Se connecterEMMELINEâȘïžâȘïžâȘïžâȘïžI was walking through the garden, enjoying the crisp morning air, when I saw Callis. She was heading towards the main gate, a small leather bag slung over her shoulder, a rare sight. My steps faltered, my heart giving a small, surprised jolt. Callis rarely left the estate unless it was for urgent medicinal supplies.âVacation?â I asked, a smile tugging at my lips, unable to hide my surprise and a genuine spark of delight for her. It was long overdue.Callis stopped, a faint, almost shy smile touching her usually stoic face. âApparently,â she said, her eyes meeting mine, a hint of something resembling relief in their depths. âFinnâs idea. Said I needed to âreacquaint myself with not being on duty.ââ She rolled her eyes, but there was a warmth there. âIâll be back, Emmeline. Donât let the estate burn down while Iâm gone.âI laughed, a warm, genuine sound. It was good to see her like this, even if it was fleeting. âNo promises, Callis,â I teased back, shaking my head. â
EMMELINEâȘïžâ«ïžâȘïžâ«ïžThe first slivers of dawn were just painting the sky when I stirred, a deep, contented sigh escaping me. I stretched, my muscles still pleasantly sore from yesterdayâs quiet, intimate moments with Darius. The bed felt warm and safe.I opened my eyes, expecting to find Darius still beside me, but the space next to me was empty. I blinked and then saw him. He was already halfway dressed, his broad back to me, pulling on a dark tunic.âYouâre up early,â I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.He turned, a faint smile on his lips, his eyes soft. âI want you to come with me,â he replied, his voice low, a gentle invitation. âTo the southern fields. Theyâve finished the new orchard line. I want you to see it.âI pushed myself up, leaning against the headboard. Trees? After everything, after the chaos, the battles, the sheer scale of the challenges we still faced, he wanted me to see⊠trees? It seemed almost absurd.âYouâre taking me to see trees, Darius?â I asked, a hint of a
EMMELINEâȘïžâ«ïžâȘïžâ«ïžâȘïžI spotted Sylas just past the garden wall, walking towards me with someone new. My curiosity immediately sparked. It was a woman, tall and strikingly beautiful, moving with an easy grace that spoke of confidence.âEmmeline,â Sylas greeted, his usual gruff demeanor softened just a touch. âSomeone I want you to meet.â His gaze flickered between us, a hint of something shy, almost hopeful, in his eyes.The woman extended her hand without hesitation, her smile warm and genuine. âRhea, Luna,â she introduced herself, her voice clear and strong.âEmmeline,â I replied, shaking her hand firmly. Her grip was strong, steady. I immediately recognized the subtle aura of a Lycan, powerful and grounded. A thought, a very obvious one, clicked into place. âAre you and Sylas⊠together?â I asked, a playful grin tugging at my lips.Rheaâs smile widened, a hint of blush rising on her cheeks. âYes,â she confirmed, glancing briefly at Sylas, who shifted his weight, looking uncharacterist
EMMELINEâ«ïžâȘïžâ«ïžâȘïžThe sound of Valenâs enthusiastic chewing filled the quiet dining chamber. He was tearing into the meat, a small, fierce predator in training. It was only his second time trying real food, and heâd already proven his preferences. Mashed vegetables? Ignored. Shredded meat from my plate? Absolutely devoured.I watched him, wide-eyed, as he made happy, guttural noises, tiny bits of cooked beef clinging to his cheeks. It was both disgusting and utterly adorable. My son, a carnivore from day one.Callis chuckled warmly from across the room. âThat boyâs going to chew through bone before his second year, Emmeline. Just you wait.â She had a point. He gnawed on that meat like a tiny wolf.âHe gets it from his father,â I said, reaching out to wipe a smudge of meat from his chin. He just shoved another chunk in, oblivious, already reaching for more. My heart swelled with a mixture of amusement and pure, unadulterated love. He was everything.When he finally finished, leaving a
DARIUSđ±đ±đ±Two moons. Two whole moons had passed since the Gathering, and sometimes it felt like two lifetimes. The initial, fragile peace had deepened, settled into something more substantial, more real. The estate, once a fortress humming with frantic anxiety, now resonated with the sounds of life. Most importantly, it resonated with the sound of Valen.And he moved, too. Crawling. He was everywhere, a small, determined tornado of baby energy, trying to claw his way towards everything he wasnât supposed to touch. The decorative carvings on the coffee table, the flickering flames in the hearth, the stack of important, very breakable, parchments in my study â nothing was safe. He gripped with a strength that was frankly unsettling for a baby his age, his tiny fingers latching on with an iron vise. He was more advanced, faster, stronger than any baby Iâd ever seen. It was fascinating, terrifying, and deeply, profoundly prideful, all at once.One morning, the proof arrived, a little
EMMELINEđźđźđźđźI stepped into our room, my arms full of folded cloths Iâd just collected from the nursery. My eyes, almost instinctively, darted to the crib. It was empty. My heart gave a familiar, sickening lurch, a quick, sharp stab of panic that always seemed to accompany Valenâs absence. It was an instinct now, this immediate fear, a reflex born from weeks of terror.Then, Callisâs voice echoed down the hall from a neighboring room. âHeâs with me. Relax, Luna.âA breath I hadnât realized I was holding shuddered out of me. âThank the goddess,â I muttered, leaning against the doorframe for a moment, letting the wave of adrenaline subside. I set the folded clothes onto a nearby chest, my hands trembling just a little. My bones ached less these days, the deep, pervasive soreness from the birth and the aftermath of the attack slowly receding. But the feeling, that lingering vulnerability, hadnât left my body entirely. Neither had the fear.I was just reaching for my robe, intending
EMMELINEThe morning air was thick with tension. I stepped outside with Darius, my heart pounding, but my face calm. People had gathered in clusters, whispering, pointing, their expressions a mix of shock, fear, and anger. In the middle of the crowd, Jeremyâs lifeless body lay sprawled on the groun
EMMELINEThe room was dark, except for the dim glow of the lantern flickering in the corner. The scent of strong liquor lingered in the air, mixing with the faint smell of burning wood from the dying fire.I sat on the edge of Alpha Jeremyâs massive bed, my fingers gently tapping against my knee. T
EMMELINEJeremy staggered back, his eyes narrowing in pure disbelief."What the hell did you just say?" he asked, his voice low, dangerous.I blinked innocently, my lips curved into a slow and deliberate smile. "Oh, nothing serious. I just meant that you'd die from pleasure tonight." I tilted my he
EMMELINEDarius won the hunting games today. Of course, he did.Apparently, he had won it multiple times over the years, and from the way the other Alphas were gathered around, admiring the dead bear like it was some legendary trophy, youâd think he had just slain a god.I exhaled slowly, watching







