تسجيل الدخولEmerald. “Scar. Open up. I’ve got popcorn.” I announce playfully, turning the knob again. It still doesn’t give. I know I should have called him first to ask if he was disposed to see anyone, but I just wanted to surprise him. Just the two of us sitting together with some movies and a bowl of popcorn. After the day I’ve had, I would be grateful for even a moment of peace. I turn the knob again, already feeling disappointed that he hasn’t come to open it yet. I press my ear closer to the door and hear movements. Rustling. Something being shoved. A sharp bang. It’s all so fast. Then the key rattles from the inside and the door flies open abruptly, sending me stumbling forward into the room. Scar’s hands catch me before I land face down on the floor. The popcorn isn’t so lucky. My eyes drop to the scattered pieces spilling from the bowl onto the floor. “Sorry about the mess.” I mutter quietly. My gaze lifts as I take in the state of his room. Neat. Orderly. Not even a drawer o
Emerald. Thursday, 25th February. Two days later. Ford Mansion. Night. I miss the days the leaves used to rustle. These days, because of winter, the trees are only covered in snow. It snowed again last night. And slightly this morning too, while I was on my shift at the hospital. I inhale a shaky breath as I finally push my gaze to the girl seated in front of me, who just narrated her story. “So, Tabitha, you are saying that your father doesn’t want you to marry the man you have chosen?” I echo her words. Well, not exactly her words. Just a summary of everything she has complained about. Being an Alpha is hard. Now I see what Dad suffered all those years as leader of the pack. Memory surges inside me of earlier today with Dawn after our shift. “Sorry, Dawn. Let’s have that lunch tomorrow.” I told her when our shift ended. She looked at me, disappointed. “Pack issues, huh?” She stepped forward and gave me a hug. I nodded, letting the embrace ground me for a moment. Then
Erianna. Tuesday, 23rd February. Next day. Night. I pace the living room of my home, anger fueling inside me at Scar’s audacity. Because of course that is Scar. A vampire. In Silvaton Ridge. Who else would be Scar, a vampire who just so happens to be in Silvaton Ridge around the same time Gerald just died? “Aghh!” I groan loudly, tossing the glass cup in my hand straight into the fire. “How could you do this to me, Scar?” I sink to the ground with rage just as the glass explodes inside the fire. How could he? I gave him life. I made him the most powerful being. A supreme vampire. And now, he betrays me. Hot tears stream down my face. The same tears that have burned me since the night Arthur revealed Scar’s whereabouts. The memory of that night claws back to me now, like rotten fish. I barely held my emotions together after Arthur gave that information. He didn’t even know that his revelation about Scar serving as Emerald’s protector affected me so deeply. He had no idea. B
Primrose Denvers Night... I hear footsteps out back as I stand in the kitchen, pulling the chicken casserole from the oven. The rich smell fills the room, warm and comforting. The back door opens, and a lot of heavy stomping follows. “Luke, there are less obvious ways for you to get all that snow off your boots, you know,” I remark absently, not even looking in his direction. He makes a chuckling sound, one that still manages to make me feel young. Finally, he steps into the kitchen. “Years later, and you still bother me, wife,” he says as he presses a kiss against the side of my neck. I purr softly and turn to embrace him. “Long day?” I ask when we pull apart. He nods quietly. Then he steps around me, grabs a couple of plates, and walks back to the kitchen island. He sits down and extends both plates toward me. I serve us each a portion of the casserole. “Emerald invited someone, a stranger, to join the patrol team,” Luke says, forking some casserole into his mouth. “And As
Luke Denvers. Minutes later… We stand in the briefing office, the three of us, and I can’t shake the thought that this young man looks very familiar. I lean back against the desk, the backs of my thighs pressed to the wood. Across from me, both Asher and the other young man sit, their eyes bright with the fire of youth. Eager and restless. Bruises on their faces already fading. Thanks to their supernatural abilities. My son a werewolf and the other man, a vampire. I smelled it on him. I remember when Gerald and I were this age. Young. Hot blooded. Certain we could tear the world apart and rebuild it with our bare hands. “I know my son,” I say evenly, my gaze settling on the stranger. “Who are you?” He raises a brow. Well. A man with an attitude. “You only know your son in this gathering,” he replies smugly, “Because we haven’t yet been introduced.” My brow lifts in return. I already don’t like his tone. Or his attitude. “Didn’t your mamma teach you to talk better?” I ask co
Scar. Monday, 22nd February. Next day... “Mr. Scar, Asher Denvers is ready for you now. He’s at the training arena just through that door.” I lift my eyes at the sound of the receptionist’s voice and wordlessly close the screen of my new phone, where I was staring at the picture from a page of the pack hierarchy book I photocopied yesterday. “Take this phone.” Emerald said last night as she handed me a box. I received it, confused. Shocked. “You will need it to work and to…” She paused, and I looked at her. “And to tell me where you are. I wouldn’t want to worry about you.” She added the last bit with uncertainty in her voice. Something shifted in me at the care she showed when she said those words. It was unexpected, knowing she didn't know me. I closed the space between us and kissed her. “I like you being worried about me, Doctor Ford,” I muttered. She smiled shyly, and for once I heard her thoughts. 'Keep it together, Emerald Ford,' she said inside herself. I smiled
Emerald. Wednesday, 27th January. Days later... Noon. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. The sound cuts through the hospital’s central alarm system, tearing my eyes away from the report I’d been writing moments ago. Every nerve in my body sharpens instantly. “Emergency, Doctor Ford! Cold Blue in cubi
Gerald Ford. Thursday, 28th January Next day. Ford Mansion, Silvaton Ridge. Late noon. I stand in the doorway, staring at my little girl as she sits on her favorite swing chair in the living room, watching the snow fall outside. Memories flood me of when we had her, how small she was. How
Scar. Brooklyn. Saturday, January 30th. Next day. Night. “So you’re telling me that we still can’t solve the series of abductions that have occurred in recent days.” Chief Piefer snaps. His voice rings through the room, sharp and cracking. His face is flushed red with anger. We’re cooped up i
Emerald. Meanwhile. I reach inside my old room upstairs and halt. “Shit. I forgot my phone on my swing.” I groan out loud, already turning, already heading straight back for the door. I’m halfway down the stairs when I freeze. A voice reaches me. Arthur? No. That’s not possible. What the he







