CROSSThe weekend arrived faster than I wanted, and as Ryker’s driver drove us into Shadow Moon Pack’s territory, a familiar, bitter feeling settled in my gut. This was the place I once called home, until two years ago, when my father cast me out, branding me as a threat to society.For years, I held onto my hatred for him, letting it grow and fester. Now, as I prepared to see him again, I wasn’t sure how I would handle it. This was the man who destroyed my life, stripped me of everything, and left me with nothing.My jaw tightened as I gazed out the window, watching the pack I had once dreamed of leading. The buildings, the people… they all looked the same. Yet, everything was different. They feared me now, wary of the name that once meant something but was now tainted.“Nervous?” Ryker’s voice cut through the silence beside me.I didn’t bother looking at him. I could hear the amusement in his tone, that ever-present mockery. While I, the eldest son, had been cast aside, Ryker had be
CALANTHAI barely saw Kaiden throughout the weekend. At some point, I started to feel like he was avoiding me.And honestly, I didn’t understand why.Maybe it was because of what happened at the ball… when that Cross guy kissed me. But that didn’t make sense either, because I had given the video of the maid’s confession to Bradley, and he said he showed it to Kaiden.So if Kaiden knew the truth, why would he still be upset with me? Unless it wasn’t about that at all. Maybe it was something else entirely.Either way, I had no real chance to ask him. He was busy this weekend, attending council meetings, visiting other packs, or locked away in serious conversations with his mother.By the end of the weekend, I told myself I was probably being selfish for wanting his attention. Maybe he was just busy.But even when Monday came and we rode to the academy together, he barely looked my way. He didn’t stare at me ridiculously at my lame jokes or give me dry replies like he usually did.In our
CALANTHAAfter the call ended, I went back to my room and changed into a looser top that didn’t show as much skin. I kept the same pair of short jeans on. A few minutes later, Eloise’s car pulled up at the packhouse and I stepped outside to meet them. Luckily, the guards didn’t stop me since they recognized I was leaving with friends.“Get in, loser! Sorry—I mean, Luna!” Eloise shouted from the driver’s seat, laughing like a maniac.I laughed too. She was such a crazy girl. I slid into the backseat of the car.“You look amazing, babe.” Nyx said, turning around from the front seat. She and Eloise were both dressed in eye-catching outfits. Skimpy, bold, with sunglasses propped on their heads.“You both look better.” I replied with a small smile, brushing off the compliment.“Calantha, Calantha. Always so humble.” Eloise said with a grin as she started the engine.In no time, we arrived at a large private estate. Security guards at the gate checked us in and waved us through. We drove
CALANTHA“I know everyone already knows how this game works, but how about we add a new twist this time?” said the same guy who had made the earlier announcement.We were all gathered around now. Eloise, Nyx, and I sat on one lounge chair, while Isadora and Sara sat directly across from us. Jameson and his group were huddled together on another lounge nearby, with Miranda practically glued to his side. A girl in a bikini was sitting on Ryker’s lap, clearly enjoying the attention. Across from me sat Lysandra, who did everything she could to avoid my gaze.With everyone settled, the guy began explaining the new rules.“So, what’s the twist?” Miranda asked curiously.“I hope it’s something nasty,” the bikini girl said, sticking out her tongue in a wild way as she twerked her barely clad ass on Ryker’s lap. Laughter erupted from the group, and a few people even clapped.In the middle of all the noise, I felt out of place. It wasn’t that I was judging anyone. I wasn’t. It just didn’t feel
CALANTHA “Then answer the damn question, Lysandra. Did you or did you not meet Kaiden in the changing room and make out with him?” I froze. That was the last thing I had expected Sara to say. Even though I was caught off guard, I couldn’t say I was totally surprised. After all, I had seen it with my own eyes just days ago. How Lysandra had practically shoved her tongue down Kaiden’s throat. Yes, they were broken up. But it was obvious she wasn’t over him. Just like that day when I had walked in on them kissing, a heavy ache settled in my stomach. It hurt more than I wanted to admit. “What the hell are you talking about?” Lysandra snapped, her voice sharp and shaky. She was trying to sound angry, but it was clear she was just trying to cover up the truth. Everyone had gone quiet now. I caught a glimpse of Isadora, a sly smile spreading on her lips as she enjoyed every bit of the drama. I looked toward Ryker. His face was still and blank, but I could feel that he was watching me
CALANTHAThe gods… What in the world was I doing?I couldn’t sleep. My heart was pounding so loudly, I was sure Kaiden could hear it. I had my back turned to Kaiden who was now fast asleep behind me, the firm press of his length resting against my ass. He wasn’t even touching me, and yet, my core was already achingly drenched in an ocean wave of sexual anticipation as I mentally fought to get rid of the dirty thoughts in my mind.I should have left when he mentioned that he slept naked. That would have been the smart thing to do. But walking out would have made me look like a coward. And truth be told… I didn’t want to leave.The truth was, I planned this. I had injured my finger on purpose and lied about the ghost in my room just to have a reason to be here tonight. Dressed like this. In his bed. After all that had happened at the party tonight, I had made up my mind to have sex with Kaiden and give him a pup. Even if our contract expired and I was left all alone again, I would be
CALANTHA The night we had a one night stand as total strangers, I didn’t give Kaiden a blow job, neither did we do anything wild or intense. He had guided me, just as gently and patiently as he was doing now, and he had made love with me, as though careful so he wouldn’t break more than a hymen.And yet, that sexual moment had stuck to my head ever since then.Now, he was asking me to take his cock inside his mouth. I already knew this one was more tense than our first sex. And the thought of that excited me so much, that my pussy pulsed with wild need and sexual excitement.Slowly, I reached to touch his cock but his grip tightened gently in my hair, stopping me. My scalp ached a little, but not seriously enough to cause any pain.“No hands.” He warned, although his tone remained calm. “I need your mouth and tongue wrapped around me, sweetheart. We can back off now if you can’t…”Before he could complete his sentence, I leaned in and wrapped my lips around his cock.A sharp inhale
The pleasure was too much. Too intense. My body twitched involuntarily, trying to shy away from Kaiden’s mouth, but his grip tightened around my thighs, holding me firmly in place. Then came the sudden slap against my ass. Sharp and hot. Echoing through the room and straight to my soaking drenched core. I gasped, my back arching as a fresh wave of aching desire pulsed through me. “Stop running,” Kaiden growled, his voice low and possessive, a warning threaded in silk. “Or I’ll make it worse for you.” My breath caught in my throat, and I collapsed forward, my cheek pressing into the sheets, my body already trembling beneath him. I didn’t dare move again, not when the ecstasy he was giving me felt this devastating. By now, my nightie had already disappeared, discarded somewhere on the floor, and I was completely naked; bare and exposed before him. He ran his hands along the curve of my ass, kneading it gently, his touch both tender and sinful. Then he parted my legs again, spreadin
CALANTHA I didn’t know how long I stood frozen, locked in a silent staring match with the group of masked intruders.But I was the first to snap out of it. Without even thinking twice, I turned and ran.“Stop her!” One of them yelled, and the rest immediately started chasing after me.My heart pounded hard in my chest as I pushed myself to run faster, my legs burning with effort. I just needed to get away, and make it back.But of course, I wasn’t fast enough.“Get back here, you little…” I felt someone grab the back of my hoodie and yank it. The hood slipped off, and panic flooded me. I twisted and struggled, trying to break free, but the man flung me aside with ease. I hit the ground hard, scraping my hand. A sharp pain shot through me, and I let out a low grunt.“Who the hell are you?” I demanded, backing away on the ground as the group circled me. They all wore black, their faces hidden behind masks, their eyes cold and cruel.“The Luna,” the one who had shouted earlier said as
CALANTHAThe woman was running, holding a baby tightly in her arms. She was breathing hard, glancing back with fear in her eyes. I could see everything through the eyes of the baby she was holding, even though the woman’s face looked a bit blurred. She ran through the woods, stumbling over branches but quickly getting back on her feet. Her long white dress dragged along the forest floor as she moved, her face wet with tears and panic.Behind her, a group of incredibly tall men dressed in white robes chased after her. They held long staffs, and they looked terrifying.The woman turned her head again, gasping for breath, her eyes wide with fear. But just as she looked forward again, the hem of her dress caught on a broken branch.She fell to the ground with a heavy thud. But even as she hit the earth, she protected the baby in her arms, cradling the child’s head so it wouldn’t get hurt.“Give us the child,” one of the men ordered. They stood over her now, their staffs raised like weapo
KAIDEN“The tournament organizers, led by the High Priestess, have begun preparations,” Bradley reported calmly. “From what I’ve seen in the mails sent to you, several high-ranking figures will begin arriving in our pack starting tomorrow. The Vampire King is among them. His crowned prince will be participating in the tournament as well.”My hand froze mid-sentence, the quill pausing just above the paper. I had been drafting formal invitations to other royals across the realm, but Bradley’s last words caught my attention.“The Vampire Prince?” I asked, glancing up at him with a slight frown. “Didn’t he take part in the last tournament with me?”Bradley nodded. “Yes, my King. Like you, this will be his second, and final tournament.”“Interesting.” I muttered, eyes returning to the letter I had been writing.Back then, the Vampire Prince had proven himself a worthy opponent. He was tactical, fierce, and unpredictable. He had made the games challenging, not just for me but for the entire
LYSANDRAI took a deep breath, a soft smile spreading across my face as I sipped my tea. The warm scent of flowers and herbs from the garden surrounded me, wrapping me in a calm I rarely found anywhere else.It was early morning, and the academy was on a short break for the next two days. That meant I could spend time in my favorite place. The garden.The break had been given because of the upcoming tournament. Preparations had already started, and soon the pack would be buzzing with important guests from different packs, clans, and kingdoms. But for now, everything was still and quiet.Days like this were the ones I treasured the most. Sitting here, away from all the noise, just watching the flowers sway in the wind, the butterflies flit around, and the squirrels chase each other with tiny nuts. It felt like a little piece of heaven.My smile faded a little as my eyes caught a squirrel struggling under a low shrub. I leaned in for a closer look and noticed its leg was injured. It loo
NYXMy eyes widened in shock and fear. My heart thumped wildly as I stared at the broken pieces of the vase I had just smashed against his head.He lay on the floor, groaning in pain, a small trail of blood trickling from the side of his head. At least he was still alive. For a second, I had thought I killed him.“You…” he groaned, trying to crawl toward me, reaching for my foot. But before he could get close, I turned and ran—bolting out the door and down the hallway, my torn nightie flapping behind me, barely covering my body.I didn’t stop. Not even when I passed Aunt Diane, who was sitting in the foyer, lazily smoking her pipe. She sat up fast, sensing something was wrong. But I didn’t wait for her to ask. I just kept running.Because I knew that attacking an elite meant so much trouble for me. I was so done for. Once I burst through the gates and out onto the road, barefoot and shaking, I stopped in the middle of the street, my chest heaving. My ears rang with the sound of rushi
NYXTrigger Warning: This chapter contains scenes of attempted assault and may be distressing for some readers. Please proceed with caution.~~~~After a while, I finished showering. The cold water stung the open cuts on my back from Aunt Diane’s whip, making me flinch every time it touched my skin. I bit back the tears, trying not to cry as I washed the blood away.Once I was done, I changed into the usual lingerie I wore on nights like this—thin, see-through, and short. It stopped just above my thighs, showing the lace panties and bra I wore underneath. I hated it. But I didn’t have a choice.I sat in front of the mirror, spraying some perfume on my neck and wrists. The smell filled the air, sweet and heavy. My stomach twisted, and I felt sick. My eyes were full of tears, but I held them back. I just stared at the broken girl looking back at me in the mirror.This was when I always blamed my mother. The anger inside me burned. If she had been a real mother, none of this would be hap
NYXI didn’t miss the way Eloise kept glancing at me with concern during the entire car ride from the academy. Her silence spoke louder than words. Every time I felt her eyes on me, I looked away, pretending to be interested in the scenery outside the window, pretending everything was fine.When we finally arrived at my aunt’s mansion, I opened the door and stepped out quietly, shutting it behind me. Just as I turned to leave, her voice stopped me.“Should I come in with you?” She asked through the rolled-down window, her tone gentle but filled with worry.I forced a small smile onto my face as I looked up at her. “It’s fine. You don’t have to.”But the moment our eyes met, she caught the fear behind my mask. I saw it in her face—the way her expression shifted. She opened her door and got out at once. “Come on,” she said, reaching for my hand. “Let’s go in together.”“I already said it’s fine.” I pulled my hand back softly, not harshly, but firm enough that she understood I wasn’t g
CALANTHA“I remember my name now!” The timid boy said as we lay on the ground, breathing hard and trying to recover from the adrenaline rush. A small, relieved laugh escaped his lips. “Oh, gods… I actually remember!”“I remember too!” Eloise gasped, turning her head quickly to look at me. A wide, happy smile lit up her face, just like his. “Calantha. I remember now. Damn, I thought I was going to lose my mind back there.”I laughed softly, still catching my breath. It felt so strange that just a few minutes ago, I couldn’t even recognize the girl beside me as my best friend.This trial was definitely the hardest, scariest, and most confusing thing we had ever faced. And honestly, I would give anything not to go through the main tournament after this.“Come on. Let’s go find Nyx.” Eloise said, pushing herself up and reaching a hand out to me. I took it and stood, brushing dried leaves and dirt off my clothes. The others got up too, and I looked around.Other participants were stepping
CALANTHA As everyone started to panic, shouting things like “Who are you?” and “Why are we here?”, I took a step back and let my eyes roam around the strange room that had trapped the five of us together.The walls were tall panes of silver glass, stretching out in every direction like an endless mirror maze, reflecting our confused faces a thousand times over. A soft hum echoed through the room, and suddenly, a glowing clock appeared on one of the mirrors.00:10:59.An eleven-minute countdown.Fear climbed up my throat. What were we supposed to do?Beside me, the timid-looking boy stepped closer to the mirrors, frowning as he studied the clock.“We’re being timed.” He said quietly.“Timed?” The girl with soft cherry-brown hair echoed, stepping forward to see for herself. Her forehead creased with worry.As everyone started pacing in confusion, trying to make sense of the place, I moved closer to one of the mirrors and stared into it.My breath caught in my throat.My reflection didn