Derek drove through the city streets, his mind spinning with the new information Alex had provided. According to his betaâs source, Ella was at the hospital. Relief washed over him at the thought of finally getting to see her after everything that had happened. But as quickly as it came, his relief was replaced by tension. He needed Ellaâs cooperation now more than ever. He couldnât stop thinking about Alpha Kevin. Derek knew exactly what kind of man Kevin wasâruthless, manipulative, and someone who never played by the rules. He had no doubt that if Kevin discovered Ella was the healer he sought, it would end badly for her. Derek didnât know what Kevinâs next move would be if he found out Doctor South was also his once-rejected mate. The thought of her being in danger gnawed at him, fueling his determination. As Derek approached the hospital, he parked at the entrance and stepped out with purpose, striding toward the hospital building. He wasnât sure how Ella would react when she sa
Ellaâs grip on the steering wheel tightened as her mind raced with questions, her thoughts darting from one possibility to another, filling her with anxiety. What could Kevin be doing with Moore? Had he hurt him? Her breath quickened as the image of Moore in danger haunted her. She felt a pang of guilt in her chestâhe was in this mess because of her. But then, another thought rose, darker and more unsettling. âWhy had Derek kept the information about her agreeing to help to himself?â He had seemed so calm earlier, as if he had everything under control. Was he truly trying to protect her, or was there something more sinister at play? Could Derek and Kevin be working together? The idea seemed absurd, but she couldnât ignore it. âWhat if this was all a setup?â What if Derek had lured her into this situation, pretending to be her ally while secretly plotting with Kevin?Her heart pounded harder, doubt creeping into her thoughts like a shadow. âHow did Kevin even get to Moore in the first
In a hidden, shadowed location, a figure stood in silence, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She slammed her phone down after the call ended, her voice sharp with anger.âDamn it!â The curse echoed through the dimly lit room, but the figure remained cloaked in darkness, her identity concealed.âWho could have thought Ella was the highly sought healer?" she muttered, her voice low and indistinct filled with venom.The figure paced, clearly unsettled, her movements deliberate, as though calculating her next steps. âI will do everything within my power to make sure she doesnât return to the South.â She clenched their fists, resolving to stop her at all costs.Meanwhile, in the quiet of the hospital, Ella slowly stirred, her eyelids heavy as she struggled to wake. The first sensation that hit her was the dull, throbbing ache in her limbs, a persistent reminder of the attack sheâd endured. Her body was weak, and with each attempt to move, pain surged through her, making her gasp s
Derek turned around to check on Ella and noticed she was awake, her eyes locked on him, a mixture of confusion and determination reflected in her gaze. He could tell she had a thousand questions swirling in her mind. With a sigh, he pulled a chair closer and sat down across from her.âHow are you feeling?â Derek asked, his voice soft.âYou saved me,â Ella replied weakly, her voice barely a whisper. âThank you.âWithout thinking, Derek reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. âYouâre still weak,â he said, concern etched on his face. âThe doctors did what they could for the silver burns, but you need more time to rest and regain your strength.âElla winced as she tried to shift on the bed, her thoughts racing. âMooreâĶ heâs in danger,â she said, her voice laced with worry. âI need to be by his side, Derek. I have to get to the South.âDerek shook his head, his expression firm but laced with concern. âThey wonât harm him, Ella. They still
Ella lay in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. She was healing, but the weight of everything going on outside these walls kept her on edge. Moore was still in danger, and Kevin was out there, probably plotting something worse. The rogue attack earlier didnât help, and now, she felt like time was running out, Derek had gone out to attend to something important or so he had said.The door opened, and Nurse Sara entered, pushing her usual cart of supplies. Sara had been the one to take care of Ella since she was admitted. She was always calm and friendly.Ella smiled softly at the sight of Nurse Sara walking into the room. For days now, Sara had been nothing but a comforting presence, always ready with a gentle word and warm smile. She was humanâan ordinary person in a world where beings like werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures often clashed. Maybe thatâs why Ella found it so easy to trust her.âGood morning, Ella. How are you feeling today?â Sara asked, her voi
To the outside world, the Devilâs City was a place of myth and legendâa land where darkness reigned, where nothing thrived but death and shadows. Tales of terror whispered through the lands, painting pictures of a place cloaked in eternal night, where vampires ruled with iron fangs and talons of blood. But the truth was far more dangerousâand far more beautiful.The Devilâs City was a marvel of dark enchantment, a kingdom of eternal twilight kissed by the silver glow of a crescent moon. Its towering blackstone buildings glistened like polished obsidian under the soft, ethereal glow that bathed the city in a perpetual soft, dreamlike hue. The air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of night-blooming flowers that lined the streets, their petals a kaleidoscope of deep crimson, violet, and gold. Intricate lanterns hung from elegantly wrought iron posts, illuminating the cobbled streets with a warm, golden light that danced with an unnatural grace, casting moving shadows that seemed to f
The night was still as Maxwell stood in the shadows, preparing for his journey beyond the boundaries of Devilâs City. The air was thick with the scent of impending rain, but he moved with an unbreakable focus. Valenâs words still echoed in his mind: Confirm the healer wolfâs existence. Find the truth.For centuries, Maxwell had been Valenâs trusted scout and enforcer. Tonight, however, his mission felt charged with greater purpose. The rumors surrounding a healer wolf were impossible to ignore, even if they seemed as improbable as any heâd heard. Valenâs previous purge of healer wolves had been merciless, leaving none to spare, or so theyâd believed. But if one had truly survived, this could reshape everything they understood about their speciesâand reignite old wars.Maxwell slung his gear across his back and blended into the night, his steps soundless as he made his way through the outskirts of the city. His senses were sharp, taking in the hum of life beyond the walls. He would nee
Valen sat alone in his grand office, his gaze drifting from the endless pile of documents before him to the faintly glowing horizon visible through the arched windows. Outside, Devilâs City shimmered with a haunting beauty, cloaked in perpetual twilightâa beauty that only deepened the ache in his cold heart, reminding him of what he once had and lost.Tonight, he felt the weight of the past pressing against him with unrelenting force, clawing at the walls he had so carefully built. Lydia. Her name echoed like a heartbeat, filling the empty spaces of his mind, and slowly, inevitably, Valen let himself fall into the memories.He was young then, far less burdened by power and revenge. He remembered the night he met her as if it had just happened, her image so vivid that he could almost reach out and touch her. Lydia had entered his world as a quiet figure among a gathering of vampire clans, her presence calm yet commanding, with a subtle allure that had drawn him across a crowded room wi
The moon shone brightly casting an ethereal glow on Ella and Valen as they stood at the Manor's front yard admiring the night.Ella stood facing the moon and rubbing her now visible baby bump, a peaceful smile gracing her face. Valen stood behind her, his strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her snugly against himself.Ella leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Her bright, beautiful smile deepened as she chuckled softly."Can't believe you're scared of being a father," she teased, her voice laced with amusement.âIt's not a crime to be scared,â Valen murmured against her ear, his breath warm and teasing. âI'm just speaking my mind. And besides I have never been a father before.âHis lips brushed against her exposed neck, his voice turning huskier.Ella stretched her neck, giving him more room to nibble on them as she smirked. âYou will definitely make a great father Valen.âA low growl rumbled from Valenâs chest as his fangs gently grazed the marked spot on her n
Sebastian had managed to fight through the warriors on him, leaving Scottie injured and some others dead. One look at the war and she could tell they were evening out on the battlefield. There was only one thing to do now. Something inside Ella snapped. She turned, her murderous gaze locking onto Sebastian's. He growled, as if beckoning her. With a deafening roar, she transformed into Lila, but this time Lila moved with a blinding light enveloped around her massive form. She had tripled in size. She possessed the speed of an ancient vampire and the strength of a powerful warrior Alpha. Nothing like anyone had ever seen. Even Sebastian was momentarily taken aback at her transformation. Her eyes were of two colorsâcrimson and Silver. She launched herself at Sebastian. The ground shook in her wake. Her claws glowed and her wild Lila had the force of the Moon Goddess herself surging through her. Warriors gave way in fear as she approached. Sebastian
The battle erupted in a blur of fangs, claws, silver, and wooden daggers. Sebastian tore through warriors, his monstrous strength overwhelming both vampires and werewolves. A vampire leaped at him but he crushed his skull in one swipe. A werewolf lunged at him but Sebastian ripped out his throat without hesitation. Valen and Derek fought side by side, cutting through anyone coming closer to the Manor, where Ella was tirelessly healing those being brought back with injuries. Despite their efforts, It was obvious to the two men that they were losing. But in war, no one says itâs over until the very end so they fought on. Ella looked up from where she was, the scene before her was pure terror, there was blood everywhere, the air was thick with death. Ellaâs heart tightened as she saw warriors falling. She heard movement beside her, she held onto the dagger by her side, a part of Scottieâs war gear. It was Sandra. âOh! You think healing can help you in this case?â Sand
Maxwell strode through the gates of the manor with a practiced ease, despite his expression being unreadable, there was no way to mask the gait in his walk. He envisioned the death and destruction of all the mutts involved and when they were done with Valen and Derek, even Alpha Kevin and his own mutts would be annihilated. He trusted Sebastian not to maintain any alliance against the vampires. Immediately he stepped into the manor, Alpha Kael and Dorian approached him. âWe need you,â Kael said, his voice firm. âWe need the exact coordinates you found Ella. Weâre planning a search for Sebastianâs whereabouts.â Maxwell kept his expression neutral but within him, he smiled. The fool suspects nothing, he thought. âOf course,â he said smoothly. He followed them deeper into the war room, already planning to lead them astray. His plan was simpleâgive them false coordinates, and send them chasing ghosts while preparations for the war raged on, unnoticed. But the moment
Kael had followed Maxwell closely after his angry exit and deadline for finding Ella. No matter how great he was as a tracker, it wasnât possible that he would find her as quickly as he said he would.UnlessâĶ He already knew where she was. He had followed Maxwell closely moving through the shadows like a ghost, Maxwell was fast but he was versed in stealth. Finally he had seen what he needed to see and now he had to speak to Derek. âI have something youâd need to hear,â Kael whispered urgently.He took Derek aside to explain what he had seen to him. âOkay. What is it?â Derek asked sharply, his mate was unconscious inside and there was an impending attack.According to Valen, Ella had been having nightmares about this war revealed to her by the Moon goddess and now it's finally coming to pass. He wasnât thinking about being subtle or calm at this point. Kael inhaled. âAfter Maxwell left, I followed him and I think he knew where Ella was all along. I couldn't match his speed but h
Maxwellâs grip tightened around Ellaâs unconscious human form as he moved effortlessly through the forest. The night air smelt of pine but he couldnât enjoy the smell because of the werewolf stench in his nose. He hated them, the annoying mutts were everywhere now, walking freely in their territory, their putrid odor made his stomach turn. If it were up to him, every single one of them would be dead by now, especially her. But he couldnât risk it, he had to deliver her to Valen himself as his task and promise but soon enough he wouldnât be taking orders from a mutt lover like Valen. Heâd never thought heâd see the day when a vampire as powerful as Lord Valen would willingly align himself with werewolves but here he was. One thing was certain, betraying your own kind comes with a death wish no matter how powerful you were. Maxwell scoffed, wasnât it an irony that Valen had foolishly aligned with the werewolves and now a similar alignment will be what would end him? As he was los
âYou're just what I need. Your blood holds the key to unlocking the secrets of immortality.âSebastian smirked as he stared at the weakened and unconscious body of Valen's mateâElla. He would destroy everything that Valen holds dear, starting from his mate. It's quite unfortunate he couldn't kill her yet, but he would use her to show to Valen what it meant to be hurt.He didnât want to underestimate her powers. Though she was surrounded with silver, he still made sure she wasn't fed so she would be too weak to resist what he intended to do.Murmurs and whispers of why Valen hadn't arrived yet, despite his mate being captured, were already spreading amongst his allies and he knew he needed to act fast before their impatience ruins his plans.He watched as Ella slowly regained consciousness.âFinally you're awakeâ Sebastian chuckled dryly.Ella slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry at first, she shook her head to regain some clarity. A sharp throbbing pain in her wrist had pulled he
A heavy silence immediately filled the room after Alpha Kael's outburst.Derek's eyes narrowed slightly as looks at Maxwell, waiting for his reaction. He knew Kael had struck a nerve.Maxwell didn't disappoint, but one thing he didn't know was that Alpha Kael wasn't just an ordinary werewolf or a âmuttâ as he just called them.His fingers twitched, his sharp fangs peeking out as his eyes darkened. The anger in his gaze was unmistakable. Then, without warning, he charged at Kael, his speed as fast as lightening but dark.He aimed for Kael's throat, but Kael had seen so many battles to be caught off guard. Before Maxwell could strike, Kael twisted his body slightly and slammed his elbow into Maxwellâs side. The force sent the vampire stumbling back, his cloak fluttering as he steadied himself.Maxwell's eyes widened in shock. His jaw tightened. He was fastâfaster than some vampires, faster than most creatures. But speed meant nothing if your enemy could predict your moves.Kael smirked
Valen stomped into his office, slamming the door heavily behind him. Dorian was lucky enough not to be hit by the door as he followed behind Valen.âUseless!â Valen muttered, rubbing his hands against his hair and jaw.Dorian stood at a safe distance trembling slightly. He was doing it again, releasing that powerful aura that brings people to their knees.Clearly Valen was so mad, he has unleashed this aura just twice. This was only the second time Valen had ever let his emotions slip so much that his power surged uncontrollablyâthe first time was when Ella came into his life and now that she had disappeared.Dorian could see from his clenched fist that he was fighting so hard to control it. His crimson eyes were now a darker shade of red.âDid she just vanish into thin air? Are you trying to tell me there are no leads? No clues?â Valen asked, his voice filled with rage.Dorian stood speechless, he swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had no answer that wouldn't further enrage Valen. He