LOGIN-THIRD PERSON’S POV-
“What is this hustler’s name?” Seff engaged Jarvaldo with the business card in his hand. He rose from the chair and his foot knocked over the empty communion wine bottle. It clinked and rolled on the floor.
“He goes by the pseudonym of Shekel Moneta,” Jarvaldo divulged. “Give him a call. Tell him that you’re my guy.”
Seff stopped the bottle with his foot and bent over to steady it on the floor. When he straightened, he took out his new Android phone to make the call. He wasn’t in the bullshit today with Jarvaldo. He assessed the business card and whispered the contact details:
1 000 EZE BUCKS
Looking back at his phone, Seff procrastinated at the dialpad section. Doubtfully, he punched the digits. He knew he got the first part right but where was the rest of the numbers to complete the standardized ten-digit contact.
Seff grimaced, pursing his lips. “E. Z. E. ―” His crimson eyes narrowed as he searched the number keypad for the words to press. “Where are you ‘eze’ and ‘bucks’?”
Jarvaldo snickered, holding down his laugh. He knew well that Seff was absolutely clueless about what to do and enjoyed his misery.
“Are you playing with me?” Seff fussed, darting a mad gaze at his comrade, feeling frustrated because he was stuck and Jarvaldo’s behavior meant that he was up to something. “Is this phone defective?”
“No.” Jarvaldo shook his short, shaggy, brush-cut pearly-white head, folding his lips under to conceal his amusement.
Seff resumed his efforts on the phone, grinding his teeth because he could not figure it out. Steaming with impatience, he shouted after a minute of trying to solve how to make that phone call. “Telephone numbers aren’t supposed to have words! That’s what the fucking technician taught me.”
Jarvaldo burst out a deep, snort-filled laugh. He slumped backward in his chair with his upper body jerking from his humor.
The entire time, Seff’s anger was boiling. Irately, he scratched his cotton puffs of white hair. He remembered when Jarvaldo had tricked him into tasting some white powdery stuff that got him as high as a kite. His high ass tripped on the stairs, and as he was going down, he farted loudly and crash-landed onto the mother superior.
Seff practically began humping the petrified, screaming nun. When Jarvaldo got him off her, Seff sat there a minute at the bottom of the stairs, giggling, before shifting into his large blue-black wolf and running off to do some other stupid shit that would make even the devil laugh. His wolf had never been more doped.
“If you don’t shut up and tell me how this works, I’ll wrap this communion tray around your neck.” Seff erupted, threatening to use his metal-bending power in a loathing tone.
Jarvaldo's laughter died down. He blew Seff off with a hand and rose to stand by him to explain how to substitute the letters with numbers. Finally, Seff made the call, cursing under his breath while the phone rang at his ear.
Once the call ended, Seff alerted his boss, “Dymian, I’m off.”
Dymian nodded curtly and Jarvaldo followed him out.
"Rovell, let's go and visit Mrs. Bumpkin. We’ll also put in our order to the pirates of the Vale." Dymian stepped from his desk.
Farrah mutely gazed out the window.
His second-in-command arched his full white brows, wondering why make the requisition from the underworld when the money ought to be present first. Nonetheless, Rovell repelled raising his objections because of the finality in Dymian’s tone. He settled down with a nod.
"Farrah, go and monitor the portals. Do not leave the chapel," Dymian ordered.
She bowed and in two strides his husky voice warned, "I hope that I don't have to tell you to stay away from the alpha prince while I’m gone."
Farrah groused internally that she had no intention of seeing Vaheed. Outwardly she responded politely, "Of course not.”
Priest Ramcrook entered the study, meeting Dymian and Rovell before they got to the doorway.
“Father Dymian, you have a visitor.” Father Ramcrook informed him with hands behind his back. “He claims to be Alpha Rowling.”
Dymian smirked evilly. “By all means, I’ll meet him in the auditorium.”
“I’ll go and receive him,” Rovell went off, immediately.
Dymian exited with the priest, talking.
Farrah watched them leave and sighed. She had been busy using whatever power boost she stole from the red wolf to create portals at the two sinkholes they left in Bolivia and Uganda.
Fucking Selene closed all their past entry points into the realms. Now they had no old connections to count on for the war they would wage. That was why they relied on the pirates of the Vale in the underworld to secure a passageway to a particular realm.
While buried in her thoughts, she made her way to the roof.
Ever since she met Vaheed, something inside her twisted. It tied her gut into knots of conflicting emotions. While Dymian had a past mate whom he killed, Vaheed was her first mate. The irrepressible experience nagged her. The uncontrollable bond pulled at her so hard that she could barely avoid him.
She was miserable.
Lust, desire, and hunger mauled her daily. Something fervid swirled inside of her for the low-down prince. Something not even Dymian could give her. Right now, the thought of continuously being in Dymian’s bed was starting to make her sick to the stomach. She hid it well.
Indeed, it was hard not to go to the basement to see him. Her wolf yearned for his scent. Dymian could certainly sense the change, yet he told her not to reject him. He planned to use the mate bond to an advantage. To what extent? She didn't know. Apparently, he was keeping things from her. It was unusual of him to act in this way.
These erotic feelings were alien.
Farrah knew only purpose. Fighting for a reason. Fucking for an objective. She knew not love.
Nothing in her life had ever been just because. Together with her comrades and Selene, they fought many battles and won. Their last feud was against the moon goddess and the other four Worgens, which they failed back then. Though it was the same fight that landed them in a perennial slumber with their powers sealed.
Farrah ended up on the flat concreted roof of the chapel standing in the center of two domes. The sun was setting. A coolness descended on the land. The faraway street had a busy line of traffic. It was the end of the day and people were trying to get home.
Home.
She had no home.
A hollow sensation tore at her chest with the desire for one.
A whispering breeze flowed around her, whisking up her long, white strands in a slow, swaying dance in the air. She closed her eyes as it caressed her face, driving her distressing thoughts away. She drew a large intake of its freshness, feeling peace.
"Don't walk away from what I’ve given you." A voice softly whispered as the wind whirled around her.
Farrah's eyes flicked open. They scanned the surroundings but she was alone. Both of her hands threaded through her flying wavy strands to keep them away from her face.
"Do not defy your destiny." The breathy female voice graced her ears once more. "You know the right course."
Was it Dymian getting into her head to test her? Or was it a direct message from Selene?
Peace deserted Farrah, leaving an awry sensation in her stomach and muddled mind.
-
RAINA’S POVMy face burned, and my chest tightened. I was so grossed out, because the word, ‘Daddy,’ sounded wrong coming from Jakub. Too personal and-and…too inappropriate.I suspected Jakub had caught the feels for my Dad. Crushing on older men sometimes happened, but I thought being marked by Benji would have changed that. And I never, in a million years, expected that my father would entertain him behind Mom’s back.I was about to catch a case. I was so angry it felt like my head was about to explode with rage.I gritted my teeth as I watched them, wondering how long they were going to stay like that.Okay, Raina.Breathe.Backtrack.Maybe I shouldn't spazz out. There must be a valid reason for this. I mean, this was my father, the first man I ever looked up to.“D-dad?” I sputtered, dubiously.That was when they noticed me. Both of their heads snapped in my direction.Abruptly, Dad jumped back and put a hand on his head, looking at me in astonishment. “Kiddo?”“W-wha—” I stammere
RAINA’S POV"Have you been okay, Raina? All tip-top?" Luna Sianna asked, flocking to me like a mother hen in the examination room.“Yup,” I responded, sitting on the padded medical examination chair."Valen is concerned about you." Her cold fingers wrapped around my wrist, taking my pulse before I could say anything."He just wanted me to get checked out after the whole hypothermia ordeal," I admitted with a shrug.I can't deny it, non-stop preparation for the Howl De Lune at the Saturn Striders Hotel has taken its toll.Scrolling through catalogs for the perfect tablecloth, drapes, sculptures, menu selection, and a whole lot more to match the Elder’s theme was making my head spin. Worst of all, they inquired about pregnancy results, to which I deflected. I needed a break, so I came here because Valen was pressing me about it anyway."Valen is right,” Luna Sianna advocated lowly. “You have to remember that humans operate differently from wolves. And until you get your wolf back, that
RAINA’S POV"And you will," Valen stated calmly as he applied shampoo to my burgundy roots, clipping my hair up so it could sit for a few minutes. "But it can wait until later; there are more important things to take care of.""No, there isn't," I pressed as the guilt joined my hunger, eating me away from the inside out. "I-I did something awful… really shitty. I…I can’t-I…"I cringed at my own inability to get the words out of my mouth.“Shh,” he cooed. He rinsed my hair, shielding my forehead with his hand, and took up another bottle.“Valen, it affects us.” I tried again, my stomach twisting as my voice came out smaller now. “It’s important.”"So are you, Bluebella," he insisted quietly, working in the conditioner, massaging my scalp with firm, soothing circles.I let out a pleased moan. I tried to resist, but my eyes fluttered shut despite my effort not to get lost in the sensation. The love feeding back through the bond was making my heart swell. His touch was gentle, but it stir
RAINA’S POVSleep came fast.I awoke slowly, groggily, unsure of my surroundings.Opening my eyes, I found myself in our alpha suite. I must have dozed off when Valen teleported us to Dark Wolverson.I stretched over my arm to reach for him, wanting his warmth close, the security of his nearness. Huh? Bewilderment seized me when my hand touched nothing but the cold mattress, instead of his comforting heat.For a moment, I didn’t move. I just stared at the ceiling before sweeping my eyes around the dim bedroom. Moonlight barely breathed through the curtains, but the fluorescently bright bathroom had its door cracked with the soft clinking of bottles. It was then that I heard the hush of running water leaking from the bathroom.Valen. He was there.Pushing away the thistle blanket that covered me, I sat up, and my hair spilled over my face. I raked back the strands and crawled out of bed, naked except for my green underwear.I had to fight off a sudden wooziness. I hadn’t eaten yet. It’
VALEN’S POV“All the furcans were sent to Oakven,” Androkles cleared up, his tone mellowing for her. “Dymian got to them first.”Raina stared at him with disbelief and frustration. “Why would Selene put those furcans in the same realm as that criminal?”She managed to force herself through several more questions, but I could feel her strain. She was so careful not to show anything, but I knew her too well.She glanced at Jason, drawing his attention. She gave him a directive nod, signaling him towards the tunnel. He gave me a brief check-in with a side glance before stepping away.“Prove to me that you're worth investing in, and you won't need to worry about the diplomatic pact,” Raina promised, and something dropped in my chest.It wasn’t a bluff, but it should have been. I didn't want open risks that could make us end up as their puppets. Facts are reality. Since I couldn't tell what they were plotting, we should be as cautious as possible.“Is it really like that?” Androkles’ hard
VALEN’S POVMy body tensed, bristling.Raina stepped closer, and the single brush of her shoulder against my arm made me exhale, the tension loosening as her soft skin pulled me back from the edge.My eyes dipped to find my mate’s blue eyes looking up at me, her brows knitted with concern.“I'm not asking you to trust them,” Raina mind-linked, “I'm asking you to use them. That’s what they’re here for.”“Minutes ago, that didn’t seem like the case,” I replied as softly as I could, reeling in my temper.Still, I didn’t like the first prick. Now there were two more thorns in my side. I really hated how prickly this situation was getting.Figaro slapped a palm on his forehead, and my eyes drifted to him.“Ughhh.” A long groan escaped him as he tilted his head back and closed his eyes, lost in thought. “The last thing I remembered was seeing Dymian rip Phobos’ head off clean and Selene crouching and crying as she clung to his decapitated body. Never seen her so aggrieved and angry when she







