had allowed me to leave the house the morning Ethan left simply because I had to see my parents. But after that morning the guards would simply not allow me to leave the house. My days began to grow from worse to worse and I found myself thin