My face changed, “What do you mean what am I doing to my daughter?”Kylan didn’t flinch, leaning back against the wall with his arms crossed. “Exactly what I asked, Briar. You’re talking about medicine like it’s the only thing keeping her from falling apart. What’s really going on?”“You wouldn’t understand,” I muttered, shaking my head.“Try me,” he pressed, his voice calm but firm.I stood abruptly, pacing the room as my mind raced. “It’s nothing, okay? Just something the doctor prescribed to… keep things normal.”Kylan arched a brow. “Normal? You’re talking about glowing eyes and a song that no six-year-old should be humming. There is no way for a six years old to know Latin and surprisingly she does. None of that screams normal to me.”I froze, my back to him, my fists clenched at my sides. “It’s under control.”“That’s what you call control?” he shot back, gesturing toward the hallway where Luna’s muffled cries could still be heard. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like
“Kieran, I’m not—”“Don’t,” he cut me off, his tone sharper than a blade. “Don’t try to talk your way out of this. Not with me. Not when it’s about them.”His words hit me square in the chest, making my breath catch. His frustration, his worry—it wasn’t misplaced, and that only made it harder to face.“Kieran,” Kai said, stepping forward, his tall frame casting a shadow over his brother. “You’re not helping.”“And you are?” Kieran snapped, his voice rising. “You think standing there, acting like everything’s fine, is going to solve this? She’s not telling us everything, Kai. And you’re just letting it slide.”Kai’s jaw clenched, but his voice stayed calm. “This isn’t about letting anything slide. It’s about handling it in a way that doesn’t push her further into a corner.”“I’m right here,” I said quietly, my voice breaking. “You don’t have to talk like I’m not.”Kieran’s gaze softened for a fraction of a second, but his frustration didn’t waver. “Then start talking, Briar. What aren’
"I was surprised you decided to follow me," I said as I tucked Finn and Luna into the back of the car.Neither of them looked at me. Luna’s eyes were still red from crying earlier, her face turned toward the window, her little hands clutching the edges of her blanket. Finn was quieter than usual, his brows furrowed in thought, though his grip on his toy wolf was tight enough to whiten his knuckles.I sighed, shutting the door softly before turning to Kieran, who stood a few feet away, watching the kids through the glass.“I told you I’d take you,” he said simply, leaning against the car. His silver eyes flicked to me, unreadable. “And you’re stubborn enough to do this alone if I hadn’t.”“You didn’t have to,” I muttered, crossing my arms. “This isn’t your problem.”His lips twitched into something like a smile, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’re impossible, you know that?”I frowned, brushing past him to the driver’s side. “Let’s just go.”---The drive was silent. Too silent.K
“I don't know, Briar, the question is starting to look as if I should believe you.”I raised an eyebrow, my grip tightening on the edge of my seat. “What do you mean?”“Tell me, Briar,” he turned his sharp, silver eyes toward me, a dangerous edge to his tone. “Tell me exactly what’s going on in your mind.”I hesitated, the witch’s words still echoing in my head like a haunting melody. “I already told you. I’m trying to figure this out—just like you.”He scoffed, his hands tightening around the steering wheel as the car swerved slightly.“Kieran, what the hell are you doing?” I snapped, gripping the side of the seat harder.“You’re not telling me everything, Briar,” he said, his voice low and dangerous, ignoring my question. “You’re keeping something from me, from all of us.”“That’s not true!” I shot back, panic creeping into my voice as he pressed harder on the accelerator.The car sped down the dark road, the trees on either side blurring into a shadowy mass. The tension between us
He wanted me. I did not need to be told twice that he wanted me. From just those few moments he had seen me, he was already aroused. I watched as his nose flared slightly, a quick, subtle inhale that he clearly tried to suppress. He didn’t think I’d notice, but I did. He could smell me, my arousal hanging faintly in the air between us. Knowing he wanted me had spiked something within me. Something that I had kept buried a long time ago after my affair with them. No one have ever looked at me the way Kai was now. As if I was the only girl he wanted. As if he could strip me with his eyes. I gulped. His eyes moved up to meet mine, and I swore they darkened. “Briar…” His voice was low, husky, filled with something raw. The sound of my name rolling off his tongue made my breath hitch. His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed, the muscles in his throat tightening. My gaze caught on the movement, and I felt heat rising to my cheeks, my heart racing as his presence
You should have claimed her.Kai’s wolf growled in his mind, the deep, angry tone sending a jolt through him. He clenched his fists, pacing the length of the hallway outside the kitchen. His arousal from earlier had long since subsided, but his body still thrummed with residual tension, and his thoughts were consumed by Briar.The way her skin had looked under the dim light, the scent of her arousal clinging to the air—it was maddening.“Shut up,” Kai snapped internally, though his wolf didn’t back down.You let her slip away. She’s ours, and you just walked out. Weak.Kai growled low in his throat, shaking his head. His wolf was relentless, clawing at the edges of his control, but he refused to let it take over. He was already struggling to keep himself in check after what had happened in Briar’s room.As he turned the corner into the kitchen, he nearly bumped into Kylan, who was leaning casually against the counter, a smirk plastered across his face.“Well, well,” Kylan drawled, his
Something was wrong with me.I… I woke up with scales all over my two forearms.They were faint, almost translucent in the morning light, but they were there. Smooth, glistening, and completely unnatural. Yesterday… yesterday I had been fighting with my own self, my own mind, and now this?Yesterday, the voices had been louder, more persistent. They weren’t my children’s or anyone I recognized, but they were real. Whispers that slithered through my thoughts, hissing things I didn’t want to hear, things I couldn’t understand. The louder they got, the harder it became to breathe, to think, to function.And then there was the other part—the part of me that wasn’t me.It was like another presence inside me, pushing, clawing, begging to break free. My body had trembled under the weight of it, my vision had blurred, and my skin had burned like fire. I had locked myself in the bathroom, splashing water on my face to keep whatever it was at bay.But this morning, the scales? They felt like pr
I walked into my office, shutting the door behind me with a heavy sigh. The air felt stifling, every corner of the room reminding me of the work I’d poured my heart into. The weight of the elders’ words pressed on my chest, threatening to choke me.I dropped into my chair, leaning back and closing my eyes, wishing for just a moment of reprieve. But the sound of a knock pulled me out of my spiraling thoughts.“Come in,” I called, my voice weary.The door opened, and Sarah stepped in. Her usually bright demeanor was replaced with a rare frown, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.“Are you okay?” she asked, though her tone was clipped, her concern edged with frustration.I nodded, rubbing my temples. “I’m fine, Sarah.”“No, you’re not,” she said bluntly, stepping closer to my desk. “And frankly, neither am I. What’s going on, Dr. Ashford? The elders have been breathing down our necks, and now everyone’s talking about patients dying after therapy. This isn’t normal.”I looked at her,
Okay, got my brooch. Hair down or hair up?I had an oval face, sharp at the chin, soft around the cheeks. Hair down usually gave me the wild, mysterious look. Hair up? Elegance. I needed something in between, so I twisted it into a low knot and let a few strands fall loose. Not too polished. Not too undone. Just enough to say: I don’t care what the elders say, but I’m going to look flawless while they say it.The dress I chose was simple, but unfairly flattering. A midnight blue wrap dress with a plunging neckline I pretended not to notice. The fabric hugged my waist, fell to my calves, and moved like water when I walked. I paired it with black heels sensible ones, but with enough point to make a vampire rethink lunging at me.And of course, the brooch. An old piece I never wore. It was given to me by the council as a good member of the pack that contributed good things. Well not so much. I’m a demon in their eyes. Silver, crescent-shaped, worn down at the edges like it had survived
Kylan was back from dropping the kids at school. I felt bored over not doing anything.Also I was starving but I was just too lazy to prepare anything. Maybe Kai could. I looked at him, he was busy typing something into his laptop."Are you...working?" I asked.He hummed."Are you busy?"He hummed again.Gosh, how do I ask him when he keeps on humming like that? Especially in that deep baritone voice that's making my body shiver in the wrong way. .I crossed and uncrossed my legs, cleared my throat. Maybe if I go through this way it would work."What type of business...do you do? Like does the three of you run it?" I asked.Kai shook his head. “We have separate businesses. Mine just needs me on-call more often.”I raised an eyebrow. “You mean you’re not just brooding and glaring for a living?”That earned me a faint smirk. “Tempting career path, but no.”I let out a short laugh, then glanced toward the kitchen. “I’m starving.”“Then eat,” he said without looking up.“I would, but I’m l
The images were still there.I didn’t know if they were true or just a fragment of my imagination—some cruel trick of my mind or something far more ancient and terrifying. Or a memory? I couldn’t shake them off my mind, it just stuck like glue. The little girl’s voice. Her blood-stained dress. Her red eyes.I hugged myself tightly, my arms wrapped around my waist as though that could hold me together.Kylan’s voice came softly from beside me. “Looking at you, I remember what Mom used to say?”I looked up at him, my lips parting, but no words came out.He crouched down to my level, his blue eyes softer than I’d seen them in a while. “She said… you can see things in the water because the water remembers. It holds onto everything. Emotions. Memories. Blood. Magic.”I hummed. True. Kai said that just now. His hand hovered over mine before he pulled it back. “And you… Briar, you’re connected to it. To the water. That’s why it’s easier for you to see.”I stared at the moonlit stream, my
“A ritual,” I repeated slowly. “Should I be worried?” “No,” Kieran answered, coming up beside us. “It’s something we do after a run. Our mother used to do it. She’d look at the reflection of the moon in the water. Said it kept us from forgetting where we came from.” I frowned softly. I had never seen it that way “That’s… kind of beautiful. Your mother seems like a beautiful soul.” Kylan grinned. "She was. Calm. Collected and the only one who was able to handle us with all our disastrous character. L" We all chuckled at that. Kai glanced at his brothers, then back at me. “It was her quiet way of saying goodbye to the beasts inside us. That even after all the blood, there’s still peace.” I nodded. I wonder what's their story, the story of their beast. Maybe that would be a question for another time, we kept on walking with each other side by side. We walked in sil
I laughed at their suggestion. “What are you guys? Babies?”The Lycan kings chuckled like I had just thrown down the gauntlet.“Oh, she has jokes,” Kylan said, already stretching like he was warming up for a marathon. “But you’ll be the one begging for a break in five minutes.”Kieran cracked his knuckles, his expression far too smug. “She clearly doesn’t know what kind of game she just agreed to.”Kai just smirked. “Three Lycans. One human. Doesn’t seem fair, does it?”I raised a brow. “Didn’t realize you were afraid of losing.”That did it.Kylan’s eyes glinted, his smirk widened into a grin. “You’ve got sixty seconds, Red. Better start hiding.”And just like that, I ran.I darted through the trees, heart racing—not from fear, but the thrill of it. The moon was high, casting silver light through the branches as I pushed through the underbrush, trying to gain some distance.But it was impossible to tell where they were. No footsteps. No rustling. Just wind.Too quiet.Then—A sudden
The sun had barely begun to dip when I heard the familiar patter of feet and the squeak of the front door opening.“Mummy!”I turned just in time to catch Luna barreling toward me, her backpack slipping halfway off her shoulder.“Hey, sweetheart.” I knelt, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame. She smelled like crayons and a bit of outside air. “Did you miss me today?”She nodded against my neck, clinging tighter. “A lot.”Finn wasn’t far behind. He stood at the doorway for a second before quietly shutting it behind him. His backpack was zipped neat and high on his back, his expression more cautious.“Finn,” I said gently, “come here.”He came — slower, more controlled — but when he finally wrapped his arms around me too, I held them both like I’d never let go.For a long minute, we just stood like that.“I wanted to talk to you both,” I said as I pulled back and led them to the couch. “About everything that’s been happening lately.”Luna frowned. “Is it because you were sick?”I nod
I moved to the counter slowly, ignoring the stares behind me. I needed something to hold. Something normal. Something hot.“Coffee?” I offered half-heartedly, reaching for a mug.“Here?” Lizbella scoffed from behind me. “No, thanks.”I glanced over my shoulder. “Still think the Lycan Kings are cursed?”Her mouth twitched. “Still think you’re not?”I forced a tired smile, pouring the coffee anyway. “Suit yourself.”She stepped into the kitchen finally, her heels clicking softly against the floor. Kai had disappeared somewhere—I didn’t know when—but Kieran was still nearby, quiet. Watching. But he was holding a magazine of ladies in bikinis. But it was upside down. Idiot. Eventually he got up and left. Kylan also disappeared to. Regardless Lizbella stood beside me. She was still as beautiful as ever. Perfect and the kind of woman who never seemed to have a hair out of place. Lizbella’s eyes didn’t leave me. “So… the only reason I finally get to see you again is because the council
"As long as you don't go crazy and kill us," Kieran said, voice dry as ever.I shot him a glare through watery eyes. “Not funny.”Kai had already moved closer, his fingers carefully undoing the chains wrapped around my wrists.His touch was quiet. Gentle. Each click of the locks made me exhale a little easier.“I’m sorry,” he murmured, not meeting my gaze. “We didn’t know what else to do.”I didn’t respond. My throat was still tight.The last shackle dropped to the floor with a metallic clink. I rubbed my wrists instinctively—angry red marks circling them.But before I could say anything, Kai leaned forward, took one of my wrists in his palm… and pressed a kiss against the irritated skin.I froze.The warmth of his lips lingered for only a second—but the sting vanished instantly. I blinked, stunned, and looked down. The marks were gone.“Kai?” I breathed. “How did you…?”He chuckled softly, standing back to his full height. “I can do a lot of things, my love.”My stomach flipped a lit
I stood still.The water dripped from my hair. My skin still glowed faintly, markings humming beneath the surface. The silence around me wasn’t peaceful—it was coiled. Like a held breath.I was naked. But I didn’t feel cold. I didn’t feel… anything. Not properly.And their eyes—God, they were staring.Kai.Kylan.Kieran.They stood frozen near the edge of the spring, all three looking like they wanted to move closer but didn’t dare.“She’s not… blinking,” Kylan muttered.“She’s not Briar,” Kai replied, his voice low and sharp.Something twitched in my chest. I didn’t know if it was anger or sadness. Something flickered. I looked down at the water swirling around my waist. It was still listening. Ready.“What if she screams again?” Kylan whispered. “What if she vaporizes us this time?”I looked up slowly.Kai didn’t move. “Then we hope she remembers who we are before it happens.”Kylan turned to him. “Oh great. Hope. Yeah, that’ll totally keep our bodies from turning to smoke.”“Be qu