CALANTHA THE NEXT DAYToday, I wanted to look my best for school. I had figured that maybe if I dressed well, I wouldn’t be a target for bullying.Since I wasn’t good at makeup, I kept it simple —just a touch of mascara, some clear lip gloss, and my hair styled into soft waves. Even though it wasn’t much, I liked how I looked. Smiling at my reflection, I felt a small sense of pride. Hopefully, things goes according to my plan today.A sudden knock on the door came, pulling me from my thoughts.“My Luna,” a maid’s voice called from outside.“Yes?” I answered, pausing as I adjusted my skirt.“The chauffeur is waiting to take you to the academy, My Luna.”“Alright, I’ll be down in a second.” I smiled, even though she could not see me.“Okay, My Luna.” She said before I heard her footsteps fade down the hallway.Taking one last glance at myself, I smoothed out my knee-length skirt and adjusted my blouse. Then, grabbing my backpack, I stepped out of my room and made my way down the hall.
CALANTHA Despite still getting lingering stares from students, no one dared to approach me or throw any demeaning words my way. It was a relief. I had been on edge all morning, anticipating trouble in Kaiden’s absence, but for now, things seemed quite manageable. That didn’t mean I was completely in the clear. From across the lecture hall, Isadora’s friends shot daggers at me with their eyes, resentment heavy in their expressions. It was obvious that we’re still furious about what had happened in the bathroom the other day. I swallowed and looked away, my shoulders tensing. I really hope they let it go. I had only been trying to protect that poor girl from them. Why couldn’t they just forgive and forget? But of course, that was wishful thinking. After classes and a short break for sports activities, I stood by my locker, organizing my books. Thankfully, the day had been uneventful so far. No direct confrontations, no harsh words. Maybe things really were settling down. Bang!
CALANTHA“M-Mr. Grant…” I stammered as he strode toward me. He stopped just a few feet away, his hands clasped behind his back, with an unsettling smile stretching across his lips. A smile that never quite reached his cold, mischievous eyes.This was the first time Mr. Grant had ever smiled at me. The first time he had ever approached me alone.And that only made me more wary.What does he want from me?“I’ve been waiting for you,” he said, his tone almost too casual. “I came to visit the Lycan King and thought I might as well wait around. See if I could bump into you.” His dark eyes gleamed with something unreadable. “And as luck would have it, here you are.”I swallowed hard, tension coiling in my stomach. I already knew that this was about Isadora.He wasn’t here for small talk. He wasn’t here to simply ‘bump into me.’ If there was one thing I knew about the Grants, it was that they never ‘talked’ to me about anything.They beat me.They kicked me, threw me around like I was nothin
KAIDEN I paced the length of my chamber, restless and impatient, my mind spiraling with questions I had no answers to.Where the fuck was Tara?I had sent for her immediately after my encounter with Calantha, and every second that passed without her presence only fueled my frustration.I needed answers.Calantha had been right. Our bond was fake. It was nothing more than a fabricated connection. And even though I had marked her as mine, there were limits and restrictions that set us apart from true fated mates.One of those restrictions was that I wasn’t supposed to be able to feel her emotions.And yet, I had.I could still remember it vividly. The panic that had slammed into me, the suffocating fear that had wrapped around my chest like a steel vice. It wasn’t just a suspicion or some fleeting thought. I had felt it.Like those emotions were mine.And that was impossible.Unless…No.I clenched my jaw, forcing the thought out of my head just as a knock echoed through the room.My
CALANTHAKaiden was attending the academy with me today, now that he was feeling better.I kept my body angled away from him in the car as the chauffeur drove us toward the academy, my gaze fixed on the passing scenery outside the window. I wasn’t looking at anything in particular —just avoiding him. Avoiding his gaze, his presence, and any conversation that might start between us.I had promised myself I would keep my distance.I had to. I was a slave. A girl like me had no right to be anywhere near a Lycan King like him.I was here because of a contract, a deal that bound me to his world temporarily. And when it was over, I would disappear from his life as if I had never existed.Nothing more. Nothing less."Did you have breakfast this morning?"His voice came beside me, cutting through the silence. I still kept my eyes on the window, not relying him. "I didn’t see you at the dining table.” He added when I didn’t respond."I had breakfast in my room," I answered simply, my voice d
CALANTHAIn class, I tried my best not to look at Kaiden. But it was hard because every time my eyes so much as flickered in his direction, I caught him staring. Or rather, glaring.And each time, I immediately looked away.Focusing on the lesson was the only thing keeping me sane."So now, we will be doing a little practical," Ms. Thea, our teacher, announced. "You will be paired into groups of three, and each of you will test the potency of honey bee venom."As she spoke, she moved around the room, assigning partners. When she reached me, I listened intently, hoping I wouldn’t end up with someone insufferable."Luna Calantha, you will be paired with Olivia." Ms. Thea said, pointing to a chubby brunette sitting a few seats away.Olivia smiled and gave me a small wave. I was just about to smile back when Ms. Thea added…"And the third person in your group is Ryker Slade."I froze.My breath hitched as my eyes darted toward Ryker. He sat lazily in his chair, his lips curled in a smug,
CALANTHAI walked fast, my heart hammering in my chest and my breathing shallow. The image of Kaiden with Isadora burned into my mind. The last thing I had expected to see today or anytime, was the image of Isadora on her knees pleasuring Kaiden.Somehow, it made me very jealous. Although there was nothing going on between Kaiden and I, I felt this anger that the same way he had touched me and made me feel him was the same way he was allowing another girl to do that. I swallowed hard, pushing down the strange feeling in my stomach. Why was I even feeling this way? This was nothing more than so dumb, stupid feeling. Before I could take another step, I heard Kaiden’s voice behind me and his strong hand grabbed my wrist. "Calantha, wait. It’s not what you think.”His voice made the anger I was trying to push down, to rise again. I took a deep breath to steady my bereaved before turning around to face him with a fake, small smile on my face. “Hi, Kaiden.” I flashed him a smile ev
CALANTHA After school hours, Eloise and Nyx invited me to go shopping with them, and without a second thought, I agreed. I was still mad at Kaiden, so I didn’t bother telling him where I was going. If he cared, he could figure it out himself.As we wandered through the high-end boutiques, my phone buzzed repeatedly in my pocket. I didn’t need to check to know it was Kaiden calling. He was persistent, trying to reach me not just by phone but through the mind link as well. But each time he tried to connect, I shut him out.I knew I was playing with fire. Kaiden wasn’t the type to be ignored, and there would be hell to pay when I got back. But for the first time, I allowed myself to be reckless. To push aside all thoughts of duty and just have fun.After we finished shopping, we stopped at a cozy café to unwind. Over steaming cups of coffee, we discussed our business plans again, this time with more clarity and excitement.For the first time, I felt what it was like to be surrounded by
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