[ Calantha] I exhaled deeply and adjusted my cheap dress for what felt like the hundredth time. My nerves were getting the best of me and making my hands fidgety as I stepped inside the mansion. The place was buzzing with the sound of laughter, loud music, and the heavy scent of alcohol and cigarettes hung in the air. At every corner of the mansion were young adults shamelessly making out. Some were half dressed and some were worse. I swallowed hard, forcing myself to focus as my eyes searched around the room carefully, mentally aware that I had limited time to be here. Mrs. Grant, my owner, had sent me on an errand and I had taken advantage of the opportunity to trace and find him. Ryker. The guy I had dated for three years but never met in person. And then, all of a sudden, he went ghost on me for the past two weeks. At first, I had been worried and feared that something bad had happened to him. But now that I was standing in this chaotic scene, surrounded by wild party vibe
[ Calantha ]THE NEXT DAY "Calantha! Where the hell is that useless slave?!" Mrs. Grant’s sharp voice rang out from outside, her impatient footsteps echoing closer. In the kitchen, I was scrambling to finish washing the dishes while keeping an eye on the food simmering on the stove. My heart raced as I shouted back. “I’m almost done!” I tried to move faster but in my rush, my hand bumped against an expensive ceramic plate. My stomach dropped as I watched it slip off the counter. Instinctively, I focused my mind, and just before it could shatter on the ground, the plate froze midair. Relief washed over me as I carefully picked it up and placed it back on the counter. I quickly returned to my work, pretending nothing had happened. My powers were my deepest secret and to be honest, I didn’t know how it got it either. From a young age, I discovered I could move things with my mind, heal injured animals, and even bring dying plants back to life. But my adoptive parents had warn
[ Calantha ]“You evil wrench!” Isadora’s hand slapped across my cheek, the sting sending me staggering into the kitchen table. Behind her, Mr. and Mrs. Grant stood, their furious eyes as sharp as hers.“You think you can steal the Lycan King from me? You? A worthless, stinking servant?!” She screamed, grabbing a fistful of my hair and yanking hard. Pain shot through my scalp, and tears burned in my eyes as I cried out.“Please, let me go! It wasn’t my fault!” I sobbed, trying to pry her hands away, but her grip was unrelenting. “Not your fault?” She screeched, leaning in closer. “Then whose fault is it? Huh? Tell me!” Her fingers tugged harder, and for a moment, I thought she might actually rip my hair out. “Mate? Mate?! No one else can be his mate but me! Never!”Then, she shoved me hard and I fell to the floor near her parents’ feet. As I struggled to get up, Mrs. Grant stepped on my hand with her sharp heel, pressing down so hard it felt like she was crushing my bones.“You neve
[ Calantha ]“Go get the head priestess. Tell her we’re here.”Kaiden ordered his guards and they immediately obeyed, disappearing into the head priestess’s house. I stood beside him, my heart pounding as I scanned my eerie surroundings. The air smelled of damp earth and something faintly herbal.A minute later, the guard returned, followed closely by an elderly woman with white long hair, and an air of mystery around her. She was the head priestess. I had only seen her only once or twice at the full moon festival.As soon as she reached us, she bowed deeply before Kaiden.“My King.”“Tara,” Kaiden acknowledged.Tara’s eyes flickered to me for a brief moment before returning to Kaiden. There seemed to be some kind of understanding in her eyes and it made me realize that she was in this plan too.“Let’s begin the mating ritual.” Kaiden said and without any hesitation, Tara turned and led us inside. The small wooden house had a cozy but peculiar atmosphere. Dried herbs hung from the c
[ Kaiden ]As expected, my mother was waiting for me the moment I stepped into the packhouse.Queen Adeline stood in the foyer, pacing back and forth, visibly annoyed and irritated. Despite the anger radiating off her, she looked as composed and regal as always.The second her gaze landed on me, it flickered toward Calantha with nothing but hatred and disgust. The poor girl tensed beside me, visibly shrinking under my mother’s glare.Still, she bowed. “G-Good day, My Queen.”My mother didn’t acknowledge her greeting. Instead, she shifted her burning gaze to me and stormed forward.“Getting mated to a slave girl behind my back? What the hell were you thinking?!”I didn’t reply right away. Instead, I turned toward the head maid standing behind her.“Take the Luna to the room prepared for her.”The head maid obeyed immediately, leading Calantha upstairs. I waited until they disappeared before shifting my attention back to my mother.“A slave girl? Really?!” she snapped, disbelief in her
[ Calantha ]"That's her?""Oh my god, she's not even pretty. What does the Lycan King see in her?""Do you think he was charmed?""This is such a slap to Isadora's face."The whispers flooded into my ears as I walked through the grand hallway of Redwood Elite Academy. I could feel the weight of a hundred eyes piercing through me, judging, mocking and dissecting my very existence.At that moment, I regretted not walking in with Kaiden. Letting him go ahead while I followed later had been a mistake. A big one.At first, I had been excited by the idea of a new school, new beginnings. But that feeling had faded the second I stepped through the academy doors and realized I was the day's spectacle.I kept my head down as I walked, my fingers gripping the strap of my backpack so tightly that my knuckles ached. I wished, desperately, for the ground to split open and swallow me whole.I felt like an imposter. I don’t belong here.And as if the universe had heard my silent misery and decided
CALANTHAHaving grown up unnoticed in the shadows and always in the background, I had never been the center of attention.But now, as I stood frozen, watching Ryker recover from the punch Kaiden had just landed on him, I felt completely exposed. Every eye was on me, and I wished I could disappear into the ground.“Fuck!” Ryker hissed, steadying himself while wiping the blood from his lips. Kaiden stared at him with those cold, piercing turquoise eyes, unmoving and intimidating.At first, Ryker looked furious and ready to retaliate, until he realized it was Kaiden who had hit him. His expression shifted, and fear mixed with the anger in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, hesitated, then lowered his head slightly in submission before straightening again.“What right do you have to lay your filthy hands on the Luna?” Kaiden’s voice was sharp and icy, his eyes never leaving Ryker.I felt my heart pound at the weight of the moment, aware of the crowd still watching.Ryker let out a short, hum
KAIDENThe council meeting happened later than I expected. With the way the pack had been in chaos since I took a slave as my mate, I thought they would have called for this meeting much sooner.But anyway, here we were, gathered in my throne room. I sat on my throne, with my beta; Bradley, standing beside me.“My King,” Elder Josef spoke up first. “You are the Lycan King, and your word is final. But that doesn’t change the fact that taking a slave as your mate may be a mistake…”I cut him off, my cold gaze locking onto him. “Are you saying I made a mistake? That I don’t know how to make the right decision?”Elder Josef’s eyes widened in panic, and he quickly shook his head. “N-no, My King. That’s not what I meant…”“My King,” Elder Kane interjected, rising from his seat. “I believe what Elder Josef is trying to say is that your decision goes against the agreement your father —the late Lycan King— made with Timothy Grant when you and Isadora Grant were born. By mating with the slave
CROSSAfter walking Calantha back to her apartment and making sure she was safely inside—even though she clearly didn’t want me to—I left again. This time, I drove. The place I was heading to was far, and walking wasn’t an option.It took nearly thirty minutes to get there. I parked in front of an old building deep in the woods. There was nothing else around. Just towering trees and the silence of the night pressing in. Most people would be scared to be here, but not me. I had lived like this before, alone and hidden for three long years during exile. Plus, this place wasn’t new to me.As I walked toward the building, I noticed glowing eyes watching me from the shadows. The coven’s security. They didn’t move until they were sure it was me. Then one of them stepped forward and opened the heavy doors.Inside, the room was wide and dimly lit. A few young men and women in black sat on worn-out couches. Their faces were hard. Their bodies were bruised, arms and legs in slings. Others, no
CALANTHA “Oh gods…” I breathed out, rushing to Cross. He was on the ground, trying to push himself up even though blood was still flowing from the stab wound in his side.I dropped to my knees beside him, my heart pounding with fear. His face was pale, and I could hear how hard and uneven his breathing was.“You can’t get up yet,” I said quickly, reaching out to steady him. “You’re still bleeding.”He winced but didn’t stop trying. His hand pressed over the wound, trying to slow the bleeding.“How did you even know I was here?” I asked, frowning in confusion.“I was out for a run,” he said between heavy breaths. “I saw you… I’ve been behind you this whole time.”“Oh.” I whispered, guilt sinking into my chest. Just like the other night he had escorted me home from the food stall to make sure I was safe, he had done it again tonight.He interrupted my thoughts. “Let’s go already.” He said, pushing himself up again.But I didn’t move. I just stared at him.This was my fault. He was hu
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