Alyssa Emerald 의 작품

Ethan took a deep breath, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. The ultimatum from Lucas was infuriating, but Elena and Ivan were right. They needed a plan that would maximize their chances of saving both Ilonka and Maya. With determination, he began to type a response on the cellphone:"Lucas, you've made your point. Let's talk, find a way to resolve this without more bloodshed. I'll give you what you want, but I need to know that Ilonka is safe. Meet me at the south border of my pack territory in two hours. We'll discuss the terms in person."Ethan pressed send, his heart heavy with the knowledge that he was playing a dangerous game with a cunning adversary. But he was determined to outsmart Lucas and protect his loved ones.Several tense minutes passed before the phone buzzed with an incoming message. Ethan quickly opened it, and Lucas's words appeared on the screen:"Very well, Ethan. I appreciate your willingness to negotiate. You have my word that Ilonka remains unharmed

Ethan's mind was racing, trying to make sense of the situation. Ilonka was one of the strongest and most skilled wolves in their pack. How could she have been taken so easily? It didn't make sense. The thought gnawed at him, fueling his anger and frustration.As he paced back and forth in his office, his pack members gathered around him, offering words of support and reassurance. Everyone was trying to help bring Ilonka back safely, but deep down, Ethan couldn't shake the nagging feeling of guilt. As Ethan's thoughts swirled with worry, a bittersweet memory tugged at his heart. He remembered the day he had shared his joyous news with Ilonka, the day he had told her that he had finally found his mate. She had been ecstatic for him, her eyes sparkling with genuine happiness. They had spent hours talking and laughing, sharing stories and dreams for the future.Now, his sister was gone and she was in danger. He wondered if he had inadvertently let his guard down, focusing too much on his

Aiden had assigned me the task of overseeing the catering arrangements for the Selene festival. He explained how I needed to coordinate with the catering companies to ensure that a wide variety of high-quality dishes were available throughout the festival. He handed me a detailed list of the different cuisines and specialities that needed to be included in the menu, ranging from traditional delicacies to contemporary favourites. The first catering service I called was Southern Flavors, renowned for their roasted meats and vegetables from the southern plains. They were excited to be a part of the festival and promised to provide their signature dishes that would delight the visitors.Next, I reached out to Northern Delights, known for their flavorful stews and pastries from the northern highlands. They were equally enthusiastic and assured me that they would bring their best culinary offerings to the festivities.Next on my list was Oceanic Bites, a renowned seafood-focused catering s

Ilonka slowly regained consciousness, her head pulsating with a persistent ache. As she blinked, trying to shake off the disorientation, the pitch-blackness of the room surrounded her, intensifying her feeling of helplessness. A surge of panic swept over her upon the realization that she was tied to a chair, her wrists tightly bound behind her back, but she could not remember how she ended up like this. A faint, erratic glow emitted from a distant corner, casting unsettling shadows that danced across the room. In that moment, a silhouette materialized, emerging from the darkness, his presence unmistakable—Lucas, the alpha of the Blood Moon pack and Ethan's sworn enemy.Lucas drew nearer, his piercing gaze fixed upon Ilonka. A cruel smile curled upon his lips, exposing the malice that resided within him. "You are finally awake," he sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You're a captive audience now."Confusion clouded Ilonka's mind as she struggled to piece together the events l

Ethan decided to take a brief moment of solitude before the crucial meeting with the other pack leaders. He traversed to his personal quarters and entered the en-suite bathroom, ready to cleanse both his body and mind.Turning on the water, Ethan stepped into the warm shower, relishing the comforting sensation of warm droplets cascading over his well-built physique. The sensation of the water against his skin served as a temporary respite from the weight of his responsibilities, allowing him to momentarily set aside his worries and focus on the present.As the water enveloped him, Ethan closed his eyes, letting his senses absorb the familiar scents of his favorite soap and shampoo.The air grew heavy with steam, enveloping the space in a soothing mist that appeared to absolve him of the accumulated tension. He took slow, deliberate breaths, allowing the rhythmic sound of the water hitting the tiles to drown out the noise of his racing thoughts. With each exhale, he released a fraction

I was walking through the mall with my mom, admiring the sparkling dress on display in the window of one of the stores. "Mom, can we check out that dress inside?" I asked, pointing towards the shop window."Of course, sweetie," my mom replied with a smile. "Let's see what they have in store for us."We walked inside, and my eyes widened as I saw the beautiful dresses, shoes, and accessories on display. I made a beeline for the sparkly dress that had caught my attention from the window."Wow, this is gorgeous!" I exclaimed as I showed my mother the dress. "It certainly is," my mom said as she admired it. "But let's see what else they have before we decide on anything."As we continued to browse through the racks of dresses, excitement began to well up inside of me. I was eager to select the ideal attire for the Selene festival ball. I observed that there were numerous other lovely dresses in the store as we made our way through it, each with a distinctive design and allure. Short and

_Aria's POV_I opened the door and before I could say a word, Ryan pushed past me and stumbled inside. His breath came hard. Snow flecked his hair. He looked like he had run all the way from wherever he had been. He grabbed my hands with both of his as if he could hold my attention that way.“Please,” he said. “Please listen to me, Aria. Just listen.”Every inch of me wanted to slam the door and shut him out. I had seen him in bed with Elena. I had seen them kiss. I had smelled the warmth of another body in his sheets. I had watched his face change from surprise to guilty and then blank. I had watched Elena smile like she had won something. That image lived under my skin.I raised one hand slowly. “Two minutes,” I said. My voice sounded hard and small all at once. “Two minutes and not one second more. You do not deserve my time after what you did.”He closed his mouth. He nodded like a boy being told off. “Two minutes. Thank you.”I set my phone on the table and fumbled for the timer.

_Aria's POV_I continued screaming as the change took hold.Fur pushed up his arms like dark paint spreading over skin. The hair climbed his neck and shoulders. It ran down his back in a slow wave. The sound from my throat felt small and useless. Each breath came hot and tight.His face shifted. The planes of his cheek moved. His jaw lengthened. His teeth looked sharper in the candlelight. Eyes that had been blue flashed darker. The air filled with the smell of wet fur and something wild. Lucien became a black wolf before my eyes.The wolf stepped closer. It was powerful and quiet. My legs froze. My hands dug into the chair. I could not move. I could not breathe. My throat tightened until it hurt.The wolf stopped and stared at me. It was Lucien and also a stranger. Its wild eyes were impossible to read. There was hunger in them. For a second, the scream in my mouth died. My body did the strange thing it does when fear goes flat and deep. I felt like the room had gone very small. My

_Aria's POV_Lucien pushed himself away from the car when he saw me walking toward him. Snowflakes fell around him like tiny stars. His eyes softened and a small smile pulled at his lips.“Hi, Aria,” he said, his voice warm and smooth.“Hi,” I breathed back.Before I could say anything else, he leaned in and kissed me gently on the cheek.It was quick and soft. But it felt like fire pressed into my skin.My whole face turned hot. I didn’t expect it. I didn’t know what to do. My heart jumped and my breath tangled in my throat.Lucien chuckled when he saw me blush. “You look cute when you go red,” he said.“I don’t go red,” I muttered, even though I knew I was lying.He laughed again. The sound was deep and warm and then, walked around the car. He opened the passenger door for me like a perfect gentleman.“After you,” he said.I slid inside and the first thing that hit me was the warmth. The interior of the car was heated, soft and comfortable. The leather seats hugged my body. It felt

_Aria’s POV_Maybe, Ryan saw me with Lucien.That was the first thought that rushed into my mind as I stared at his message. My hands tightened around my phone. My stomach twisted. The words burned in my head."Stay away from him.He is very dangerous.He will harm you."For a moment, fear tried to curl around my heart… but then anger hit me even harder.How dare he be jealous?How dare he pretend to care about me now?He was the one who had kissed Elena. He was the one who had chosen her. He was the one who broke me. And now he had the nerve to warn me about someone else? No. He didn’t get to do that. Not anymore.“He should worry about Elena,” I whispered to myself, my voice shaking with bitterness. “Not me.”He had lost the right to protect me. He had lost the right to speak to me. He had lost every right the moment he let Elena touch him.My chest tightened again but this time it wasn’t fear, it was pure anger.I scrolled back up his messages. There were so many missed calls. So m

_Aria's POV_The pain grew sharper. The beast on top of me pressed harder on my throat. I could not pull in a full breath. My lungs burned. My vision blurred at the edges, turning dark like ink spreading over paper. I clawed at its fur but my fingers slipped every time. My body felt weak and the cold from the ground crawled into my skin.I gasped again. The air caught in my throat as if something inside me was breaking. I tried to move my head but the weight above me was too heavy. My heartbeat thudded in my ears. My face grew hot. My chest felt tight. I knew that soon I would not be able to fight back at all.Then, I saw movement.It was a blur at first. A shape running fast. It looked like another beast. A wolf—big and brown, larger than any normal wolf should ever be. The brown wolf stood a few feet away, its teeth bared and its fur bristling. It growled low and the sound shook the air.My head spun. Was this real? Or was my brain giving me strange pictures as I started to lose con

_Aria's POV_The door opened and everything stopped.They were there. On his bed.....Ryan and Elena.They were kissing hard. They were too close. Elena’s hair spread over the pillow like a dark halo. Ryan’s shirt was thrown to the floor. Elena had her hand at the back of his neck. He had his hand on her waist.My eyes went to his chest. To the skin that had seemed so safe to me. I could not move. I could not think. My mouth was dry. My hands were empty except for the cheesecake box, which was suddenly heavy and felt stupid in my grip.Elena made a small sound. A moan. It was a sound I had never heard from her before. It sounded like triumph.. like a bell. I felt my knees grow weak. The box slipped from my hands before I knew it. It hit the floor with a soft thump. I did not hear it. My ears were full of the sounds from inside the room. The laugh. The kiss. The soft shuffle of bodies.Ryan lifted his head.For a second his face showed shock. His eyes were wide like deer eyes. Then, the