Tyler’s POV “Fifty Shades of Gray? That’s what we are going to watch?!” My little snow flower nodded like a beagle being asked by her master. “I thought we were going to watch a funny movie.” “This is a funny movie,” Elaine reasoned. “At least some part of it. The original trilogy is basically a fanfiction of Twilight, the movie we last watched.” “Twilight? The one where they portray vampires with diamond skin and werewolves that shift with clothes on?” “Yup. That’s the one!” Elaine even chucked, which made my brows furrowed in confusion. Mortals have a weird taste of literature to be honest. As Elaine grabbed her popcorn and I was left sitting on the golden couch shirtless and compelled to watch whatever this film is about, I slid my hand to my dick to keep my palm warm. “The title sounds poetic though?” She just shrugged. “So tell me…” I continued. “What are the fifty shades of gray?”
I am in the realm of dream, where fantasy feels like reality. Where being a princess without a prince is possible. Where summoning a storm without being wrecked by it is within a reach of the hand. I am dreaming. I am sure of it. Or am I not? I look around, let my senses see and hear and touch and taste and smell everything. I can feel the heat of the sun, taste the cool wind around me, and hear the rustling of the leaves in the Misty Forest. I can see the bright green leaves, the wide grass field beckoning me to feel its natural softness. I can smell the fragrance of after-rain, of petrichor and— “Someone’s cooking,” I turn to my heel and search for the origin of the scent. The smell is from roasted pork belly, seasoned with what smells like pepper and salt and rosemary. And butter. I can see a tiny house in the distance, smoke coming out in its chimney. Is that a farmhouse? A cattle, the sound of chickens a
Days passed and I spent those preparing for the wedding like any other mortal bride, while Grandmama Jane tutored me in the afternoon at the Lodge of the Luna on what are a Luna’s duties aside from spreading legs and bearing babies. “…and most of all, love him. As if he’s the half of your soul.” “I am indeed half of her soul.” I do not need to turn around to know that it is Tyler’s dark, erotic voice. “For Stella’s sake, Tyler, wear a shirt!” Jane complained. The grandson only chuckled. “Why not? My Luna would like to see this, don’t you, Elaine?” I swallowed my shame, doubtful whether I should shake my head or give Tyler a nod. “She says no.” I met Grandmama’s eyes. Tyler narrowed his towards his grandmother and then to me. Then the bastard took off his jeans, throwing it to me before light flashed in my eyes. A figure of a white wolf galloped outside, hurrying to get out the High Priestess’ radar.
After almost ten minutes of waiting for her and her dismissal so I can go home and give Tyler a blowing, she was finally back. “Grandmama?” The night is now bright. But the High Priestess has not yet turned on the lights, only the sole candle shining between us illuminates the Lodge of the Luna. The loud sound of bells ringing echoed inside, and on the outside. “Intruders! Intruders!” Heart-shattering shouts from around us made me flinch. Panic starts to swirl inside me. I jerked my head, the face of Jane Moonstorm eventually warping to something…a wolf-like entity that stood like a man but with ram horns and bat-like hands and arms towering over me. ‘Selena, help me,’ I prayed. The candle went out. The light went out. The fire, the only element that can scare them away, went out. Everything is utterly dark, the thick coldness is suffocating. The fragrance of death sent me crumbling from the chair and
Elaine’s POVA traitor is inside Stella’s Soul. Is my dream a premonition or— “It can’t be…” I murmured to the midnight wind; it’s cold but not suffocating. “B—But who could be betraying us? Could you find that out? Could Jason and Grandmama Jane find it out?” Tyler slowed me down. The High Priestess reached for my hand, “Just leave it to him and our pack, dear.” Her eyes darted to the Alpha of the Amber Pack.***Though it wasn’t my fault, I still felt guilty. I have been marked by the Hearteaters since birth. Once again, my ignorance almost cost someone’s life. First it was the beach accident that killed the Rutherfords and my pet dog Joey, and now… Does my arrival in Stella’s Soul put the lives of the wolves here at risk? ‘You cannot escape your fate—our fate...’ The words directly from the tongue of Eliane, the Forest Witch, ringed in my ears. ‘I must go now, Ruel. I must make peace with them and undo my creation befor
Tyler’s POVMy brother waited for five minutes for someone inside the arena to come forward and reveal it was them, eventually confessing why they let three shitty heart-eating beasts enter Stella’s Soul. ‘A liar will never confess the truth unless he or she is tortured, ‘til one see the face of death smiling at them,’ Remus breathed into my soul. My wolf’s words of wisdom sent a grin blooming across my poker face. And even when the timer runs out, as expected—as we have anticipated, no one moves forward. And that’s why we resorted to the latter of Remus’ advice: torture.***Elaine’s POVEvery breath I take makes me anxious even more. Only one of us inside the arena could be the mole. Stella’s Soul is a village where basically those who are only a member can enter due to a gold-plated card handed out to everyone, even to me. And they can invite anyone as long as the invitee is with the member upon crossing Selena
“It was Rowena. It was her who betrayed us.” Hearing those words from Tyler himself as I look up, hearing his voice as he confirmed to me that she really is the one makes the chain of thorns around my heart wrap even tighter. My torned heart and grieving mind begged to reject and not believe any of these, any of these that happened tonight. But truth always stabs harder and leaves a deeper wound than lies. ‘Truth always hurts…’ That same unknown voice whispered to me again. ‘So now you must choose wisely…’ My throat bobbed at the last words. Is that Eliane all along? “Elaine!” Rowena shouted my name. “Get the fuck away from my wife, Rowena!” I look up at Rowena’s astonished but hurt face, who tried to pick me from the ground as my tears continue to stream down from my eyes. She backed away. And before I knew it, Jose made her kneel, making her knees bleed. I can see the pain in her eyes as the chain th
‘She…will…always…be…remembered…’ Those words echoed in my ears like some sort of death bell that made my world stop in an instant. “Wha—What are you going to do with Rowena?” I tried to remain composed and unbothered. But deep down, I am panicking. My emotions are absolutely fucked up. If what my guess is true of what they are going to do, knowing that wolves and werewolves are brutal and savage by nature, I will never forgive myself if I will not step in and stop the Alphas. And perhaps betray them as well—betray Jason, betray Karlos, and…‘Betray, Tyler...’ That same voice murmured into me as if it’s just beside me. The hair on my arms rose, sending shivers down my spine. But Tyler only stood from my gilded bed, walking away from my question and shutting my bedroom door close, leaving me with the now-cold tray of breakfast sitting in my lap.***I shove every boiled egg, cereals soaked in chocolate milk, porridge, and bacon in my mouth