Book 1. After her mother dies in a tragic accident, Eva Smith is forced to travel halfway across the world to live with the father she has not seen in ten years, along with his new family. Eva has one year left of school before she can move back to her hometown. But things soon spiral out of control when her stepmother shows her true colours and the people at her new school are acting strange. Can Eva make sense of her new life and will she ever get to the bottom of the family secret that has been hidden from her?
View MoreEva Smith sighed as the bus screeched to a stop. Looming out the window she saw people waiting for their loved ones. She knew she was not going to be as lucky as them. Nobody would be waiting for her since nobody had wanted to know since her mother had died in the accident her drug-addicted step father had caused. He had gone awol before the police could find him, leaving Eva practically an orphan.
Since she was only seventeen years old she was still a child in the eyes of the law. That is how she had come to find herself back in the quiet town of Newpark. Today would be the first time Eva came face to face with her biological father, after ten years. Eva's parents had got divorced for reasons her mother never wanted to divulge. Eva had not seen her father since the day he walked out. At first, she received calls and letters but that did not take long to fizzle out when her father met someone new. Eva could not help but feel worthless and unimportant. Of course, her mother had showered Eva with love. She worked hard to give her a great life. Eva never went without. She missed her mother so much. Wiping her eyes, she made her way off the bus and grabbed her small suitcase. It was all her life in one suitcase. She was exhausted from the long journey and wished someone had come to greet her. She looked around for a vacant taxi but there were none. Noticing a blacked-out limousine she took a seat at the taxi rank and decided to wait until one became free. She pulled out her mobile phone and texted her dad to let him know she waiting for a taxi. No reply. She let out a sigh and pulled her jacket tighter around her as a gush of wind suddenly blew. It was a cold day in the middle of November. Eva should be at home toasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate with her mother. She missed those nights. They would often curl up on the sofa under a blanket and watch N*****x. The night her mother died, Eva had stayed at her best friend, Lara’s house. The police turning up to inform her was the worst of her life, a time that would haunt her forever. She had had no choice to pack up and move halfway across the world to live with her father since he was her only living parent. He had sounded happy to have his daughter back in his life, but Eva felt if was all fake. If he had wanted her in his life then why had he not made the effort over all those years? Eva was not the six-year-old little girl he would remember her as. He had a new life now with his wife and their twins, Eddy and Millie. Eva was certain that she would be nothing more than an inconvenience. That is why she was determined to finish school and go back home to England. There was nothing for her here. Eva looked up as the black door of the limousine opened up and a young man around thirty got out. He was wearing a suit and black matching tie. His eyes started right across at Eva. She looked around thinking perhaps he was waiting for someone else. Nobody was there and the bus has long some time. Suddenly feeling very uncomfortable, Eva grabbed her phone from her bag and called her best friend. She did not pick up so Eva decided to call her boyfriend, Dan. Hearing his voice on the other end of the phone made her feel a little better. “Oh hey, what's up?” He said not seeming very glad to hear from her. Eva was about to tell him how much she missed him when she heard a familiar voice in the background. Lara? What was her best friend doing with Dan? They hated each other's guts. Lara had never approved of their relationship and Dan often would say she was just jealous of their closeness. “Dan, what's Lara doing there?” Eva mumbled, she noticed the man still staring at her. The phone went silent for a moment. Eva swore she could hear giggling and then Dan said he had to go and would call her back later. Eva could not believe what had just happened. The tears were falling down her face now but she did not care. The loss of her mother and the betrayal of her best friend and boyfriend were all too much. She forgot about the stranger until he stood in front of her. “Excuse me, Miss?” he took a seat beside her causing her to jump in fright. “What do you want? Please don't hurt me.” she wept, becoming hysterical. The man's eyes widened in disbelief as the young woman lost her mind at him. “I won't hurt you, I wanted to help.” He explained pointing to the limousine. “I saw there were no taxis and doesn't look like you were getting picked up any time soon. Plus it's freezing out here.” He gestured to the blanket in his hands and Eva nodded gratefully. He draped it around her shoulders and Eva instantly felt warmer. “Would you like a lift?” Eva figured she could at least get out the cold a lot sooner. She had no idea how much longer she would be sitting waiting for a taxi to arrive and she was already ice cold. “I don't want to put you out or anything.” Eva didn't want to sound to desperate even though she was. The man smiled and held out a hand. “Names Mitchell.” Eva blushed and shook his hand. “Eva.” she replied. Mitchell helped her up and took her suitcase in his other hand. They walked to the limousine and got in. Eva buckled herself in while Mitchell stared the engine up. “My boss is at a meeting so will be a while. I'm his driver.” he flashed a toothy grin her way. Eva looked around and felt amazed at how anyone could afford such a lavish lifestyle. She wondered if his boss were a famous singer or celebrity of some sort. They drove in silence and a few moments passed until Mitchell stopped outside a massive house with a gated driveway. Eva looked surprised and checked the address several times before realizing this was the correct place. Her father must be a millionaire to afford this. Mitchell helped unload new belongings. He smiled when she thanked him and he hesitated for a moment. “Please, keep safe.” He said before driving off and leaving her alone on the driveway. Eva was unsure what to make of it all. Suddenly the gate beeped and opened to reveal a middle-aged woman with blonde curly hair standing on the other side. She was dressed up in a white blouse and black knee-length skirt and high heels. Eva recognised her as her father's wife. Her stepmother, Tina. She looked Eva up and down before inviting her to come on in. “Eva? Come on in. It's going to be a pleasure to have you with us at last.” Tina said with such fake excitement it made Eva feel even more slightly awkward. “Your father will be back soon with the twins.” she said leading the way. Eva followed and noticed the hundred of happy smiling photos hanging on the perfectly white painted walls. She took a deep breath and promised herself she would make the best of this situation.After a few minutes of walking, Granny Agnes stopped in front of a large stone door. The door was adorned with intricate carvings and symbols similar to those on the tombs they had seen earlier."This is the entrance to the Lady's lair," Granny Agnes said, her voice low and serious. "We'll need to be careful. She's not going to give up without a fight."Ava nodded, her eyes locked on the door. "I'm ready," she said, her voice firm. “Twins?”Millie and Eddie nodded in agreement. “We are ready.” Granny Agnes smiled a hint of determination in her eyes. "Good. Let's get this over with."With a deep breath, Granny Agnes pushed the door open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with rows of ancient artefacts. The air was thick with the scent of old books and dust.Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a tall, gaunt woman with long silver hair and piercing green eyes. She was dressed in a flowing black gown, and her presence seemed to fill the room."Welcome back, children,"
As they walked through the passageway, the air grew thick with an eerie mist that seemed to cling to their skin. Eddie and Millie couldn't shake the feeling that they were being watched, and the humming noise had grown so loud that it was almost deafening. Ava led the way, her eyes fixed on some point ahead. They stumbled over roots and rocks, their hearts pounding with fear. Suddenly, Ava stopped dead in her tracks. "Wait," she whispered. "Do you see that?" Eddie and Millie followed her gaze, and their eyes widened in horror. Ahead of them lay a vast, dark chamber with rows of ancient tombs. The air was thick with the scent of decay and death, and the humming noise seemed to come from within the tombs themselves. "What is this place?" Millie whispered, her voice trembling with fear. Ava's eyes locked onto hers. "This is the Lady's tomb," she said. "And we have to get out of here before she awakens." Eddie and Millie exchanged a desperate glance. They knew they had to get out of
The Lady's eyes seemed to bore into Eddie's soul as she spoke, her words dripping with malice. "You are wrong, boy," she said. "I am your mother. And you are my children, my dears."Eddie felt a chill run down his spine as he stared at the Lady. He shook his head, trying to clear the fog from his mind. "No," he repeated. "You're not our mother. Our mother is dead."The Lady's expression turned cold, her eyes flashing with anger. "You don't know what you're talking about," she spat. "You don't know who I am or what I am capable of."Millie stepped forward, her eyes flashing with defiance. "We don't care who you are or what you're capable of," she said. "We're not going anywhere with you."The Lady's smile grew wider, her eyes glinting with amusement. "Oh, but you will," she said. "You will do as I say because I can make you."As she spoke, the air around them grew darker and more menacing. The trees seemed to loom closer, their branches reaching like skeletal fingers. Eddie and Millie
"Hey!" he yelled out. "There you two are. We need to get out of here! Now!"The twins exchanged a glance, and without hesitation, they followed Jason back into the forest.“Where are we going, Jason?” Millie asked as she held her brother's hand and ran behind Jason. "We're going to the safe house," Jason replied, breathing heavily as he dodged low-hanging branches and leapt over roots. "We must get out of the woods before the pack tracks us down."The twins kept pace with Jason, their eyes scanning the surrounding trees for any signs of pursuit. As they ran, they could hear the distant sounds of battle growing fainter, replaced by the rustling of leaves and snapping of twigs.After a few minutes of running, the trees began to thin out, and they saw a small clearing in the distance. In the centre of the clearing stood a small cottage surrounded by a thick hedge of thorny bushes.Jason led them to the cottage, where they burst through the door and found themselves in a cosy, dimly lit
“Please. Give me a chance. I do not deserve it, but I want to correct my wrongs.” Seraphina continued to plead, and Alpha Duane scowled. He had had enough of her already. “Fine, prove yourself. One foot wrong, and you are to meet your end.” Alpha Duane insisted as he gestured for everyone to follow him. “Let's go.” Seraphina felt a rush of relief as the pack began to come together to form a plan to take down the Shadowscale and protect Alpha Duane and the children. Despite the betrayal and distrust that had clouded their relationships, they all knew that they needed to unite to overcome this dangerous threat. As they gathered in a circle, the weight of their mission hung heavy in the air. Seraphina spoke up. "We need to act quickly and decisively to outsmart the Shadowscale. They are powerful, but together we are stronger. We must devise a plan to protect Alpha Duane and this pack and the children at all costs." Jason nodded in agreement, his eyes reflecting his determina
As Seraphina sat in her cell, her expression hardened with anger and frustration. She knew that her time was running out, and she needed to find a way to explain her actions to the pack, especially to Jason. Of course, they would all be against her for getting their Alpha hurt. She thought that maybe if she could get him on her side and explain it so that he could stand by her side and protect her from the wrath, she would have no choice but to face it. Jason stood guard outside her cell, his features set in anger and sadness at the betrayal she had committed. Feeling a sense of desperation, Seraphina called out to Jason, her voice carrying a hint of vulnerability that was rarely seen from her. "Jason, there's something you need to know,” she said. “What is it, Seraphina? I don't have time for games,” Jason sighed, his voice tinged with impatience as he tried to mask the concern that flickered in his eyes. He had always been a man of action, and the situation's urgency left
Inside the hospital wing, Alpha Duane lay unconscious on the bed, and his features strained from the injuries he had sustained during the rogue attack. The room was filled with sad worry as the pack members gathered around, anxiously awaiting any improvement in their Alpha's condition. Eddie and Millie arrived, and they wasted no time assessing Alpha Duane's injuries, their expert hands moving swiftly as they worked to stabilise him and administer the necessary treatments. The pack breathed, hoping and praying for their Alpha to pull through.Amelia observed as the Twins worked together to help the Alpha to heal. She was impressed by their abilities, considering they were so young. Meanwhile, in the cells, Seraphina sat silently, her expression cold and devoid of remorse. Despite the accusations against her, she remained defiant, her words dripping with arrogance and disdain for the pack's authority.“Seraphina, why did you do this? What did you gain from it?” Eva yelled angrily as
Almost an hour had passed since Alpha Duane had left with Seraphina. Eva had settled the baby down and felt more at ease now Seraphina had gone. She didn't like the way she made her feel. As Eva made her way down the corridors and back out of the pack house, she bumped into someone she wasn't expecting to see. “Wait, what? Gabriel, how are you here? What's going on?” Eva gasped, incredulous. “Gabriel?” Sebastian echoed, his eyes widened in disbelief. He couldn’t fathom what he was seeing and hearing. Eva turned to Sebastian, panic evident in her eyes. “It's Gabriel. He's back,” she said, her words stuttering as she tried to process the situation. “But Alpha Duane has gone with Seraphina to look for you. She said she knew you and wanted to help you,” Gabriel explained, taking a clumsy step back, almost losing his balance. Sebastian caught him just in time, helping him steady himself, while Eva quickly fetched a chair for him to sit in. Gabriel slowly settled into the chair, placin
Millie and Eddie watched with curiosity as Seraphina conversed with Alpha Duane and the rest of the pack. But the mysterious newcomer piqued their interest, her past and intentions shrouded in shadow.“There is something about her, I just cannot put my finger on it.” Millie whispered to her twin brother. As they observed from a distance, Eva approached her siblings with urgency in her eyes. She knew the dangers that lurked within the Pack Lands, the treachery of the Shadowscale clan, and the importance of not letting their guard down."Keep your distance from Seraphina," Eva warned, her voice firm. "I don't trust her, and neither should you. We can't afford to let our guard down, especially with someone who bears the mark of the Shadowscale."Millie and Eddie exchanged a hesitant glance, torn between their curiosity and Eva's warning. They respected their older sister's instincts, knowing that she had always been wise beyond her years."But what if Seraphina truly has changed? What i
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