Kalista felt her heart slam against her chest as Gregory's words registered within her. He knew? How did he know Jade wasn't human? Had he been there that night?"That can't be true," she shook her head. "Jade is human. What makes you think he's not?""It is a long story," Gregory continued, oblivious to the shocked look on Kalista's face. "I wish I can explain how I know, but it doesn't matter"He then gripped her arms and peered into her eyes. "I'm sorry Kalista, but you must stay away from him," he said worriedly. "I fear he has a hand in your mother's death. Their kind hasn't mingled with us for years, thus it is strange that he would show up here. I plan to expose him, that's why I don't want you to be associated with him when I do"Kalista's heartbeats increased with each word that emitted from Gregory's mouth. She couldn't let Jade's secret be discovered. She had to do something"Sir Gregory," she began hurriedly. "I was with Jade all through the night. He isn't what you think
Jade stared at the man before him suspiciously. His brown eyes narrowed, scrutinizing Kai like an insect. To be honest, he didn't feel anything from the nervous looking man standing before him. He didn't feel any threat, his inner beast didn't feel the slightest danger.Maybe it wasn't him."Jade?" Kalista touched his hand when he remained quiet. "Did you have something to say to him?"Jade stared at Kai for a few more seconds before he shook his head. "You're a swordsmith", he stated."Yes sir," Kai bowed slightly to show his respect."A weapon of yours caught my attention," Jade continued. "A dagger, with a peculiar symbol at the hilt. An arrow in the sky""The dragon heart dagger," Kai nodded. "It has the symbol of Northville. It is one of my specialty""And do these daggers travel wild?" Jade asked further. "They do, sir," Kai responded. "People from different cities and kingdoms travel down here to the central city to purchase my goods. Is there a reason for your questions sir?"
Kalista rushed through the willow forest, looking behind her occasionally to make sure she wasn't being followed. The path to her home appeared lonelier than usual and it sparked a flame of fear in her mind, propelling her to move faster so she could return to Jade on time. A part of her wondered why Jade didn't come with her. Jade had proven to her that he would do everything to protect her, thus why didn't he go with her to get her late mother's trinkets? Did he have a reason for it? Pushing the thoughts away from her mind, she hurried through the grassy path and walked up the stone steps that led to her home. Pain and anguish threatened to take over her as she remembered again that her mother was gone. The villagers had come earlier to bury her mother's dead body, carrying out the final rites according to their tradition. There wasn't much to find in the cottage that now lay ruined and abandoned. Kalista quickly made her way to the secret section in the hallway where her mother
Jade waited a few minutes so there would be much distance between him and Kalista before he discreetly followed her. As he walked past the shop where he had seen the strange dagger, he casually looked into the opened shop and his gaze connected with Kai's gaze. A suspicious frown marred his perfect brows before he looked away and continued walking. Kai was here, and that complicated a lot of things. If Kai was the same man that attacked Kalista and killed her mother, then he would have gone after Kalista to finish the job. But the swordsmith remained at the shop, which meant the killer wasn't him. Or was it? Jade didn't know why, but something seemed off about the swordsmith. His inner beast didn't detect the faintest threat from Kai but there was that nagging feeling within him. If Kai wasn't the murderer, who was it?Jade quickened his steps and hurried into the willow forest. Kalista would be returning by now. He needed to move fast if he was going to catch the murderer. Sudde
"The strange man with the white hair. He is a werewolf"Kalista felt her heart drop to the bottom of her stomach. She started at Gregory unbelievably, then at the crowd that now had their gazes pinned on Jade. She could see from their various expressions that they were contemplating whether to believe the old man's words or not. Jade calmly stared back at Gregory, his face devoid of emotions. He knew he had to thread softly. He couldn't make a wrong move that would make the humans discover what he was. Apart from himself, he was more worried for Kalista, his mate. If these bloody humans discovered she was a werewolf like him, they wouldn't hesitate to kill her. "What trash are you sprouting, Gregory?" a man finally voiced out from the crowd. "Have you been drinking again?""I'm telling you," Gregory maintained his claim, glaring at Jade with venom. "He is a werewolf, a vile beast with a thirst for blood. He is responsible for the murders that occurred...""That's not true," another
Kalista couldn't believe what was happening before her. Jade was chained and dragged away and there was nothing she could do about it. She couldn't place suspicion on herself my pleading for Jade's life. She had to find a way to help him. Suddenly she jerked when she felt a cold hand on her shoulder. She whirled around and came face to face with Gregory. "Kalista, dear child," he said, staring at her with compassion. "I know this is hard for you to take in, but it needs to be done. You've seen for yourself, that man is a vicious beast, one that shouldn't be in the midst of the humans"Kalista just stared at him like he had grown a second head. She was short of words. "I know you think you're attracted to him," Gregory continued, his eyes staring at the direction where Jade had been dragged through. "I don't blame you for that. Young maidens of today tend to think with their hearts, instead of their heads""You're wrong...," Kalista whispered. Gregory continued talking. Apparently
"Stop Kalista! Step away from him," a man barked in a threatening voice. Kalista tightened her hold around Jade while her eyes darted around frantically, mapping out an escape route. "Kalista!" the man snapped again. "I will not repeat myself. Step away from the monster"Suddenly angered, Kalista turned on him. "He's not a monster""We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," the man said, using his hands to communicate with the other armed men. "You have one last chance Kalista. Whatever happens next, you're going to take the full brunt of it""I don't care," Kalista snapped. "If you're going to kill Jade, then you have no choice but to kill me as well""Kalista, no," Jade pleaded. "I can't let them hurt you. Let me go, let them take me"Kalista turned and stared into his eyes. "I won't let them take you, Jade. Never"While the men slowly closed around them, a figure was seen crawling towards the crowd that had gathered. At first, no one noticed. But then a woman turned around
A year ago... Back at the realm of the lycans, a long distance away from Hayden where Alpha Xerxes ruled, there was another lycan kingdom that was ruled by a tyrant lycan. His name was Talon Darkheart, a rogue lycan that ruled a community of rogues. His rogue pack, Darkheart pack, was the only pack that adamantly refused to swear allegiance to Hayden, the Supreme Pack where Alpha Xerxes ruled. After many failed attempts to make Talon drop his rogue attitude and become part of Hayden, Alpha Xerxes decided to cut him off. But Talon committed a heinous crime years ago, one that ingnited the unbridled rage of Alpha Xerxes. Talon attacked a human city and slaughtered every single innocent soul, both old and young. This was something Alpha Xerxes couldn't forgive. He ordered his lycan army to murder Talon's wife and son as punishment, and then banished Talon to the ends of the realm, a barren land where there was no sign of life, where Talon would wallow in misery for the rest of his im