LOGINRyan's POV“Ryan, what should we do about the bodies?” one of the monkey children asked me. “They are starting to stink up the place.”“For the humanoid children, just put them all in a room and shut the door,” I replied, knowing that Lucia would want to give the parents a chance to say goodbye.I stood, taking the lead to toss one of the wolf bodies out of the opening in the mountain. “Just toss them out. South city has enough wolf bodies it needs for now.”The monkey children were glad to have something to do, making a sport of who could toss the bodies out the farthest.I watched them for a long time.Humans were weird. Even in the midst of the hellscape, they still managed to laugh and find community.We did not even know when we were getting off this mountain. There was a chance we would die before Lucia got here.Either from starvation because the food reserves were not a lot or from the wolves when they arrived in their numbers to recover what they could from the raid.A small
Lucia’s POVI got into the last cell and nearly puked. Bodies of children in their preteens. Dozens of them.I lowered to the ground to touch the nearest one. It was still warm like he had just been killed.“Suicide,” someone said behind me. “We are taught to kill ourselves rather than be captured.”My ears picked up on the pronoun that she used. We.I turned around, reaching for my second gun, the one that contained the serums for the humanoids. The woman did not flinch when she saw it.“You must be Lucia Everton, right?” she asked. “The one that made a formula that could kill us. I have been thinking of how to get in contact with you so you could kill me.”There was a knife sticking out of her chest, oozing blood. She did not seem to notice it or even care.“These children killed themselves. Why can you not?”“I was brought here when I was their age,” she said, chuckling. “Do you expect my regenerative abilities and theirs to be on the same level?”The woman looked older than me and
Lucia’s POVMarco had been about to leave the city when the soldiers from the West arrived.The sight of them spread across my yard filled me with a semblance of awe. They were all young, in their mid teens to early twenties.But the way they carried themselves, the look in their eyes, this was the kind of discipline South City needed to truly be a city that protects itself.Cole was leading them. “Jonathan sends his greetings. The purifiers worked better than expected.”“I am glad…when do we leave?”“Now, if possible. We want to make it back before the beach feast on Saturday,” Cole said and a wave of agreement swept through the crowd.They were going to challenge wolves and their mind was on food. What remarkable audacity.“What is happening?” Marco asked as he came out of the house.Marco’s bag was stuffed full of fruits, some in a basket because they could not fit. He had also carried a bag of Jodie’s fruit seeds, hoping to plant his own when he got home.Cole looked at him. “You
Lucia’s POVI raised the letter. “Who wrote this?”“That is confidential information,” he said the words like he had said them a million times in the past.He blinked. “Sorry. The current head of the research institute in Lisbon. Doctor Beatriz Silva.”Beatriz Silva. I could not recall seeing that name in any of Mum's research papers.“Are you in a hurry?” I asked Marco.“Yes, because I could be back in Portugal in two hours,” he replied sarcastically. “Of course, I am not in a hurry.”Great. He had an attitude.“How did you get here from the waterfront?” Daniel asked. “This city is not anywhere near there.”“I drove,” he replied and walked into the house behind me. “Huh? I kind of expected it to look different from the houses I am used to because this is the apocalypse, you know?”My eye twitched. “We live in the apocalypse but we are still humans like the rest of you.”Marco shot a glance back to Jodie who still sat on the ground with Fayern in her lap. “Clearly, not all of you.”Pe
Lucia’s POV“Werewolves are straight out of fiction,” he said.“If you did not believe that what I said was true, you would not have crossed the Atlantic to return my bird…”“Marco,” he introduced himself. “A correspondence fromNorth America that is known as desolate to the rest of the world was something worth checking out.”Known as desolate? What had made them jump to that conclusion?“For two decades, all communication to this continent ceased. Planes. Ships. Even small ferries were sent and they all either found nothing where the continent ought to be or just mysteriously vanished.”His eyes glossed over. “The ones who made it back…they were never the same. If not for your map and this little guy’s directions, we might have never found a way in.”His words settled in the air. We all watched him silently as he took in South City.“To think actually cities were still here. I thought I might be crazy for making the trip but…”“How did you come here?” I asked.“I come from a long lin
Lucia’s POVWe sat around a table, staring at each other, waiting for someone to break the silence.Daniel coughed and was instantly pinned by a glare from Ryan and Peter. My brother went silent, his gaze falling to the table.“So…” Cole started, ignoring the looks everyone sent him. “Someone mentioned that you were a Celestial Duke. What ranking is that in the wolves hierarchy?”Jorgsten stared at him for a moment before deciding to answer. “Below the monarchy.”Cole turned to me. “Is Reese a monarch?”“He wishes,” I replied.“So the apparent strongest wolf on the continent is not as high on the ladder as you?” Cole asked. His brows furrowed as he turned to Peter. “Say, why do you not want someone so powerful on our side? He is practically throwing himself at us.”“Because he is not on our side,” Ryan said, pinching the bridge of his nose in more annoyance than frustration.“Why do you say so?” Jorgsten challenged. “I have helped you and yours win battles in the past–”“Only because
Lucia’s POVAs soon as I entered the seminary, the doors clicked behind me.Four of Amos’ brothers swarmed me on either side and were about to forcefully grab me when I raised a hand to them. “I will follow you on my own.”They looked at each other, exchanging silent glances and moved to grab me ag
Lucia’s POVFather Amos sat with the ease of someone who was expecting a guest.“May I ask the purpose of your visit, child?” he asked, pouring tea for Ryan and me as we sat.“Ryan joined our ranks a few weeks ago. I thought it would be polite to introduce him to you.”“Where are you from, young ma
Lucia’s POV“Cole did not come down for dinner again, huh? I wonder if they eat differently in the East.”Ryan hummed, finding the chicken far more interesting than whatever I was saying.“Ryan,” I called him. He did not respond.I set down my cutlery. “Ryan, I am not going to question how you know
Lucia’s POVMara and I were playing cards when the door slammed open.“Lucia! Lucia!” Peter yelled, looking around frantically.“In here,” I yelled, calling him into the private room. “You want a drink?”Peter looked like he wanted to hang me upside down from a clothes line. “A drink? You were…were







