Novel-novel oleh Midnight Quill

KairoIt was noon when we arrived at Frost Pack, the cold biting at my skin, though my heat radiated outward like armor. My boots crushed the light frost that glazed the stone path, every step steady, unhurried. The wind here howled louder than ours back home, but it carried no threat.Weeks ago, my beta, Cael, had brought word of the upcoming summit. The location had been set for BloodClaw, as it always should have been. Ours was the oldest, strongest, most feared pack. But tradition had long been broken. I never allowed outsiders past our borders, and no one was foolish enough to insist. They’d chosen Frost Pack instead.I hadn’t planned to attend. I never did. Crowds, speeches, politics—pointless. Cael had already prepared to go in my place, like he always did but I changed my mind after hearing the reports. We had been standing near the edge of the northern cliffs, the late sun casting shadows over the jagged terrain below. Cael's expression was hard, jaw tight.“We lost three,” h

It was finally the day of the summit. My pack compound buzzed with nervous energy, and even the wind felt sharper than usual. Wolves moved around with purpose, rushing to finish last-minute tasks, setting up tents, checking guest quarters, preparing food. A few guards had been posted along the outer ridges since dawn, and omegas were being assigned like pawns across the estate.Elder Mette, head of the servant ranks, stood in front of the announcement post with her usual no-nonsense scowl. She held a clipboard so tight I half-expected it to crack. One by one, names were called and tasks assigned. Naturally, she gave the cushy posts—Alpha offices, summit chambers, and high guest suites—to her favorite, tail-wagging Omegas. The overly obedient ones who knew how to keep their heads low and eyes down.Then she got to me."Auren. You're on outer stockroom and water duty. Report to Elder Dren."I blinked. Outer stockroom? That was practically in the trees.Figures. Elder Mette hated me. No

Arnou walked across the yard near the water trough, alone, with his gaze fixed directly on me. That look wasn’t just dislike or irritation, it was colder and sharper. It carried a promise.My shoulders stiffened, but I didn't flinch. I held his gaze, kept my face blank. He wasn’t getting anything from me. Beside me, Mira shifted slightly. Neither of us spoke until he turned the corner.She let out a slow breath, rubbing her palm on her dress. “You saw that?”“Yeah.”“That look… It was so ominous.”I gave a small shrug. Not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t want her to worry.“The fact that Zara and the others haven’t said a word since that day? That’s what scares me. It's like they're planning something dangerous.”“Probably,” I said, wiping my hands again even though they weren’t dirty.“Ren. I’m serious.”“I know.”“You’re too calm.”I shrugged. “You want me to panic? I’ll do it later. Privately. With snacks.” She rolled her eyes, but didn’t smile.The truth? I was worried

I crouched low in the storeroom, sorting dried herbs into old cloth sacks. My fingers itched from the dust, but I liked the quiet. Mira was beside me, gently wiping salve jars with a cloth, her hum soft under her breath. She didn’t talk much. That’s why I liked working with her.“Do you think this batch is still good?” she asked, holding up a pale green bottle.I leaned in, sniffed. “Smells like tree bark dipped in swamp water.”“So… bad?”“Very bad.” She chuckled and set it aside. I smiled to myself. Mira's laughter was rare, but real. Then the storeroom door creaked open.“Herbs and harmony,” Rowan said, stepping in. “Never thought I’d find the great Ren kneeling like a kitchen hand.”I smirked. “Careful. These kitchen hands know how to crush your windpipe with a cinnamon stick.”He chuckled and dropped to a crouch beside me, easy and familiar. “Need a hand?”“We’re managing just fine.”“I can see that,” he said, brushing dust off a jar. “Mira, you okay letting me take over?”Mira g

We gathered in the courtyard as soon as the bell stopped ringing. Every pack member, from the smallest pup to the oldest elder, stood shoulder to shoulder in silence. No one spoke. Not even the warriors, who usually couldn’t keep their mouths shut unless ordered. I shifted my weight, trying not to show the way my ribs protested. Mira stood beside me, her fingers twitching. Then he came. Alpha Boris stepped forward, towering in dark leathers that hugged his broad shoulders. He didn’t need to speak to command attention. His presence did that on its own. Cold grey eyes swept over us like a blade, calm but lethal. His dark hair, streaked faintly with silver, was pulled back from a scar that ran along his temple. No one knew how he got it, and no one dared ask. Beside him stood Beta Magnus. Younger, leaner, always with his jaw tight like he was biting back words. And then Luna Nora, regal and still, with that unreadable expression she wore like a mask. Even her beauty was sharp. Untouc

The wolf lunged. That’s when I moved. I reached into my boot and whipped out a slim, silver blade. I drove it hard into Sylah’s hind leg as she soared toward me. Thud. She hit the ground howling, her form flickering in and out and her leg twitching violently. Zara’s scream tore through the clearing. “You bitch! You used wolfsbane on her?!” Duhh… I wasn’t stupid enough to show up empty-handed. I knew they wouldn't fight fair so I brought my own backups. They were illegal, of course. But laws meant little where they were concerned. “She’s still breathing,” I said, backing away. My ribs screamed with every breath, but I stood tall. “You guys never planned to have a fair fight, right?” Derek grabbed my shoulder and slammed me down hard. My ribs flared with agony. His boot pressed to my back. I pushed it off and staggered backwards. Arnou came at me next. I barely ducked. His fist skimmed my shoulder, but I grabbed a chunk of broken wood from the crate behind me and swung it hard.

AVALuke pulled up in front of the apartment and came around to open her door. She stepped out, and they stood close, the night air cool between them. She glanced up at him, heart still full from everything that had happened. The restaurant. The talk. The kiss. But something still tugged at her. “I never told you how I felt,” she said quietly. He tilted his head, watching her closely.“I love you, Luke,” she whispered.A small smile curved his lips. “I know,” he said. “You wear it all over your face.”She gave a breathy laugh, but it felt good to say it. So she said it again. And again.“I love you.”He cupped her cheek. “I love you too.”Their lips met, slow and sure until a small cough broke them apart. Christine stood by the entrance, eyes wide with excitement and a bit of confusion.Ava blinked. “Christine.”Her roommate raised a hand. “Don’t mind me. Just… wow.”Luke chuckled. “Hi, Christine.”“Hey,” she said, then looked sheepish. “Sorry for blowing up at you that day. I though

AVAAva didn’t tell Christine everything. She couldn't. Not because Christine wouldn’t understand, but because she wasn’t ready to put words to all that had happened. She needed to clear up things with Luke first.She arrived at the restaurant ten minutes early, hoping to get her thoughts in order. But Luke was already there, seated near the corner window, looking like he had been waiting longer than he admitted. He stood up to pull her chair before sitting down. Always the gentleman.The waiter approached, took their orders, and left them with silence.Ava sat upright, eyes fixed on the table for a moment before lifting to meet his. “Lucian,” she said.He blinked. “Luke,” he corrected gently. “It’s what I go by. Always have.”She nodded, lips pressed in a tight line. “So I overheard Ken that day. In his office. He offered you the position, the one meant for me and you didn’t say anything.”He looked down, then back at her. “I didn’t accept it. You didn't stick around to hear my respo

AVAHer breath hitched. The room went silent for a moment, before a few murmurs of congratulations began to ripple through the office. It was all happening too fast. Too soon.“No, wait—” she began, her voice trembling. She shook her head, standing up. “I can’t—I can’t take this. I… this is a mistake. Or a joke. I’m just—”“You’ve more than proven yourself, Ava,” another voice interjected. It was one of her colleagues. “You’ve excelled in marketing, even under pressure. Your work speaks for itself. You’ve demonstrated leadership, even when you didn’t ask for it. And you’ve done it with integrity, with humility. You’ve earned this.”Ava’s chest tightened, and she felt her eyes well up. “But I—”“We’ve all noticed,” someone else piped in “even if you’re shy. You’ve managed this team when it mattered most. You’re the highest-performing marketer. Your experience speaks volumes. And the fact that you’ve done all of this as a woman in a male-dominated industry? It speaks even more.”Ava sto

AVAKen had been on edge all morning, and Ava knew it. Everyone in the department could feel the heavy, suffocating weight of his misplaced rage. He snapped at everyone, especially her when they asked clarifying questions. He kept sending her on errands they weren't in her job description, belittling her. She did everything he asked. Still, he rejected every effort, dismissed every solution. And each time she returned to her desk, more work had piled up, none of it hers. Some of it was even Ken's work which he dumped on her without so much as a sentence of instruction. The walls were closing in.The others in the office saw it too. Mark, Nelson, even the interns. It was obvious. But no one said anything. They had already reported to the HR without any effect. The day became worse.Ken had sent her to compile a report with barely any guidance. She did it anyway. As best as she could. She even stayed late working on it. And this morning, when she presented it, Ken grabbed the file, sca

LUKEHe hadn’t expected to see her. Not so soon. Not like that.One moment he was walking his grandfather out of the office, and the next, Ava stood there looking like a deer caught in headlights. For a split second, he thought he imagined her. Her hair was pulled back, like she did when she was nervous or unsure. And her eyes were wide, like her flight mode had been activated. She looked like she’d bolt the moment he blinked.But she didn’t. Instead, she bowed slightly, greeted them both quietly. She turned, probably to flee, and that’s when Graham, with his usual sharp instinct, stopped her. “You wanted to see Lucian?” he'd asked, and she’d nodded.Luke didn’t say anything. Couldn’t. His mouth was dry, his heart loud in his chest. It was surreal—her, coming to him. Ava never made the first move. She was soft-spoken, reserved. He always did the reaching. The chasing.He'd simply held up a hand and gestured for Ava to follow him. She did, hesitantly. He opened the office door, waited

AVATwo days had passed, and the shock hadn’t faded. If anything, it had deepened, turning into a dense fog of confusion and guilt.Luke Reed. Lucian Wright. CEO. Billionaire. The man she had once shared special moments with. And yet, he’d stood on that stage with calm assurance, speaking with grace and command. There was no arrogance, no smug reveal. Just quiet power. And she'd been sitting there, breath shallow, heart racing, feeling like a fool.She had to talk to him. Not just because she misjudged him but because she needed to say the words that had been lodged in her throat since Ken pulled her aside after the event and told her what had really happened that day, how Luke had taken the fall to protect her. She’d been so wrong. About everything.It was Jake, oddly enough, who’d encouraged her at work. Even after she’d turned him down, he’d been kind. Supportive. Christine had given her an earful too, reminding her that running from things never solved anything.So now, standin