VALERIE I and Arlene exchanged glances and I pleaded with her silently to say nothing to Bianca. She slipped her hands off my shoulders and turned around, smiling innocently. "You came right on time, Bianca," Arlene admonished and my head bobbed up."What is going on?" She asked. Arlene turned and grinned at me before facing Bianca again. "Valerie is going to Buenos Aires for recuperation," Arlene said and Bianca's eyes widened in astonishment. "Really? That is great!" She said, clapping her hands together in excitement. "I am so happy that you are fine now. I wish that I could go with you so that I can look after you," she muttered, pursing her lips teasingly. I chuckled and ruffled her hair, nodding my head vigorously. "I wish you could come with me too. Maybe I should talk to Lucian to let you come along," I said. She twitched her lips and waved her hand in the air, shaking her head in disagreement. "Don't worry about that, I don't want to ruin your moment," she grinned
VALERIE "Don't leave," he muttered and my breath hitched. Don't leave? Why would Lucian say that? This has to do with his brother's life. Does he care about me more than he cares about his brother? "Lucian…" I gulped hard, unable to complete my words. "It's too dangerous. No one has ever come out of there alive, listen to me. We can find another way to save Killian without putting your life in line," he whispered in what seemed like a trembling voice, or was I wrong? "I have to save Killian," I muttered and he shook his head. "There can be a way—" "There is no way!" I snapped. I wondered why Lucian behaving that way. It was unlike him to say such things or act that way. "You have to let me go," I whispered but his grip around my waist only tightened, almost crushing my bones. "I can't. I won't!" I groused. "Killian would hate me if anything should happen to you and I cannot risk watching you fall into the arms of death," he muttered. I looked at the sky and my heart const
VALERIE I didn't bother knocking before pushing the door open. Michelle raised her head from the book she was reading and stared at me in question. "I want to know what killed my father!" I blurted out, taking a quick, concerned glance toward Killian. A smirk crept into the corner of her lips and she slammed the book shut, taking a sip from the teacup beside her. "It seems like you are already deeming yourself dead," she muttered and I scoffed, unable to deny that. "Isn't that what you've always wanted?" I snapped and she grinned widely, evil dancing in her orbs. "I need to know who killed my dad before I leave," I muttered and she twitched her lips, narrowing her eyes. She sighed and threw her head back before getting up. "Let's talk outside," she said, waving her hand towards the door behind me. I raised my brows in confusion, glancing over at Killian. "What about Killian?" I asked. She glanced at him and shrugged nonchalantly. "You don't have to worry so muc
VALERIE My jaws dropped in astonishment as I stared from the blade in his little hand to his face. I couldn't believe that such murderous words just slipped out of his mouth. "Will you do it?" He asked, still extending the blade towards me. I gulped hard and took the blade from him, staring at the frown on his face. "Since they trust you so much. It will be easy for you to kill them. Besides, you're stronger than they are," he muttered. I almost scoffed as I listened to him. It felt like I was with a different boy, the exact opposite of the boy I was walking with some minutes ago. "Before I carry this out, you will tell me why you want the Lycan kings dead," I said and his eyes narrowed, that flash of innocence darting across his eyes. He dropped his head, picking his nails as his lips trembled in what seemed like anger. "He killed my friends!" He whispered in a voice dripping with venom.I shot my head back in shock, my blood freezing. I imagined the 'friends' being the same
VALERIE "Why are we here?" I asked when we reached the gate and stopped. He craned his neck backward but didn't say anything to me while he unlocked the gate. He pushed the gate open and pulled me in, not giving me a chance to persuade him out of there. A cold chill rushed down my spine when I stepped into the garden, the dark forces tugging on my skin. I shivered slightly and tugged on the collar of my dress. My eyes fell on the black lotus standing majestically in the middle of the garden. I could feel that there was more to the lotus plant than scaring off beasts. I felt its force drawing me, gnawing at my heart, and I couldn't bring myself to resist its evil temptation. My feet began to shuffle closer to it, each step towards it made my heart skip at least two beats. The black petals shone brightly in the dimly lit garden, flaunting off its dark beauty and taunting the colorful flowers in the garden. My trembling hand reached out to touch the captivating petal but Lucian's
VALERIE I sat in the moving wagon in silence, trying to calm the burning in my throat. We were already out of the manor and heading to wherever the witch was located. The sadness that swept across Lucian's face when the car was driving out of the garage caused my heart to shatter. I hoped that I would return alive for the sake of everyone who cared about me. I sighed loudly and dropped my head on the headrest, staring at the dark lane that seemed to have no end. The wagon was filled with silence and awkwardness, making me suspect that the men felt intimidated by me. Or perhaps, Lucian must have set some strict boundaries for them, and that must have included avoiding me in any possible way. I narrowed my eyes at the thought, knowing fully well that Lucian was capable of making such rules. "How many hours will it take to get there?" I asked, darting my eyes from one to the other. Silence reigned after my question and my brows raised. "Aren't I supposed to know where we are hea
VALERIE "We are surrounded by demons?" I gasped, my throat knotting in fear. Theo swerved his head around, his eyes as wide as saucers. "Stay right here, don't leave the car no matter what!" He warned and pulled the door open, slamming the door shut when he slipped out. I coiled up in the seat, staring at them from the window. They walked cautiously around, swerving their heads to the sides, their guns in their hands. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest as I hoped that nothing would happen to them. Theo swerved and screamed out to Liam, firing at something that I couldn't see. Liam spun around and pointed his gun at the woods surrounding us. We were on a deserted lane surrounded by dark woods that seemed to harbor more danger than the haunted lane. Theo fired in one direction, while Liam fired in the opposite direction. I sighed, my hands trembling in fear. I looked around in the car for a phone, intending to call up Lucian. A scream froze my hands which was already rumma
VALERIE Liam trembled when he saw the dark cloud that was forming in front of the car. "Shit!" He cursed and tumbled down to the back, squatting beside me. I stared at the dark cloud, its dark energy filling the air and darkening the entire place. My heart thumped rapidly in my chest and the hair on my skin rose as chilling air hit my skin from nowhere. I shivered and rubbed my freezing hand, feeling the eerie aura slowly creep into the car."We have to protect Theo. He is the most vulnerable to them," he muttered, his eyes fixed on the cloud. I nodded and grabbed Theo's warm hand, squeezing it assuredly.I was relieved that he was still asleep and I hoped that he would sleep till we were out of this trouble.Liam fixed bullets into his gun and cocked the gun, pointing it at the windshield."A gun won't kill it," I muttered."We have to keep it away," he muttered, not daring to share his attention with the cloud separated from us through the windshield."We have to do something t
MICHELLE I gasped and staggered back, clinging to the cold wall with my hair springing up. "Damion?" I snapped, heaving loudly at the monstrous face he had on.He slowly got up and breathed out smoke as he marched towards me with a clenched fist covered in veins. I shrieked loudly and jerked my head to the side, closing my eyes at the disgusting mark on his face. "What the hell are you doing?" I growled, wrinkling my nose as the demon's disgusting breath hit my face. "Fucking stop!" I growled in frustration. "Why did you do that? Why did you make Valerie take the fall?" He groused. I scoffed loudly and twitched up my lips in disgust and mockery. "You expect me to take the fall after planning that for Adriana?" I snapped. "You should have thought of a way to escape before carrying out your evil-doing," he fired back at him. Anger surged through me and I gritted my teeth, glaring at him. "Get Damion's face back, you look disgusting!" I spat at him in disdain. My words took h
MICHELLE A gasp slipped out of her mouth when Neil dangled the necklace in the air. She staggered back, rubbing her trembling hand across her neck. She raised her hand and pointed at the necklace before her, her eyes as wide as saucers. "That… that necklace…" she stuttered, her lips trembling. "That is the necklace I sent to you, isn't it?" Lucian snapped, glaring hatefully at her. "I…" Valerie stuttered. Her lips kept trembling as she couldn't find the right convincing words to defend herself with. I smirked, knowing that I had done excellent work by trapping her.I had switched the necklace with a fake one when she refused to wear it this morning. I knew Bianca would persuade her to wear it which she did, but funnily, she wore the fake one while I had the one Killian and Lucian sent to her.My initial plan was to drop it in the ceiling space to trap her but it still came out useful here."Her blood is on it, which means you pushed her," Killian said, sighing loudly in disappo
VALERIE I curled up in the ceiling space, my clothes dampened with sweat. I sighed and checked the time, cursing silently. I bit my lips, wondering why the Pack's doctor would go so far to get the dreadful incense. I had to take my revenge tonight or I would never be able to get a chance to do so.As I sat on the dusty ground, lost in thought, a loud thud on the ceiling space jerked me back to the dreaded reality.I sprang up on my knees, my hands trembling in fear. The thud came again, followed by a hiss. I dimmed my eyes in confusion, staring at the dim light that flashed across the farther part of the ceiling space. I gasped in fear and clasped my hand over my mouth, my heart thumping loudly in my chest. I began to wonder if Michelle had deceived me by bringing me up here. After some minutes, the thud stopped, and everywhere became silent again, but as time passed, a low muffled sound slipped into my ears.I crouched in the dark ceiling space, my heart racing as I listened
MICHELLE I gasped and snatched my hand out of her strong grip."Why… why are you like that?" I snapped, filled with shock. She glanced around as if searching for someone before gripping my hand again. "You have to help me hide away from the Pack's doctor!" She snapped, her eyes filled with fear and desperation. I looked around the empty hall and then back at her, raising my brows in question. "What are you talking about? Why in the world will you be afraid of that doctor?" I scoffed.Her blood drained and her eyes got wider as dread clouded her eyes."She has an incense that could bring out a demon fully. She knows that I have a demon in me!" She blurted out.My jaws fell and I swung my head around, wondering what I should do. If the Lycan kings find out that I helped her hide, then it would be a disaster for me."I'm sorry, but I can't help here," I muttered, trying to shake her grip off my wrist, but she held on tight, glaring at me."You won't help me?" She snapped, sinking he
MICHELLE I stood at the edge of the crowd, forcing a smile as Adriana danced with her sister, Arlene. My heart would always skip a beat every time she turned to look at me with an evil glee in her eyes.I needed no one to tell me that she planned on exposing me, but what I feared was the time she planned to do that.The music stopped playing and the Luna Queen grabbed a glass of wine, hitting a spoon against it.Everyone stopped what they were chattering about and focused on her.The Luna Queen smiled so happily, making my heart bleed. Whenever I saw her on that podium, I would always be reminded of the sadness on my mother's face before she died. That should have been my mother's throne, that should have been her place.If Luna Jasmine hadn't killed my mother back then, perhaps everything would have still been right. I wouldn't have to be intimidated by her mannerless daughter."It is time for the cutting of the cake and the announcement of a new age!" She announced and a loud ovat
VALERIE I walked into the large grand hall alongside Bianca, holding my head up high. A gasp slipped out of my lips the moment I stepped into the hall. It gave a charm that noroom had ever given. The ballroom stretched wide, its polished marble floor gleaming under the light of massive crystal chandeliers. Ornate gold-trimmed walls rose to meet a vaulted ceiling painted with delicate frescoes, while tall arched windows let moonlight spill across the room. Velvet drapes framed the windows, and soft classical music floated through the air, echoing the elegance of the atmosphere."Bianca, why does this place look so lovely?" I whispered, my eyes gleaming.She chuckled and nudged me playfully, a smile on her face."This is the grand hall of the Blood Moon Pack where every royal ceremony and gathering is held. Perhaps in the future, you and the Lycan kings will get married in this hall," she muttered and the smile on my face dropped."What?" I gasped.Her brows raised in confusion and
KILLIAN I walked down the dark hallway, swinging the blade in my hand and a cigarette stuck between my lips. I reached a door and punched in the passcode. The door rolled open and I walked into the room. The lights turned on, and my lips stretched into a smirk when my eyes fell on Alpha Cameron, who was struggling to remove the tapes tied around him. "Alpha Cameron, long time no see!" I laughed loudly, waving the blade in the air. He murmured but his words weren't delivered due to the gag on his mouth. "You want to say something?" I asked, grinning. He nodded his head, his eyes pleading. I chuckled and covered the spaces between us, then tore out the gag. He gasped in relief and sucked in some air, muttering words of gratitude. "A low-ranked alpha like you tried to step up to me? That is crazy!" I said, huffing loudly. He panted, refusing to say a word. I took a long drag at the cigarette and bent down, grabbed his hair."Tell me, who sent you?" I asked. He raised his eyes
MICHELLE "Your bath is ready, my lady," my maidservant said as she trudged into the bedroom. I smiled lightly and got off the chair that I was sitting on then shuffled into the bathroom. "Any news?" I asked her as I dipped my body into the warm water. "Did you prepare my gift?" I asked. "Yes, my lady," she responded. I smirked and took the body scrub, lathering my body with it. I would give Adriana a kind of gift that she would never forget. Not just her but everyone that would attend the birthday party that would be held tomorrow evening. "Your dress for the birthday ceremony has been delivered, my lady," the maidservant poked her head in and said. I smiled lightly and hummed in response, dipping my head into the water. Perhaps I could fulfill my mother's wish of finishing what she started and still be with the ones that I had always dreamed of being with. That would be killing two birds with a stone, and that was a method I had always been perfect in, even when I was a ch
ADRIANA My eyes batted in confusion and my lips trembled. "How can I argue with a dead woman? That's crazy!" I blurted out, unable to understand her words. Noah leaned closer, his eyes fixed on Diana. "Look here, Diana, I don't think it's the same woman. The woman behaved like every normal living being, she isn't—" "Hold on!" Diana said and took the phone, zooming the video. "Here, do you see that mole? That woman had that mole," she muttered, pointing at the small mole on the woman's face. "Who is this woman to you?" Noah asked while I replayed the video, searching for clues that would prove Diana either right or wrong. "She was my homeroom teacher in middle school. I attended her funeral with my parents," she muttered. "What killed her?" I asked. "Influenza," she mumbled. I peered closely and finally realized something strange about the woman. "Why is her skin tone different?" I muttered. Noah and Diana stopped talking and swerved their head in my direction. "What?" I