Riven It's been eight hours since I've seen the Alpha, and the link between us isn't telling me anything. Normally, it doesn't say much since the alpha is a really private person, and he likes to mask his scent well, but it hasn't been this dead before. No matter how much I reach out to him, I get nothing in return. These troubled thoughts have been plaguing my mind ever since he left without a word. At least if he'd told me where he was going, I wouldn't be so worried. A part of me thinks, maybe despite his words on the matter, he might have gone to search for the Luna. The Luna. Could I even call her that yet, considering she doesn't have the Alpha's mark on her. She's also an omega—not the strongest choice for Lunas. But now that I think about it, I've always heard that in the pack Shifters realm, they love to pick Omega's as Luna's. I'm not sure if this is because they want someone weaker than the Alpha for a Luna, or just the work of fate making Omega’s Alpha’s m
Riven The room is still as silent as a graveyard despite my question, and I begin to wonder if she's even heard me. “I asked you—” “Shut up, Riven.” She cuts me off with a stony glare that looks so vicious, I have to take an involuntary step back. It seems I have forgotten this woman is still the Luna of all the pack shifters. Long gone is the gangly wide eyed woman who smiled at everything I had said, and let her fingers brush mine. Every time I look at her, I feel even more foolish. To have been caught in the snare of somebody like her—a member of the pack shifters, and one ruthless enough to do anything to climb to the top. I've just been a stepping stone for her, but my heart isn't willing to accept that fact. That is why I still scramble for whatever affections she throws my way, like a pathetic dog. Heat prickles under my palms when I look into her eyes, but I don't say anything to her. With a pleased smile on her face, she turns away from me, as if satisfi
Kaidën I clench my fist and pin him with a hard look. "I don't have the time for this."Before he can blink, I pull out my sword again, already letting my shadows peek out until I can feel them on my fingertips. One wrong move and I'll let them suck the life out of him without losing sleep over it. After all, this man stands in the way of me and reaching my Aria—no, just Aria. I furrow my brow with a mix of annoyance and confusion. When did she become my Aria? Darien chuckles. "Unlike you, shadow King I know the full extents of my powers, do you really think you can win a fight against me?" I bristle at the meaning to his words. I've long stopped wondering how he knows what he knows. How he knows that I don't fully understand the extents of my shadows. It doesn't matter, because they've never failed me before. "Alright, if you still want to raise your sword against me, then be prepared to die, because those shadows of yours won't save you this time."The words roll out of his l
Riven"I—I think you should leave."The words don't even sound like mine as I say them, but the look on Piper's face shows that she's more taken aback by them than I am. Why do I care that she hates Aria? Maybe because she is our Luna and the one who will bring an end to our curse. Piper doesn't understand what it feels like to be a rogue—to be treated like a dirty criminal from the time you're born. Some of us never even got the chance to find a pack before we were declared unfit to be accepted into society. That's the kind of pain all rogues have to live with. That is why Akira gave her life to change that. The Alpha might believe I am waiting for a chance to pay the pack shifters back in their coin, but he's slightly off the mark. Once the goddesses' prophecy has been fulfilled, then we can finally find true happiness. The pack shifters won't be able to attack us anymore. "Riven?""Yes," I answer limply, unable to meet her eyes. I'm not the young beta she met the first tim
Aria The Alpha of the Dead Pack. A couple of seconds pass, or maybe minutes, or even hours, but I remain silent after his words. I try to remember what I know of the dead pack, but it's too little to mean anything to my situation right now. In fact, most of what I know of the dead pack are bedtime stories my grandmother told me and Piper. I never expected to meet someone from my fantasy story world, or worse, to meet the Alpha of their pack. Shaking my head, I try to breathe in slowly, trying not to pass out front of the numerous amount of things I'm feeling all at the same time. "Why did you buy me then? If you are dead, and you rule a dead kingdom, what use am I to you?" I recall grandmother's words—stories—of the dead pack, at least the ones that come to mind. A long time ago, before the rogues were called rogues, they were just classified as outlaws. The pack shifters' realm—according to grandmother, hasn't always been this civilized because, in her words, "it is
Aria I clear my throat, and roam my gaze all over the man standing in front of me. Thankfully he is back to his normal form, which isn't a monstrous beast, although I have to wonder how much of that form is abnormal. If he is that Alpha—the same one that ruled a long time ago, and died before the war of the dead pack, then isn't his truest form that of a monster. But most importantly, what does he want with me? I'm not exactly a rogue, so taking out his anger on me would be useless. I try not to think about what it would mean if he plans to use me to attack Kaidën's people. As terrible as I feel about the injustice done to his wife, him and his people, I could never do something so treacherous to Kaidën. Kaidën isn't like all the other rogues he is talking about, and his story of misery has been so long ago, the rogues aren't the same anymore. Now it's even the pack shifters realm who dispose of people they dislike as rogues, and the goddesses' as usual have been helple
Kaidën "Then what do you request to lead me to the person I'm looking for?" I hate that I even have to ask this man for help, but he's more than proven that he knows things I don't—things I desperately need to know. He laughs, another airy sound that doesn't match the darkness lurking around him. I wonder again, what he might be. "Will you be able to give me what I want? Because where your mate is, she is in terrible danger, King of Shadows." A shallow breath leaves me. What does he mean by that? If Chloe isn't in that dungeon, then where is she? I grip my sword tighter. "Tell me where she is. I'll give you whatever you want." He pins me with a hard look. "You should not make promises you can't keep, Shadow King. What if what I want is a part of you?" I frown, a little confused. It takes me a while to realize what he means by a part of me. My gaze hardens on him, and he smiles wider. "I told you not to promise things you can't give. Tsk, if you need my help then th
Riven Maybe I shouldn't have said it. I half expect her to be surprised, maybe a little angry that Kaidën found his mate, even though he used to be sweet on her. The vindictive woman really thinks Kaidën should remain alone even if she's moved on to her new mate. If a bond can develop between Piper and the pack shifters realm king, then why is she so surprised that Kaidën also has a mate? Piper turns slit like eyes to me. "Tell me you're lying." My brows furrow. Her rage is nearly palpable in the air, and I can almost taste it myself. It could tightly around the room, like a poison that will infect anyone who gets too close to it. "Why do you want it to be a lie? Did you also like the Alpha?" It won't be impossible to believe, since the Alpha was very sweet on her in the past. That was one of the reasons I never wanted to be attracted to her then. The Alpha seemed to have taken an interest to her. And the Alpha never took an interest to anyone—not even Eliana Gree
Riven Maybe I shouldn't have said it. I half expect her to be surprised, maybe a little angry that Kaidën found his mate, even though he used to be sweet on her. The vindictive woman really thinks Kaidën should remain alone even if she's moved on to her new mate. If a bond can develop between Piper and the pack shifters realm king, then why is she so surprised that Kaidën also has a mate? Piper turns slit like eyes to me. "Tell me you're lying." My brows furrow. Her rage is nearly palpable in the air, and I can almost taste it myself. It could tightly around the room, like a poison that will infect anyone who gets too close to it. "Why do you want it to be a lie? Did you also like the Alpha?" It won't be impossible to believe, since the Alpha was very sweet on her in the past. That was one of the reasons I never wanted to be attracted to her then. The Alpha seemed to have taken an interest to her. And the Alpha never took an interest to anyone—not even Eliana Gree
Kaidën "Then what do you request to lead me to the person I'm looking for?" I hate that I even have to ask this man for help, but he's more than proven that he knows things I don't—things I desperately need to know. He laughs, another airy sound that doesn't match the darkness lurking around him. I wonder again, what he might be. "Will you be able to give me what I want? Because where your mate is, she is in terrible danger, King of Shadows." A shallow breath leaves me. What does he mean by that? If Chloe isn't in that dungeon, then where is she? I grip my sword tighter. "Tell me where she is. I'll give you whatever you want." He pins me with a hard look. "You should not make promises you can't keep, Shadow King. What if what I want is a part of you?" I frown, a little confused. It takes me a while to realize what he means by a part of me. My gaze hardens on him, and he smiles wider. "I told you not to promise things you can't give. Tsk, if you need my help then th
Aria I clear my throat, and roam my gaze all over the man standing in front of me. Thankfully he is back to his normal form, which isn't a monstrous beast, although I have to wonder how much of that form is abnormal. If he is that Alpha—the same one that ruled a long time ago, and died before the war of the dead pack, then isn't his truest form that of a monster. But most importantly, what does he want with me? I'm not exactly a rogue, so taking out his anger on me would be useless. I try not to think about what it would mean if he plans to use me to attack Kaidën's people. As terrible as I feel about the injustice done to his wife, him and his people, I could never do something so treacherous to Kaidën. Kaidën isn't like all the other rogues he is talking about, and his story of misery has been so long ago, the rogues aren't the same anymore. Now it's even the pack shifters realm who dispose of people they dislike as rogues, and the goddesses' as usual have been helple
Aria The Alpha of the Dead Pack. A couple of seconds pass, or maybe minutes, or even hours, but I remain silent after his words. I try to remember what I know of the dead pack, but it's too little to mean anything to my situation right now. In fact, most of what I know of the dead pack are bedtime stories my grandmother told me and Piper. I never expected to meet someone from my fantasy story world, or worse, to meet the Alpha of their pack. Shaking my head, I try to breathe in slowly, trying not to pass out front of the numerous amount of things I'm feeling all at the same time. "Why did you buy me then? If you are dead, and you rule a dead kingdom, what use am I to you?" I recall grandmother's words—stories—of the dead pack, at least the ones that come to mind. A long time ago, before the rogues were called rogues, they were just classified as outlaws. The pack shifters' realm—according to grandmother, hasn't always been this civilized because, in her words, "it is
Riven"I—I think you should leave."The words don't even sound like mine as I say them, but the look on Piper's face shows that she's more taken aback by them than I am. Why do I care that she hates Aria? Maybe because she is our Luna and the one who will bring an end to our curse. Piper doesn't understand what it feels like to be a rogue—to be treated like a dirty criminal from the time you're born. Some of us never even got the chance to find a pack before we were declared unfit to be accepted into society. That's the kind of pain all rogues have to live with. That is why Akira gave her life to change that. The Alpha might believe I am waiting for a chance to pay the pack shifters back in their coin, but he's slightly off the mark. Once the goddesses' prophecy has been fulfilled, then we can finally find true happiness. The pack shifters won't be able to attack us anymore. "Riven?""Yes," I answer limply, unable to meet her eyes. I'm not the young beta she met the first tim
Kaidën I clench my fist and pin him with a hard look. "I don't have the time for this."Before he can blink, I pull out my sword again, already letting my shadows peek out until I can feel them on my fingertips. One wrong move and I'll let them suck the life out of him without losing sleep over it. After all, this man stands in the way of me and reaching my Aria—no, just Aria. I furrow my brow with a mix of annoyance and confusion. When did she become my Aria? Darien chuckles. "Unlike you, shadow King I know the full extents of my powers, do you really think you can win a fight against me?" I bristle at the meaning to his words. I've long stopped wondering how he knows what he knows. How he knows that I don't fully understand the extents of my shadows. It doesn't matter, because they've never failed me before. "Alright, if you still want to raise your sword against me, then be prepared to die, because those shadows of yours won't save you this time."The words roll out of his l
Riven The room is still as silent as a graveyard despite my question, and I begin to wonder if she's even heard me. “I asked you—” “Shut up, Riven.” She cuts me off with a stony glare that looks so vicious, I have to take an involuntary step back. It seems I have forgotten this woman is still the Luna of all the pack shifters. Long gone is the gangly wide eyed woman who smiled at everything I had said, and let her fingers brush mine. Every time I look at her, I feel even more foolish. To have been caught in the snare of somebody like her—a member of the pack shifters, and one ruthless enough to do anything to climb to the top. I've just been a stepping stone for her, but my heart isn't willing to accept that fact. That is why I still scramble for whatever affections she throws my way, like a pathetic dog. Heat prickles under my palms when I look into her eyes, but I don't say anything to her. With a pleased smile on her face, she turns away from me, as if satisfi
Riven It's been eight hours since I've seen the Alpha, and the link between us isn't telling me anything. Normally, it doesn't say much since the alpha is a really private person, and he likes to mask his scent well, but it hasn't been this dead before. No matter how much I reach out to him, I get nothing in return. These troubled thoughts have been plaguing my mind ever since he left without a word. At least if he'd told me where he was going, I wouldn't be so worried. A part of me thinks, maybe despite his words on the matter, he might have gone to search for the Luna. The Luna. Could I even call her that yet, considering she doesn't have the Alpha's mark on her. She's also an omega—not the strongest choice for Lunas. But now that I think about it, I've always heard that in the pack Shifters realm, they love to pick Omega's as Luna's. I'm not sure if this is because they want someone weaker than the Alpha for a Luna, or just the work of fate making Omega’s Alpha’s m
Aria Everything was a lie? What does he mean by that? "W-what do you mean? A lie? Are you Lugh?" I ask rapidly, feeling my heart nearly beating out of my chest. Is this happening because I still didn't want to go with Lugh willingly despite his story? The rumble of his voice rattles my bones. "I am Lugh Darg, the Alpha of the dead pack. Only I exist in this realm," His voice drops till it's nearly a whisper carrying across my skin like a chilly embrace. "You can be here with me too, Aria dear. All you have to do is accept me." He croaks the end of the words out, like a fish trying to speak out of water. I press my hand against the wall of the vehicle behind me, wondering how I can escape someone like this. A part of me still thinks that maybe Lugh can help me. Maybe he's somewhere in here. "You naive fool." A torn laugh comes from him, and my eyes fly back to him. "What do you want from me?" I try to say firmer, but I'm still shaking with fear. This is more than