Novels by Cherish

"So what's your plan?"Amaya's voice cut through the heat, but it only grated at me. My throat was dry, my body slick with sweat, and still the ache inside me burned hotter than the sun above us.I said nothing. Not because I wanted to spite her — but because there was nothing to say. I had no plan. No direction. Just a single, gnawing need: get home. Confront him. End this.But deep inside, another vow gnawed at me. Amy. My sweet Amy. I'd left her behind once — terrified, vulnerable — and the guilt of it had carved me hollow. Never again. Whatever else happened, I swore to myself I'd come back for her. Even if it cost me everything.My chest tightened as I thought of Ciro again. The way his eyes had turned to ice, how he hadn't lifted a finger to stop me. For all his anger, for all the heat in his voice, he had just... let me go. My lips trembled. Did he ever care? Or had I been nothing but a burden all along?The crowd around us blurred. People laughed, bartered, hurried past in the

“Luna,“ the Falcon greeted as he saw me approaching. Surprise flickered in his gaze, but he masked it quickly, going back to looking emotionless. I said nothing to him and barged into the office he was guarding. Ciro glanced up from his paperwork, his eyes resting on me lazily. “Jasmine," "Alpha Deluca," I greeted curtly. His eyes flashed with surprise. "I'd like a moment if you don't mind." He nodded slowly, an indication to state my business. "I'm leaving." His jaw tightened, and his eyes blazed with anger. I've never seen him look at me that way before. It sent a pang to my heart. I'd woken up this morning with determination. Determination to find my brother and confront him. "Like hell you are," his voice was cold. “Leaving to where Jasmine?" I raised my chin. “To my pack. I am the princess, my people need me...""You mean the people you abandoned?" He cut me off sharply. “The people you left to face the brutality of your brother's betrayal?"My chest tightened, and I foug

"The mate bond won't save you twice, Jasmine. Betray me, and I'll end you myself.”Ciro's words echoed in my head like a broken record. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to hold back the tears. I won't cry, I won't let his actions affect me that much. I crumbled in bed, my heart hurting. Greyson, the only one that stayed, the brother who protected me, my hero, was a traitor. I couldn't believe it. The door creaked open, I heard footsteps approaching but didn't bother to open my eyes. The bed dipped, indicating someone sat beside me. I couldn't sniff them out, I was just a helpless human. I chuckled bitterly at the thought. "How're you holding up?" It was Amaya. I still didn't open my eyes. "How do you think ?" I croaked out. She sighed, shifting in her spot. It remained silent between us, the weight of the revelation heavy, too heavy to ignore. "I don't believe them," I whispered. I didn't believe them, there's just no way Greyson would do that. “Jas," Amaya's voice was a broken

I gasped in surprise. "Are you good?" I tore my gaze away from her to find Amaya looking at me with worry. I frowned, that familiar pressure pushing against my forehead. I glanced back at the spot she was in and there was nothing; she was gone. How was she able to do that ? My head hurt.“Jasmine," Amaya called out. I snapped my gaze back to her. "Why do you keep staring?" It was the creepy girl that spoke this time. “Are you crazy like they claim?" I glared at her. "Coming from a creep who stalked me," I countered. She growled lowly, triggered by my words. “Enough," Falcon spoke for the first time. "Now's not the time for banter." "Then it's the time for what ?" I snapped at him. “This," I picked up the picture, "it means nothing. My brother is not a traitor." I stood up to leave but froze when I heard Ciro's voice. "Sit.” One word, one syllable, but it was enough to stop me in my tracks. I glanced at him and this time, he met my gaze. His eyes were heavy with something, so

Ciro let go of my hand and went straight to sit in the empty spot at the head. I darted my eyes around, trying to make sense of the situation. The air was thick with tension; everyone avoided eye contact except Duncan, who stared at me with a glint in his eyes. I ignored him, too preoccupied with the unease settling in my chest.“Sit.”I glanced at where the voice came from. Ciro stared at me expectantly. I moved to sit beside him, but he stopped me with a quirk of his brow. I frowned.“Over there,” Duncan motioned to the seat opposite him—the one completely isolated. My heart clenched. Wasn’t the Luna supposed to sit beside her Alpha?Amaya was a few seats away from me, and though the distance wasn’t much, it gave me some form of comfort knowing she was close.“Ahem.” One of the familiar girls stood, a file clutched tightly in her hand. Her voice was steadier than her grip. “I am Isabella.”She introduced herself, but I only stared back with a curious expression. What was going on?“

The next day, I noticed how the pack members bowed their heads slightly as I passed, and the library keeper had offered me his apology, leading me directly to the section where the records were kept. It felt good. I'd earned their respect, just like Falcon had told me to. I smiled. Would he be proud ? He'd witnessed it was too far away to give his approval or disapproval. I frowned at the last thought. The scent of old paper and leather filled the air, grounding me as I moved deeper into the library's restricted section. It wasn't grand — just rows of towering shelves, dust motes dancing in the weak sunlight filtering through narrow windows — but it was quiet. Peaceful.The Keeper shuffled behind me for a few steps before muttering something about tea and vanishing into his office. I took my time scanning spines, running my fingers over faded gold lettering. Most of the records were exactly what they seemed: hunt logs, lineage charts, territory maps dating back decades.I traced a f

It's been three days since the trial, and it's safe to say I've fully recovered. Physically. Something still felt heavy in my heart. I was asked to prepare for the council meeting again. I wore a grey sweatpants and white tee, packed my hair up in a messy bun, and applied lip gloss. I couldn't bring myself to put in effort, not after what those bastards put me through. I stepped out of the room and found Nicole leaning on the wall, his arms crossed. He had been assigned as my escort to the council meeting — Cassian's order, no doubt. He straightened up when he spotted me, his eyes searching my face in concern. I cleared my throat and walked in the opposite direction, heading for the council room. "Wait !" He shot out and grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around to face him.“Um," he backed off, "I wanted to talk to you." I glanced at my wrist. "Make it quick, there's no time." His brow shot up, but he chose not to comment. I had no wristwatch on. "I know you don't like me. And

The first thing I became aware of was the sterile sting of herbs in the air. My eyelids felt like stone, heavy and resistant, but I forced them open to the blur of white walls and muted sunlight bleeding through thin curtains.I was alive.A sharp ache rippled through my chest at the memory of thorns shredding my skin, of shadows whispering lies in the labyrinth. My hand twitched towards the spot over my sternum, and I felt the raised welt of the mark — the crescent moon entwined with thorns. The proof that I had survived a nightmare. I shifted, groaning as pain flared down my side. That's when I noticed him.Cassian.He stood by the window, tall, broad-shouldered, still in the same blood-streaked clothes from the arena. His arms were crossed, his posture a wall of steel. He wasn't looking at me, but I knew he'd felt me stir — the way his shoulders tightened, the subtle twitch in his jaw."What are you doing here?" My voice came out raw, scraped thin, but I refused to let it tremble.

My knees trembled, but I forced my body to move. Step by step, skin raw and bloodied. My chest still burned from the thorns' pierce, my palms torn and crusted with blood. But I was walking. I was alive.The passage widened, the light growing brighter, until finally, I stepped through the archway.The roar that met me nearly knocked me backward.Rows upon rows of pack members filled the arena stands, their eyes wide, their mouths parting in awe or disbelief. I staggered into the open space, blood-soaked, battered, but not broken.The drums cut off. Silence fell heavy and thick.Nicole stood at the edge of the circle, hands over his mouth, eyes shimmering. Behind him, elders and warriors stared at me as though I had just risen from the dead.I blinked against the sunlight. My body swayed, every ounce of strength drained, but I forced myself to keep standing. My chest heaved. My heart pounded.The silver mark burned faintly on my skin—over my sternum, right where my hand had pressed aga

The ground split beneath me as the beast thundered forward, thorns snapping and grinding under its weight. Its maw opened wide, silver fire spilling from its jagged teeth. My chest tightened—not from fear, but from the suffocating pressure of its presence.Or both.I rolled aside as its claws swiped the air, ripping the ground where I had been standing to ribbons. Dust and shards of thorn filled my lungs. I staggered back to my feet, cloak dragging, every nerve screaming.It was fast and strong.I had no weapon. Nothing but my hands, my blood, my will. I would survive.I didn’t feel fear or panic. I was numb. The only emotion that coursed through my veins was determination—determination to survive, to see this through.The wolf turned its head toward me, eyes locking with mine. Cold. Piercing. As if it could see everything I tried to bury—my fear, my grief, my anger.It lunged again, faster this time.I braced.When its claw struck, I caught it with both hands. The impact sent me skid

Still on my knees and arms, I coughed. My body wasn't healing due to the poison the thorns had. How long was I expected to survive in here? I glanced up, still trying to catch my breath. The labyrinth opened, a path forming ahead. I shook off the exhaustion, standing to my feet. I stepped into it, tattered cloak dragging across the jagged ground. Every thorn that brushed me tore skin, but the pain kept me sharp, awake. Minutes — or hours — passed. I couldn't tell. The path twisted endlessly, each turn revealing another wall of thorns shifting into place, closing me in. My skin still stung, my skin sticky with blood and sweat. Every nerve in my body was alert, cautious. I didn't trust this callous place one bit, or the damn thorns. Then the whispers started."Talia..."I shut my eyes. I won't fall for it again, I won't. They did it with my mother. I won't let them do it again. I kept walking. Then came the voice again, "Talia". I swallowed, unwillingly to look back even though eve

What is this ? My heart thundered, fear gripping me tightly. The thorns pulsed, alive, their tips gleaming with droplets of poison that hissed when they hit the stone floor. No way in hell. I spun around, ready to leave when a voice called out to me, stopping me in my tracks. It sounded familiar yet I couldn't place my finger on it. I turned back around, staring at the path. "Come to me," a voice whispered. I frowned. "Come on,". It urged gently. The voice was alluring, tempting. My heart beat slowed and a sudden calm washed over me, my fears gone, forgotten. My ears perked up at the sound of the whispers. It was soothing, like a mother's lullaby. A mother. "Mum?" I called out. My eyes glassy. "Mum?" I stepped in, lost in a trance, a trance to find my mother. "Come on," it called out and I went deeper, letting the voice lead me. A smile graced my lips, my heart feeling with an unfamiliar warmth. I giggled. And then, I hissed. A thorn cut my skin, snapping me out of the trance. I