Se connecterThere were many tales about the Aeternum Desert. One of many had been of explorers who’d been on a mission to meet the Council face to face, despite being uninvited. It was told that their bones were later found after years at the desert’s borders.Desert Aeternum was called many names, Land of bones—as some believe the bones of those killed by the Council were buried in the sand, others called the place The Land of No Return. And that was exactly where I was walking into.From first sight, the desert looked like any other, but a closer look revealed a few differences—the too white sand, the desert plants that stayed completely still despite the strong wind, and then the strange smell of something too sweet that filled the air.I’d arrived in my wolf form, my clothes held between my jaws, but one step into the strange desert had caused a force-shift that left me in my human form. It was like the place contained some kind of magic that prevented werewolves from entering in their beast
CASSIAN’S POV“I can’t believe I’d beaten you—twice!” Eloise boasted with a huge grin on her face.“Yeah you did, and something tells me I’d never hear the end of it.”“You definitely won’t.”What she hadn’t realized was that I’d let her win, but I had to admit it would have been a tough race nevertheless. Not even Gideon ran this fast and he was the beta.I wondered if all of this was connected with Darth being her father and the mysterious woman being her mother.I’d never before seen a wolf with white fur before, not once. She was stronger too, and I realized that had to be exactly how she’d managed to take down those men whilst being injured. Truly, she was a wonder.Now she laid beside me on the moist grass, dressed in nothing but the coat I’d offered her, as she slept soundly. I watched her, the rise and fall of her chest, the involuntary jerks she made, her lips slightly open in a pout and her lashes casting a shadow over her cheeks. She had said she wasn’t going to waste a mo
Soon enough we were in nothing but our briefs. I couldn’t help the nerves I felt at the fact that this might be my first shift in years. “You should go first,” I said to him. In one swift motion, he shifted. The transition was so fast I could have easily missed it. Now his brown furred wolf stood before me, but his blue eyes remained as they were.“That’s actually cool.”The wolfish smirk was all I got and I hoped that was Mehka. Now it was my turn. I shut my eyes, trying to reach for my wolf but held onto nothing. I tried over and again, but came out empty.“This is pointless. She is there somewhere, I know it, but it’s like she’s purposely avoiding contact.”“I can try reaching for her,”“And how would you…” I trailed off when I realized I’d heard in my head.“Mindlink,” he reminded me. But that wasn’t something every couple was capable of doing. For a successful communication both parties had to have a deep connection with their wolves, but I knew for a fact that the connection I
GIDEON’S POVMinutes Earlier… Eloise bolted for the exit with tears streaming down her face.I was no stranger to Cassian’s anger, I’d seen it before and I was well aware just how deadly it was, but I’d never seen him this angry. The corpse of the pack member lay in front of me, eyes still wide open.“Does anyone else have something to say about my mate?” the words had left his lips, but the voice wasn’t his—it was his wolf’s, and no one was stupid enough to utter a word.“I’ll have you all know that I will not stand here and watch you accuse her for a crime she did not commit; she is innocent. But if you need someone to pin the blame on, then turn to me. From now and hence forth, any one who spreads false news about my wife will be instantly put to death—and I don’t give a fuck what rank you hold.”Fear was written on the faces of the pack members, and the moment Cassian walked down the dais the crowd parted like the red sea, letting him through. I was just about to go after him wh
ELOISE'S POVThe hours went by in a blur. I’d gotten multiple dance requests from members, but I’d turned them all down, not exactly in the mood for that. I was aware that this was a big deal— it was the first Joining Ceremony the pack had seen in decades, yet the consciousness of what awaited us tomorrow left me unable to celebrate.A part of me wished I never discovered the truth, maybe then I’d have been able to make the most of all of this without the constant anxiety tugging at my mind.“What’s on your mind?” the voice that could only belong to Cassian whispered from behind me, before he joined me on the ceremonial seat. “You seem a bit distracted.”I let my gaze meet his, trying and failing to find even a hint of worry in those blue eyes. Sometimes I wished he wasn’t so good at hiding his feelings, maybe then I’d be able to tell how he actually felt.Just as I was about to speak, my words were cut off by a bald-headed man. “It’s time for the presentation of gifts!” he announced
CASSIAN’S POVEloise was seated on the dais overlooking the crowd as groups displayed their performances. The first group were dancers—about two dozen women, all dressed in beaded tops and skirts made of feathers. They moved expertly to the beat of the drums, dancing in perfect synchrony. The next set of people displayed their mastery of the violin and it went on like that. But my gaze was fixed on her, unable to look away. Eloise looked like an angel who’d descended down from the heavens. She looked every bit the Luna seated up there and all I could was watch. Gideon walked up to me, and I couldn’t help but notice how tense he was. “I know you’ve never been one for parties, but could you look any less tense?” I questioned, accepting two flutes of champagne from a waiter, then passed one to him.“I do enjoy this type of party,” he corrected, taking a sip from the flute. “But?” I prodded,“Look over your right, three o’ clock.” Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, I did, my
ELOISE’S POVWhen I was a little girl, I imagined what getting married would feel like. I’d imagined my mate getting down on his knee, a ring in his hand as he proclaimed his undying love to me. But I’d grown to realize that things like that don’t always happen, because many didn’t see the need fo
I could tell Eloise was nervous as she laid on the examination table in the healing room. I stood by her side, my hands intertwined in her much softer, little ones.I watched Stella apply a gel over her stomach, before getting to work. Minutes after there was an image on the screen.“That is the b
It was already midnight and I was still at the office. Letters from the Zone leaders were piled up in front of me, most of them requesting I give out a public statement on Rosalia’s death. I’d spoken to Captain Hilary, he wasn’t exactly bothered about the ex-Luna’s death, but the fact that it was
CASSIANI sat in the investigation room before a middle-aged woman with short graying hair. Gideon stood outside, just by the door.“Lucia, that’s the name right?” I questioned and she nodded. But I didn’t miss her trembling hands, or the way she kept biting on her lips in worry, or the way her ey







