Novels by Alyssa Emerald

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

_Lyra's POV_I stepped away from him and looked down the hallway.“Where are we going?”Ryder did not answer immediately. I glanced at him.“You know, normally when someone brings a terrified woman into their secret mansion after revealing they can turn into a wolf, they explain things.”The corner of his lips lifted slightly. “You talk a lot when you are nervous.”I frowned. “I am not nervous.”“You are.”“I am not.”“You are arguing with me more than usual.”I opened my mouth to reply but no words came out. Because unfortunately, he was right. Ryder continued walking and I followed him.The mansion was so quiet that I could hear every step we took. The huge halls, the old paintings and the strange symbols around me made me feel like I had stepped into a world I was never supposed to see.A few hours ago, I had been living a normal life. I was worried about work, university and hockey interviews. Now I was standing inside a mansion I never knew existed, surrounded by secrets I could

_Lyra's POV_The car slowly came to a stop. For a few seconds, I did not move. I just stared through the windshield, trying to understand what I was seeing. This was not what I expected.After everything that had happened tonight, after discovering Ryder’s secret and watching him transform into a wolf, I had imagined his home would be something dark and terrifying.Maybe an old building hidden in the middle of nowhere or a place that looked as dangerous as the secrets he carried. But this was nothing like that.The estate in front of me looked like something straight out of a movie. Tall stone walls surrounded the property with large windows glowing softly against the darkness. The building was massive but it did not feel cold. It had a strange kind of beauty like it had existed for hundreds of years and carried countless stories inside its walls.A beautiful garden surrounded the estate, with trees moving gently in the night breeze. The silver light of the moon covered everything, ma

_Lyra's POV_“I am not going anywhere with you.”The words came out sharper than I intended. Ryder stared at me in silence. For a moment, he did not look like the powerful captain everyone feared. He just looked tired like he had been carrying a burden I knew nothing about.“Lyra, please.”That single word surprised me. Ryder Kane did not beg...not for anything. But I was still too hurt and too confused to let that change my mind.“No.”His jaw tightened slightly. “You do not understand what is happening.”“I understand enough.”My fingers tightened around the handle of my suitcase. “I found out that the person I trusted was not even human.”A flash of pain crossed his face. “I know.”“You let me believe you were normal.”His eyes lowered for a moment. “I wanted to tell you.”“When?”My voice cracked slightly. “When you thought I was already too attached to leave?”His expression changed immediately. “That is not why.”“Then why, Ryder?”The room became silent. For a moment, I thought

_Lyra’s POV_I stayed with my back against the locked door. I was forcing myself to breathe normally but my body refused to calm down. My hands were still shaking and my heart was beating so fast that it felt like it was trying to escape my chest. Because Ryder Kane was standing on the other side of that door.The same Ryder who had saved me. He had held me when I was terrified and made sure I was safe. But he had also turned into a wolf right in front of my eyes.I closed my eyes, trying to convince myself that leaving was the only thing I could do. I needed space. I needed time to understand what I had seen. Most importantly, I needed to stay away from Ryder until I knew what was real and what was not.For a few seconds, everything was silent. Then I heard a knock on the door.“Lyra.”My entire body froze at the sound of his voice. It was softer than usual...too soft. And somehow, that made it worse.Because Ryder Kane was never like this. The Ryder I knew was always cold, controlle

_Lyra's POV_I ran.I did not stop to think about what I had just seen or try to understand it. The moment the wolf took a step toward me, my body reacted before my mind could catch up.I ran through the trees, away from the training building and into the darkness. My breathing became uneven and my hands shook so badly that I almost dropped my phone while trying to unlock my car.I never looked back. I could not because I was terrified that if I turned around, I would see those golden eyes following me. The same eyes that had looked at me with warmth. They belonged to Ryder Kane. My mind refused to accept the truth but the memories kept coming back. The wolf that saved me was not some unknown creature. The wolf that protected me was him.Ryder Kane was not human.By the time I reached my apartment, I was barely holding myself together. I rushed inside, locked the door behind me and leaned against it as if the wooden door could somehow protect me from everything I had just discovered.

_Lyra's POV_I thought that things would be different after that night.Ryder had stood in front of me without hesitation and protected me again. He had held me in his arms and quietly told me that I was safe. For the first time, I thought maybe the wall between us was finally starting to break.But I was wrong.Because the next morning, Ryder Kane was back to the same person I had always known. I walked into the Frostfang office with my coffee and laptop, secretly expecting something different. Maybe a small smile. Maybe a simple greeting or some sign that he remembered what happened between us.Instead, Ryder walked past me without even looking in my direction. He did not say a word.....not even a good morning. I stopped and watched him disappear down the hallway.Seriously?Was I the only one who remembered last night?Because I remembered everything. The worry in his eyes when he thought I was hurt. The way he stayed close to make sure I was safe. He had held me like losing me wa

_Aria’s POV_The car slowed down after a long drive.The road became narrow and rough. Stones crunched under the tires. The trees thinned and the air felt colder. I looked out of the window and saw mountains rising around us. They were dark and quiet..... like ancient guards watching over secrets.Finally, the car stopped. I leaned forward and looked ahead. There was a house.It stood alone between the mountains. It was not very big but it was solid. The walls were made of stone and wood. Warm yellow light glowed from the windows. It looked old but safe....like it had been standing there for a very long time.“Where are we?” I asked softly.Ryan turned to me.“This is a meeting house for hunters,” he said. “A safe place.”I swallowed hard.The word hunters still felt strange in my ears.We stepped out of the car. Cold mountain air wrapped around me at once. I hugged myself and took a deep breath. The night was quiet here....too quiet.Before I could say anything else, the front door o

_Aria’s POV_Ryan took my hand and did not let go.His grip was firm and warm. It was grounding me as he led me through the forest. The trees closed around us like silent watchers. Branches scratched at my arms. Leaves crunched softly under our feet. The moonlight barely reached the ground and shadows stretched long and twisted between the trunks.We walked fast but quietly.No one spoke at first.My heart was still racing from everything that had happened. From the tunnels. From the escape. From seeing Darius free. My thoughts felt tangled and heavy like I was carrying too many truths at once.Ryan walked slightly ahead of me. He pulled me gently whenever I slowed down. His men moved around us. They were alert and silent. Darius followed close behind. I could feel his presence even when I did not look at him.“How far?” I whispered after a while.“Not much longer,” Ryan replied softly. “Just stay with me.”I nodded even though he could not see it.We walked for a long time. My legs s

_Aria’s POV_The tunnel swallowed us the moment the hidden door closed.Darkness pressed in from all sides. The air was cold and damp and the smell of earth filled my nose. The walls were rough stone. They were uneven and narrow. Water dripped somewhere in the distance. Each sound was echoing like a warning.I swallowed hard and lifted my phone.A soft beam of light spilled from it, cutting through the darkness.Darius stopped walking.He stared at the light in my hand as if it was magic.“That thing,” he said slowly. “It can make light too?”“Yes,” I whispered. “It’s a flashlight. From my phone.”He leaned closer, his eyes following the glow as it moved across the walls.“Incredible,” he murmured. “Your world has changed so much.”I frowned.“My world?” I asked quietly.He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped forward and motioned for me to follow.“Stay close,” he said. “These tunnels twist.”I nodded and walked beside him. My heart was still racing but now it was mixed with something

_Aria’s POV_I stared at the man in front of me and my body refused to move. For a second, I thought my mind was playing tricks on me. I thought fear had finally broken something inside my head.The man standing there was dirty and broken. His dark hair hung in uneven strands around his face. His skin was pale, almost grey, and smeared with old, dried blood. There were cuts along his arms and shoulders, some healed badly, others still raw. Bruises marked his neck and wrists like dark shadows that never left.Heavy metal chains wrapped around his arms and legs. They were thick and cruel, digging into his skin. His shoulders slumped forward as if the weight of the chains was too much to carry. His eyes were sunken and dull with exhaustion and pain.He looked sad, tired and hopeless. But that was not what made my heart stop.It was his face.His face was Lucien’s face.The same sharp jaw. The same dark brows. The same cold and dangerous beauty. He was Lucien's exact copy. They were twin

_Aria’s POV_I moved through the hallway slowly, forcing my steps to stay light and quiet. My bare feet barely made a sound against the cold stone floor. Every breath felt loud in my ears. Every shadow felt alive.I turned toward the eastern wing.My heart sank.There were guards everywhere. At least twice as many as before.The other night, when I had gone near the eastern wing, there had only been a few guards. They had looked bored, half-asleep and easy to avoid.Not tonight.Lucien had tightened security.Two guards stood at the main entrance of the eastern wing. Another paced back and forth. Further down the hall, I saw two more standing near the pillars. Their eyes were sharp and alert.My stomach twisted. Of course he did this. Of course he made it harder.I pressed my back against the wall and closed my eyes for a second.Think, Aria. Think.Darius was here. Somewhere beyond those walls.I took a slow breath and waited. I watched the guards carefully. I memorized their moveme

_Aria’s POV_When we reached the mansion, Lucien did not waste a second.He guided me through the halls with one hand resting firmly on my back, as if he was afraid I might disappear if he let go. The guards bowed as we passed. Servants stepped aside. Everything felt normal on the surface.But inside me, nothing was calm.“You look pale,” Lucien said as we walked. “Your face is tight.”“I’m fine,” I replied softly. “Just a little uncomfortable.”He stopped in front of our room and turned to face me.“No,” he said. “You’re not fine. You told me you had stomach ache.”Before I could say anything else, he turned and walked toward the cabinet near the wall. He opened it and took out a small bottle and a glass.“You shouldn’t ignore your health,” he said calmly. “Especially tonight.”He poured clear liquid into the glass and held it out to me.“Drink this,” he said. “It will help your stomach.”My heart started pounding.Instead of me giving him the potion, he was giving me medicine. I to