Novels by Daniel Paul

Lexi’s POV“Jax, tell me you saw it too,” I whispered as soon as Manny stormed away with Clara in his arms, leaving everyone in stunned silence.Jax’s face was pale, his lips pressed tightly together as if he was trying to stop himself from saying something that would only worsen the storm. He leaned closer, lowering his voice so the others wouldn’t hear. “I told you, Lexi. When I was in her room, I noticed strange signs, marks in her room. Something carved into the air, like invisible threads… I knew it did not feel ordinary.”His words made my chest burn with a mixture of fear and fury. “And you did not look into it a bit more?”“I figured we would deal completely with Wayne first,” he admitted, guilt flashing across his eyes. “I didn’t want to come to you with half-truths, not when things are already so tense. But Manny’s change… it isn’t natural. Whatever she’s done, it’s twisting his mind.”I looked toward the hallway where Manny had vanished with her. My own disbelief still clu

Clara’s POVThe moment Manny shouted for the guards to release me, I was relieved. It was subtle at first, like the faint spark of recognition in the back of my mind, but I felt it, I knew it. The spell, it had begun to work. My body trembled, though not from fear, not from despair like the others assumed. It was from the thrill that ran through me, a delicious certainty winding through my veins.The guards’ hands let go of my arms, and I collapsed onto the cold floor, my hair falling over my face. Tears streamed down my cheeks, not entirely forced this time, though my reasons for crying were not what they thought. I pressed my palms to the ground, shaking with the weight of everything that had just happened, then lifted my face to Manny.“You always do this to me,” I whispered, my voice cracked, broken. “You always turn everyone against me, you never once believe me, no matter how much I beg you, no matter how much I try to prove myself. Why is it always me, Manny? Why do you al

Lexi’s POV“Wayne, stay strong, I know it was a long night. Do you want me to carry you or you are alright?” I whispered as I guided him down the hall, his small hand slipping against mine, warm but weak.“I’m fine, Mom,” he murmured, though his voice cracked with fatigue, “I just need a little sleep, I will be 100%, Dexter should still be asleep by now.”I forced a smile for him, though worry gnawed at me. “Yes, definitely, it's still very early.”The early morning light filtered through the windows, it was not very bright as the day had not yet fully broken but it was enough to guide our steps toward the boys’ room.I had promised Wayne we would wake Dexter together, and today would feel normal, we could even step out for some ice cream or go see a movie. But as soon as I pushed the door open, a stillness met us that did not feel right.Dexter's bed was empty, I checked the bathroom, no one was in the room. Blankets were tossed aside as if he had left in a rush. His shoes were gon

Clara’s POVI had known they would try something like this eventually, I could practically feel their desperation clinging to the air of the house. It was not difficult to piece things together when Wayne kept looking weaker every day and Lexi hovered over him like a mother bird guarding her fragile chick.The unusual visitors that came under the cover of night, it didn’t take much for me to know they were planning an unbinding ritual, they thought they were clever, but they were predictable. Manny thought ignoring me would make me crumble, Lexi thought her concern for Wayne would be enough to outwit me, but all it did was open the perfect door for me to walk through.I sat by the window of my room, I could hear their voices downstairs, muffled but urgent, Manny’s tone was sharp, Lexi’s softer but insistent, and another voice I did not recognize, the rogue healer, of course, they had finally reached out to the very people they should not have and the thought brought a curl of satisf

Lexi’s POV“Wayne, talk to me,” I said softly as I sat by his bedside, brushing damp strands of hair from his forehead. His skin looked very pale. “I am fine, Mom,” he whispered, though the rasp in his voice betrayed him. He coughed again, a sharp, tearing sound, and when I handed him the cloth, he pressed it to his lips before quickly turning it away from me.I caught the faint red stain before he could hide it under his blanket. “You’re not fine,” I said, struggling to keep my voice steady. “You’re coughing blood, Wayne. This isn’t just a cold, it is not normal.”His eyes flickered with guilt, like he hated himself for worrying me, but he didn’t deny it either. He just curled tighter into the blanket, his lashes low as though sleep could protect him from the truth.I reached for his hand, holding it, willing my strength into him. “I promise you, we’ll figure this out. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”The thought settled in my chest like lead. This had to be one of Clara's doings. Ev

Clara’s POV“Hey Manny, how have you been?” I said, when I saw him for the first time that day. No response. I came in closer. “Manny, why do you keep avoiding me?” I asked, my voice breaking the silence between us.He didn’t even look at me. His eyes were fixed somewhere far away, like that place held all the answers he wanted but none he was willing to share with me.“I’m not avoiding you, Clara,” he said at last, his tone flat, void of the warmth I craved. “I just have… things to take care of.”“mmm-hmmm-mmm.”I stepped closer, desperate, trying to find even a flicker of softness in his face. “Things? Or people? You don't worry about me anymore. You don’t ask where I’ve been, you don’t ask what I’m doing, you don’t care. Why? His jaw tightened, that little twitch that told me I was right. But he still didn’t give me the satisfaction of an answer. He simply rose from the bench and muttered, “You know what you did,” before walking away, leaving me to stand there with my throat burn

A New Dawn"Flora, trust me, what has happened?" Adrian's voice sliced through the celebratory noise as he pushed his way to stand by her at the side of the great hall."Adrian, I can still barely believe it," Flora replied, her voice a blend of cautious joy and ongoing incredulity. "The King's Edict. It's altered everything for us and for the pack.""Yes," Adrian took a breath. "I surrendered my Alpha status for you, for our future, and now it seems the impossible has become our reality."Flora's voice shook with hope and fear. "A future where we can love without betraying our duty, where our hearts are not sundered by ancient canons. But at what price, Adrian? Can our love really overcome the weight of centuries of tradition?"Adrian's eyes glimmered. "I know that the sacrifices were immense, and the wounds sliced deep. I recall every instant of regret, every tear you cried as I lusted after power. But in this moment, with you by my side, I feel the promise of a new dawn."Flora stu

The Edict of the Lycan King " Adrian, to the throne room incontinently," growled a commanding voice in the corridor speakers. Adrian's strained, low voice replied," Yes, Captain Morales. I will be there in a moment." Moments later, in a hushed expectation room, the Lycan King stated" Adrian, you've submitted your repudiation letter, right? Adrian cleared his throat, the tone establishment yet laced with fear," Yes, Your Majesty. I've surrendered my Alpha status, for I realize that my path now must be mandated by nothing but the issues of the heart, not the suffocating weight of obligation." The King's deep voice thundered," Your adoption has not been given without consideration. Tell me, Adrian, what led you to make this most vainglorious decision? Adrian took a conscious breath before responding," Sire, for times I've carried the burden of my once — my miscalculations, my failure and it has brought me further than any crown ever could. I lost the love of my life, an

A New Daw Flora's answer was conservative," I'll consider your offer, Adrian. But this I do know if our life together is to be but a deeper pain, I'm not willing to immolate the loss of myself, my responsibility, for a love that may yet be too weak to survive." Unshed gashes filled Adrian's eyes as he rumored," Flora, I understand your fear. I know that our history is full of pain, but I believe if we do this together, we can forge a new path. One where every immolation is not a loss, but an pledge — a pledge to make a future that honors who we are." Flora's voice shook," And what if our pledges break under the weight of our old injuries? What if our marriage, refashioned by love and duty, is n't enough to heal the ancient injuries of treason? Adrian's voice held a blend of despair and stopgap," also we will face that ineluctability together. I'm willing to risk all on the possibility of redemption, on a tomorrow when we might be free at last from the ghosts of our h

A Bold Offer " Flora, we need to talk," Adrian said, his voice rough and pulsing with genuine determination. " Adrian, I am harkening," Flora replied, her voice cautious but with a touch of craving. " Every night I lie awake allowing about what we lost, and I can no longer tolerate this silence," Adrian continued. " Silence, yes, but remorse as well," Flora answered, her voice slightly above a tale." I still flash back the dreams we pictured, the moments when we believed nothing could pull us apart." " I know," Adrian said vocally." I flash back the nights beneath the stars when you laughed, when our dreams were unencumbered and simple. But also I let my duty, my ambition, get in the way." Flora's tone turned cold," You allowed ambition to take priority over our love, Adrian. I constructed my life upon the oath of a participated future — a future that now appears so far down. " I offered my title, my power, everything for the pledge of that future," Adrian contend

A Union Readdressed " Adrian, please?" Flora's tremulous but strong voice pierced the muted hum of the command center as they entered a quiet alcove out of sight of the inquiring eyes of their classmates. Adrian drew in near, his tone soft and counted with anguish." Flora, I know our lives have gone so far in contrary directions, but I've to ask — do you ever still dream of us? Of a life where our love is n't measured only by duty?" Flora's eyes flashed both wistful and guarded pain." I did, formerly, Adrian. I allowed once that there was going to be a future in which I just was Flora not a title, not any prospects just us. But whenever I try to flash back it, I get hit with all the offerings that we made and the scars that still shape us." Adrian's tone dropped to a husky tale." I will relinquish everything, Flora. I relinquished my title, my power, because I wish for a chance at that future with you. I want a normal, loving family life with you. I understand it'll be

Sacrificial Promises " Flora, I must speak with you — now," Adrian prompted, his voice coarse and pulsing with resoluteness as he walked toward her in the vacated corner of the command center. Flora's tone was peaceful but miserable." Adrian, I know what you are going to tell me. You have one chance to make this right.". Adrian's reply was nippy," I have made my decision. I can no longer be Alpha, not when my heart is broken because of my miscalculations." Flora's face tensed as she asked," You relinquish your Alpha status? Do you have any idea the cost that comes with it, Adrian? " I get it, I know," he contended," and I would pay that price if it would allow me to be with you, if it would allow me to rebuild what we lost and make a future together as a family." Flora's voice shook with stopgap and sadness," Adrian, you understand that stepping down is not just a selfish act it will shake the roots of our pack. Your position was a source of strength and leadership.".