-Trevor-โShit,โ was the first word that escaped my lips. The next thing I did after cursing was to push Leana off my body. I got up as quickly as I could and ran out of the arena to chase after Eva.My eyes stayed focused ahead, searching for Eva. I could see her back in the distance. She was half-running down the corridor, heading toward the main mansion building. I quickened my pace and caught up to her.โEvโโ I said after grabbing her wrist and pulling her, forcing her to turn toward me. โEv, wait. ListenโโEva yanked her hand away and grasped her wrist with her other hand. Her gaze was vacant as she looked at me, and her lips curved into a bitter smile. โCongratulations, Trevor,โ she said, her voice trembling.I spread my arms in confusion, frowning. โCongratulations for what?โโFor dating the hottest girl in the alliance.โโWeโre not dating,โ I denied, my tone too insistent, making it sound like I was hiding something.Eva crossed her arms over her chest and scoffed. โOh, so you
-Corrine-Even though I didnโt want it to, the day I dreaded the most finally came.My heart raced faster as the car carrying me entered Moon Dust territory. Harry and the pack members were waiting for me in the front yard of the Alphaโs house. Well, I wouldnโt exactly call it a welcoming party, since no one smiled when they saw me step out of the car. Even Harry looked more tense than I was.โDad,โ I greeted softly, nodding my head. My eyes instinctively darted to his side, and my heart sank with disappointment when I didnโt see my mother there.โYour mom is not feeling well,โ my father said. He knew who I was looking for.I pursed my lips and exhaled. I didnโt ask further about her condition because I didnโt want to hear the reason why she was unwell. Iโd bet my life it was because of me.โSoโฆ who are the challengers?โ I asked, scanning the warriors and pack members surrounding me.My father shifted awkwardly. โMost of them wanted to challenge you, butโโI swallowed hard. *Most of t
-Corrine-Believe it or not, the first fight was won by me.I had just defeated one of the strongest warriors in Moon Dust. And it wasnโt just me who was surprised; all the packโs members who were present there were stunned, watching as Sam was thrown to the ground after I landed a fatal blow to his chest.Harry counted to ten, but he didnโt get up.โThe first fight is won by Corrine!โ he announced, and only Andrew clapped and cheered.โFive minutes break for you, Corrine. After that, youโll face another candidate,โ Harry said then.Sam had returned to his human formโhe was still breathing, thank the Moon Goddessโand some people pulled him out of the arena.I walked over to Andrew at the edge of the arena. He unfolded a robe for me, and quickly wrapped it around me the moment I turned back into my human form.โThat was awesome, babe,โ he praised, grinning.I returned his grin weakly. He told me to sit down, then handed me a bottle of water, which I chugged in one go.โHe was a tough o
-Corrine-The scream froze everyone in place, and together they looked back and forth between me and Andrew.โYou cheated!โ accused the teenage girl. โYou deliberately distracted us by accepting this fight, and then you had your friends create chaos, didnโt you?!โโNo!โ I yelled. โI would never use such a cheap trick!โโYou are cheap!โ the girl shrieked.Rage boiled in my chest. I had been holding back, tolerating her insolent attitude, but I couldnโt take it anymore. I dashed to her and slapped her cheek as hard as I could, making her stagger and nearly fall.โDid your parents not teach you any manners?!โI still wanted to hit her again, but a few people ran toward us and separated us before the fight escalated.โThatโs enough, Abby!โ shouted Harry, who held the teenage girl back. I remembered her now. Abby. She had always disliked me because Jerome paid more attention to me.โWe should have killed her!โ screamed Abby as she struggled in Harryโs grip. โShe only brings trouble to this
-Corrine-As soon as Gary got me, he blindfolded me and dragged me away from the Moon Dust territory. I knew from the deepening silence that we were getting farther away as I felt my body sway in Garyโs embrace.Thank the Moon Goddess, he didnโt harm me or do anything nasty to me. But I was pretty sure he wouldโsooner or later. He was just waiting for the right place and the right time.โWeโre here, Corrine.โ His breath tickled my ear, and I desperately wanted to push him away, but somehow, he made my body go limp. The only thing I could do now was breathe.Slowly, Gary removed the blindfold from my eyes. I blinked a few times, adjusting my vision so I could see my surroundings more clearly.We were now in the middle of a forest. That forest. The one where that stupid glowing plant grew.โSoon, I will change you so we can be together forever. You will become like me.โMy eyes darted to Gary, and our gazes locked. He seemed to recognize the question in my head as he said, โBefore we ge
-Andrew-I didnโt know what had happened, but not long after the rogue attack that disrupted the Alpha Moon Dustโs decisive battle, the rogues suddenly withdrew as if they had been defeated.The Moon Dust warriors lined up at the border of the territory, waiting and watching the darkness with ragged breaths and bodies covered in wounds.โIt looks like theyโre not coming back,โ said Harry, who was standing beside me.I nodded. โThey only came to create chaos.โโLetโs continue the fight.โ Harry then signaled to some warriors who hadnโt been involved in the Alpha battle to patrol the borders.That was when I realized something was wrong.โWhereโs Corrine?โI turned in all directions, scanning the unfamiliar faces around meโfaces that looked back at me with confusion and fear.โCorrine!โ I shouted.A bad feeling crept up on me. Something wasnโt right. If Corrine were here, she would have come straight to me the moment the battle ended.Or was she helping someone who was injured?โCorrine!
-Corrine-As soon as the liquid spilled into my mouth, my body burned in agony. A white-hot pain shot through my throat, and my vision temporarily went blind. I could feel my body shaking violently as Garyโs sinister voice whispered in my ear.โHow does it feel, Corrine? I hope you can bear the pain because I need you alive.โI could feel the liquid flowing down into my stomach, and an unbearable pain surged through me, forcing a pained groan from my lips. Then I felt itโฆ and it seemed Gary knew it, too.โIt works.โ He flashed me his wicked grin. โThe mark Andrew gave you. The scent he left on youโฆ itโs all gone.โโNo.โโYes!โ Gary pressed my shoulders into the ground while sitting upright on top of me. โI will mark you now, Corrine. You will be mine, and nothing can separate us.โMy body weakened again, and I teetered on the edge of despair as I struggled against Gary. Everything seemed to move in slow motion as he bent down, pressing his lips to the crook of my neck. He was going to
-Corrine-Something happened.Suddenly, the moon shone so brightly that its light blinded both of us. I squeezed my eyes shut, and I heard Gary scream in pain.The next thing I knew, he was no longer on top of me, and I was able to move my body. It was as if the potionโs effect had completely worn off.I opened my eyes and scanned my surroundings, and then, from the corner of my eye, I saw somethingโa glowing white wolf across the ravine. Even though we were separated by darkness and distance, I could feel its gaze on me.Use your power.I was stunned to hear an unfamiliar yet soothing voice in my headโa female voice.Was sheโ?I blinked, and the wolf was gone.โShit! Shit!โMy attention snapped back to Gary. He was rolling on the grass as if he was attacked by some invisible creatures.For a moment, I just stood there, watching him writhe in agony. Faintly, I heard that voice again, and I immediately shifted. This was the power she meantโmy wolf. I would fight until the last drop of
-Corrine-Was thatโ?I narrowed my eyes as I walked closer.โAndrew?โAndrew smiled at me and extended his hand.โCorrine.โHis voice sounded differentโsofter than usual, unlike his usual self. He reached out, silently urging me to come closer.It was difficult to step into the battle arena while wearing a dress and holding a bouquet of roses. When I finally managed to stand before Andrew, I realized he was dressed in a black suit with a matching black shirt.โDid you just come from a funeral?โ I asked, frowning.Andrew laughed. โDo I look that miserable? Would you prefer me to wear nothing at all?โMy face heated instantly. โWhat is this? You scared me.โAndrew reached for my free hand, intertwining his pinky finger with mine.โI love you, Corrine,โ he said.I blinked, feeling both flustered and confused. โYeahโฆ I know.โ I had no idea what to say. My response made him chuckle.โI love your confidence and your determination, how you never give up, no matter how many obstacles stand in
-Corrine-After talking with my family and Andrew, and after much contemplation, I decided to take a break from college. Everything that had happened left me falling behind, and I couldnโt catch upโnot right now.There wasnโt much I did during my time off. I studied to make up for what I had missed and reviewed my lessons. Other than that, I spent my time training with Leana. Day by day, my fighting skills improvedโbut so did Leanaโs. So I wasnโt sure when I would actually surpass her. Maybe someday.Everything was normalโalmost boring, evenโuntil one morning when I woke up and found that Andrew was no longer beside me.I reached out across the bed and opened my eyes to an unusual emptiness. Normally, Andrew never left before I woke up. He would always hold me and say good morning.But this time, he wasnโt there.โAndrew?โ I turned toward the window, then sat up and scanned the room.The bathroom door was open, and there was no sound from insideโwhich meant Andrew wasnโt there.Did so
-Andrew-I stood in front of Rebeccaโs door, a bouquet in my hand. I didnโt know what kind of flowers she liked, so I bought her pink roses.Come to think of it, I knew nothing about my stepmother. We never really talked after my father passed away.โAndrew?โI was just about to knock when Rebecca opened the door. We were both surprised, but she looked more shocked than I was.โHey.โ I gave a small smile and handed her the flowers.โFor me?โ Rebecca looked confused as she took them.I nodded, then observed her appearance. โAre you going somewhere?โโYesโโ She glanced down at her outfit. โYes!โ she answered again, a little louder. โIโm meeting a friend.โ Then she looked past me, toward the driveway, as if expecting someone to arrive.โSoโฆ what brings you here?โ Rebecca threw an awkward smile. Even though she tried to hide it, I could tell she was uneasyโlike my visit was the last thing she wanted.โI want to talk to you.โโAbout what?โโFather.โRebecca fell silent. โAndrew,โ she began
-Corrine-Trevor had told me everything about his conversation with Eva at Mythic Manor a couple of nights ago. I understood why he made that decision. Eva would be the one most hurt if they stayed together and then, one day, Trevor met his mate.Even though I hated seeing Eva sad, this was the best thing for her.โSo, do you plan on looking for your mate?โ I asked as we drove to Moon Dust for a dinner invitation from our parents. It was a shame Andrew couldnโt join usโhe had some family business to take care of.โNot for now.โ Trevor shrugged. โIโm enjoying my time alone.โ Then he glanced at me. โAnd I want to spend more time with you, you know. After everything that happened, we barely hang out anymore.โโYeah.โ I nodded in agreement. โYou also promised to train me so I could beat Leana.โโHey, I never promised that,โ he argued, โbeating Leana, I mean.โโYou, too?โโWhat?โโBecause Andrew said the same thing when I asked him to train me to defeat Leana.โโSheโs an incredible fighter
-Trevor-I thought I would be able to breathe for a moment and ignore this whole love triangle problem. But these two girls gave me no choice but to keep thinking about it.Honestly, I wasnโt really interested when Corrine invited the four of us to spend the night out somewhere. But since I was a good big brother and wanted to see my sister happy, I agreed.I deliberately took the wheel to avoid Eva and Leana, but the Moon Goddess knew I couldnโt avoid them forever.As soon as we got out of the car and walked toward the race area, Eva and Leana immediately trapped me between them. Corrine often said I was dense, so I tried to break the awkwardness with a jokeโbut not a single one of them laughed.It seemed I had made the wrong move.โLook at them, flirting and all,โ Leana grumbled as she watched Corrine and Andrew walking ahead of us. โLife must be so great when youโve already found your mate.โโI heard you used to like Andrew?โ The question slipped out of my mouth before I even had t
-Corrine-This was also an issue I had been thinking about since yesterday. With the attack and kidnapping incident, the battle to determine the next Alpha had been postponed. I had already expected that Dad would bring this up sooner or later.I hadnโt discussed this with Andrew yet, but I had already made up my mind.โIโm not going through with it,โ I said. With both hands tucked into my pants pockets, I looked at Dad, Mom, and Trevor. โLet the pack know that Iโm stepping down, and they can fight among themselves to determine the next Alpha.โAndrew placed a hand on my shoulder, making me turn to him. โAre you sure?โ His voice was gentle, without any concern or disapproval. He truly just wanted to know if I was certain about my decision.I smiled at him and nodded. โYes.โ Then, I turned back to my family. โAfter everything thatโs happened, I just want to live a peaceful life. At least until I graduate from collegeโโ I briefly glanced at the campus building. โโand if youโll have me,
-Corrine-When I said that almost all of my problems were solved, this was the one that remained unresolved. I didnโt know why my mother suddenly wanted to meet me and Andrew after everything she had said and done to us, but I hoped this was a good sign.For everyoneโs safety and comfort, we didnโt meet at Moon Dust or Andrewโs mansion, but instead in Golden Valley.Andrew and I arrived first and headed straight to Houghton Commons. We chose a quiet spot outside, near a large shady tree. The weather was quite windy today, so most people preferred to sit indoors.I pulled my jacket tighter around me and waited, occasionally glancing toward the entrance.โYou seem nervous,โ Andrew said. I turned to him and frowned, trying to see his eyes behind the sunglasses he was wearing.โAre you not?โโWhy should I be? Sheโs your mother, not mine.โโRight. But sheโs going to talk to us, not just me. You still remember how much she hated youโso much that she even worked with Jerome toโโThe distant
-Corrine-The next morning, when I opened the window and looked at the clear blue sky, I still couldnโt believe that it was all over.All of my problems were solvedโwell, most of themโbut the danger had passed, and I could finally live in peace.I stretched out my hands and inhaled the fresh scent of the trees, closing my eyes and letting my body soak in the warm sunlight.I smiled, and my smile turned into a wide grin when I felt Andrew behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing the crook of my neck.โMorning,โ he whispered in my ear before giving it a soft bite.I rested my head against him. โMorning.โ My voice was hoarse. I closed my eyes and took in the scent of his shampoo lingering in his messy hair. โDid you finish your business yesterday?โLast night, after dropping me off at the mansion, Andrew had left to return to the forest. He wanted to make sure everything was truly settled, including mobilizing the lycans to search for Garyโs body. Andrew wanted to see wit
-Corrine-Something held my foot. My body jerked, suddenly stopping mid-fall before swinging in the air.โCorrine! Hang on!โI tried to look up and saw Andrew. As much as I was relieved that he had found me, we were still in danger.Andrewโs hand gripped my ankle tightly. He was using all his strength to pull me up. There was nothing I could do except stay still and let him try to save me.Relief washed over me like cold water, bringing down my adrenaline as Andrew successfully pulled me to safety. He immediately hugged me, repeatedly calling my name.โIโm sorry, Corrine. Iโm sorry, baby, Iโm late.โ His face was buried in my hair, and his lips pressed kisses against my ear and cheek.With trembling hands, I cupped his face and looked into his eyes. โYouโre not late.โ I smiled weakly. โYou saved me.โWe stared at each other in silence for a few moments before both of us burst into laughter. Laughter that born from the lingering fear of facing death and the joy of having survived it.โI