AURELIA~~When I said I didn't remember the kids’ birthday until yesterday, I lied. I lied to Raiden.My heart was heavy as I left Raiden’s side, and walked back to Susanna who had become my training partner in place of Jessica. Of course, she couldn’t replace Jessica because she was physically weaker in comparison and because there would only be one Jessica. “You could have told him. He could sense the lie and your sadness–” Inara began just as I reached Susanna’s side and she looped our hands together. “How could I? I doubt he recalls anything about Dakota. Phoebe is the only living person who would know and sadly, we aren’t in the same pack and won’t be able to hold a proper ceremony for Dakota together.” I interjected my wolf.Dakota’s remembrance ritual should be held on the same day my kids turn six but I couldn’t do it alone and I wasn’t sure it was advisable to hold a death remembrance ceremony on the same day as the twins' birth remembrance. I could be jinxing the live
AURELIA~~The excitement coursing through me was intoxicating. This was it. I get to finally have something that would connect me to my roots on a deeper level. Mental connection was cool but this would be cooler.“Goddess please let’s this work. Help me find my identity.” I muttered a silent prayer but everyone was within earshot. They heard me clearly and felt my excitement.I was laughed at but soon I was asked to sit within the shallow lake and I was joined by the trio– Susanna, Mia Lu, and Lori. They held one another's hands, forming a small circle around me.“Close your eyes, child, and search deep within you.” Mia Lu’s voice called for utmost obedience. I did as told and the trio began to chant in a language I didn’t understand. However, the chants helped me relax and my mind opened up, my heart beating fast yet steadily. Minutes passed and I didn’t feel anything aside from the relaxation the water and chants provided.Nothing happened differently, not until I inhaled dee
ALPHA RAIDEN~~One fact about keeping secrets was the fear and guilt that slowly eat one away. For the past two days, while wondering what my kids' birthday gifts could be, I have also considered telling Aurelia what I saw in the future. I yearn to share with her.But I also feared that she would lose it. Or Not.I haven’t told her yet and she has been moody these past few days. For my own sanity, I made myself believe that Aurelia was moody because she was occupied with training and planning the kids’ party. I tried to help however I could but I knew I wasn’t doing enough.It was no surprise that I left my hut two nights before the party and strolled over to Otis’s hut. “We’re sneaking around.” Lex laughed as I tiptoed closer to the hut. I scoffed, “Jeremy can be anywhere. I don’t want him to see me.” It was hard to believe that I, Alpha Raiden, was snaking around but thankfully, I got to Otis’s hut before anyone could see me. I knocked once on the wooden door and pushed the
ALPHA RAIDEN~~Otis’s power shouldn’t be undermined. With him accompanying me, I realized that the forest wasn’t as big as I thought it was. What wolves like me see and try to navigate is an illusion and it was made to trap us without leading us to the location of the hidden pack. That was brilliant and would come in handy in times of war.I still couldn’t understand why the white wolf lost to Black Fur during the Great War.“They didn’t know how to utilize their abilities in a war and maximize their resources. They were too kind.” Lex answered that question and I couldn’t argue with him.Regardless of my thoughts, we reached the cliff in no time, the darkness of the night shielding us as we began to dash through a much more familiar forest. At least for me. Otis followed my lead and surprisingly, he was able to keep up with my speed. As soon as I was close enough to the pack, I opened my mind and searched for my connection to Andrew. My mind was a bit rusty after almost a month
AURELIA~~The ceremony for Dakota ended three hours ago and everyone who attended should be asleep by now, resting up to get enough energy for the twins’ party which would be starting by noon today. However, I was unable to sleep. Katie and Kyle were sleeping in my bed, unaware of the small party they would be having. Although that kind of party Susanna and I were able to plan wasn’t what I envisioned for my babies’ sixth birthday, It would have to do. But that wasn’t what bothered me. What keeps me up is the fact that despite my effort to get back into the Seer realm and get more clarification, I’ve failed. The visions have been hunting my soul for the past three days and even though I tried to hide my worries, It was becoming obvious to Mia Lu and the others that I had no intention of telling them what I saw and how it would affect the pack at large. “Have you stopped to consider that perhaps you need to sleep well and eat just as well to succeed?” Inara grumbled within me.
ALPHA RAIDEN~~“You are fucking crazy, Jeremy.”How I wished those words were mine but Otis beat me to calling Jeremy what he is– A crazy but highly observant man. He must have been observing everyone in this pack to ensure the survival of his kind all these years for him to have noticed that Otis and I were gone. “Susanna wouldn’t have made it easy for him to notice but he did regardless.” Even my wolf agreed with me.Susanna chimed with relief, “Oh, look. There they are. You were just being loud for nothing.” Jeremy’s face twisted into a frown and I knew he couldn’t believe his eyes. Truth was, we would have executed the plan and made Jeremy look like a foolish and crazy man who was obsessed with me if my mom wasn’t standing behind me.Yes, she followed Otis and me here because she didn’t want to miss the twins’ birthday and she was also excited about seeing Mia Lu again. Apparently, they used to know each other. “Well, you are not completely crazy, Jeremy. You were partially
AURELIA~~“Happy Birthday!”This is the ritual. It has been for the past six years. I gather people the twins are familiar with and wait outside my bedroom door, In Tristan’s pack it was a mini apartment but here in the hidden pack, it was a wooden hut. Yet the ritual remains the same. We waited for Katie and Kyle to come out of the hut together, as I knew they would, and blurted those two words with bright smiles, warm hearts, and all the energy we could summon. However, unlike their previous birthdays, I wasn’t alone at the front of the familiar crowd. Raiden was with me and we stood side by side with outstretched arms. Katie ran into my arms and Kyle went to Raiden their faces reflecting their joy. Also, Iris who had tears in her eyes, stood behind me, her voice being the loudest as we collectively sang for Katie and Kyle. Iris could have passed for the happiest person today if Katie wasn’t squealing… Loudly.“It’s our birthday?” Kyle couldn’t believe it as he grinned from ea
ALPHA RAIDEN~~I enjoyed every second with Katie and Kyle. I bathed them and brought out my first set of gifts which was a light blue ball gown for Katie and a nice brown two-piece for Kyle. My Mom helped me pick out these gifts and the twins loved it.“You look like a real princess, Katie,” Kyle exclaimed, placing his small hands over his mouth as he stared at his sister who was teaching me how to style her hair the way she likes it.Katie pouted, “I want to be a strong warrior instead but I can be a princess for today.” I quickly chirped in for clarity's sake, “Who says you can’t be both, darling? You can be the strongest Warrior Princess in the realm. It’s okay to love dresses even as a warrior, baby.”Katie’s eyes twinkled, “Really? I thought warriors couldn’t be princesses. Tristan used to–” “Princesses can be warriors and you are my princess, baby.” I cut in before she could say any other word about Tristan. He shouldn’t be brought up today. Not on my watch.“Alpha Princess
DAVIEN~~Jade was wrong.I knew that before, but after listening to Aurelia, I got my confirmation. If anyone was to blame for Auntie Jessica’s death, it should be the witch Larisa. Auntie Jessica knew what she was walking into, and if I were in Aurelia’s shoes, I would have saved a helpless five-year-old, whether he was my son or not.“Her shoe must hurt.” Dolf whimpered within me after we heard the full story. “She is stranger than the history books can capture, yet she is so calm.”While Katie had so much in common with her mom, they were still two different people. For one, while Luna Aurelia was calm, Katie wasn’t.“She gave her life for Kyle.” Katie whimpered after her mom finished telling us how my aunt died.Queen Aurelia muttered from the other side of the connected line, “I am sorry, Katie, and I should properly apologize to Jessica’s loved ones. Her death must have hurt them deeply.”“Yes, it did.” Katie sniffled back tears before she mumbled, “I will apologize to Jade a
Princess Katie Anne~~With the new development, Davien and I knew better than to discuss important issues loudly in the bedroom we were staying in. In fact, we knew better than to make important calls in that room.Which was why I had to walk out of the bedroom with Davien when my cellphone began to ring that evening. I could see my mom’s contact ID flashing on the screen. Although I answered the call, I didn’t say anything important until Davien and I made it out of his parents’ mansion.As soon as we settled in the garden, after confirming Davien and I were the only ones there, I said to my mom, “Why haven’t you answered my calls? I was beginning to worry.”Her voice hit my eardrums as she responded, “I am sorry, Katie. I knew your dad and siblings would call you every second, so I thought it would be good if we all stayed off our cellphones for a few days. At least so you could settle down in Black Fur.”My mom informed me that she had to take everyone’s cellphone and hide them
Princess Katie Anne~~“You are a healer, Katie. Please help Cole before you go.”Alpha Jarrett’s voice stopped me from following Davien, whose mixed feelings surged within me. All of this was a show, but Davien’s tense emotions weren’t, and I was genuinely worried about him.He needed me. I could lift his spirits if we celebrated this successful ruse together—without his family. But I had to stay back and maintain the facade. I rushed over to Cole, who couldn’t stand up straight due to a few broken ribs.But the pain from his broken ribs and swollen face wasn’t enough to keep Cole silent. Sadly.I resisted the urge to punch him when he began to speak. “You see what he did to me? He’s an insecure brat, Katie. You don’t deserve to be his ego booster every time he’s feeling down.”“Shut up, or I’ll walk away without healing you,” I seethed, holding his gaze so he’d see my seriousness reflected in my eyes.I hadn’t healed anyone before, but I could use the practice—especially on Cole—an
DAVIEN~~Disrespect from my family members was one thing, but getting the same from Cole, a man who was after my mate, was a whole different game, and my ego just wouldn’t have that. It was more than raging to think about Cole in the same space as Katie alone.Hell, it was a miracle that I didn’t go after Cole the second Katie told me about his visit. By miracle, I mean Katie’s reassuring words and magic touch. She calmed me down.But unfortunately for Cole, Katie wasn’t around to save him now, and the group of ladies around us just weren’t strong enough to get me off him—if they even cared.“My mate is off-limits!” I seethed, raising my tightly balled fist and forcing it down with a force that burst Cole’s lip on impact.Cole tried to fight back, but my second hand was holding him against the wet patio, and with Dolf’s strength pumping through my veins, he was no match for me.Cole proved to be the sneaky bastard we all knew him to be when he chose another method to fight me. He c
DAVIEN~~Having that talk with Katie made me realize that the path I was supposed to walk was already in front of me. Or maybe I knew it was there, and I was just doubting whether I wanted to walk that path.But with Katie’s words and the fire I saw in her eyes when she told me she was willing to become the Luna of my birth pack, give up staying with her family, and stay here with me, I knew what I wanted for myself. For us.Not only did I get a clearer vision, but the path before me also became clearer.“We have to become the Alpha of Black Fur Pack and Katie the Luna,” Dolf said within me as I walked through the corridors the very next morning after planning how to beat my family in their selfish games, with the smart-ass woman that the goddess decided to bless me with.My wolf’s words were meant to be a reminder, even though he knew I didn’t forget that I had made up my mind to stand against my family for the first time in my life.I would become Alpha, and the plan to achieve t
Princess Katie Anne~~Davien stared back at me like I had lost my mind, but soon, realization began to glint in his eyes. He went from angry to conflicted, and that broke my heart because I could tell that his family had once again gotten to him.“Oh,” he muttered, his shoulders falling.I stretched my hands to him, and he took them, joining me on the bed. I opened my mind to Dolf, asking him to create a mental link between Davien and me, even though a part of me wanted to keep the realization I had after Cole left to myself so I could protect my mate.“No, we have to tell him,” Zuri encouraged me.Zoe did the same when she said, “Yes. If we have been dancing to their tunes, it’s high time we changed the tune to ours and made them dance. We can’t do that without Davien.”I could feel Dolf agreeing with my wolves as he created the link between Davien and me. I then smiled at my mate, cupping his face as I sent words through the link: “He was glad we hadn’t marked each other. If only
DAVIEN~~A waste of time.That’s what I would call this meeting with my dad. For goddess’ sake, we have been here for what? Almost an hour, yet all he has done is look down on me and try to intimidate me. He was beating around the bush.Even a blind man could see that.I could feel regret in my bones because staying with Katie, who needed me, would have been a better and more efficient way to spend the hour than sitting here listening to my dad.“That’s it. I am leaving,” I blurted, cutting my dad’s statement short.He grumbled, “But I am not done. Sit down.”“Done what exactly?” I seethed, seeing shock flash through his eyes for the millionth time. I would be stupid not to realize that he suspected I had a wolf now. “Reminding me that I am your unloved son isn’t doing it for me. If you don’t want me here or need my help, just let me know, and I will be out of your hair.”Damn! I just needed him to let me in on the plan. I needed something tangible to tell those who had trusted me…
Princess Katie Anne~~“Why won’t anyone answer their damn phones?” I gritted, resisting the urge to throw my cellphone against the wall.Before I left home, we agreed that my family members would be accessible and that they would call me at least once every day, but even though this was my second morning in Black Fur, that agreement seemed to mean nothing.“There’s no special occasion. No ceremony or ritual that could have kept them busy since yesterday. I am beginning to worry,” Zuri said to me.However, I was too angry to be worried. I felt like my mom was screwing me because she already knew I would discover the truths she had tried hard to hide from me during my stay in Black Fur. Hell, I am certain she knew why I was trying to reach her.“Are they ignoring the calls intentionally?” Zoe queried, her confusion mixing with Zuri’s. “That’s far-fetched, Katie. We might have to be patient and—”A sharp knock on the door disrupted Zoe’s statement.I made the mistake of assuming that t
DAVIEN~~Seeing Cole last night at the welcome party confirmed that my parents were trying their best to rile me up. The party wasn’t enjoyable for either Katie or me, but we didn’t leave until it ended. While I spent the entire night thinking about when my dad would tell me why he asked me to come home, Katie spent it wondering why no one from Dark Moon was answering the countless calls she put through.I could feel her troubled mind as if it were mine, and it pained me that all I could do was hold her.“You should talk to Jade. Perhaps she might be able to shed more light—” Dolf started, but he cut himself off and sighed. “Never mind. What she needed was to speak to her parents. She needs answers that Jade or anyone else can’t provide.“I still have to have a word with Jade. She shouldn’t have accused Katie like she did yesterday,” I said to Dolf, even though I agreed with his conclusion.Looking down at Katie’s restless face, I made up my mind to keep her far away from Cole, who