Kalista felt her face turn hot with a blush at his words. She carefully released his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear, keeping her eyes averted.
Jade who didn't like the sudden distance between them moved closer to her and slipped his arm around her waist.Kalista stared up at him in surprise and was about to push him away when he backed her up against a large oak tree. The weirdest thing was, she didn't feel cornered or repulsed. She wanted his arms around her. She wanted to feel the texture of his lips.Jade watched as her eyes trailed to his lips and he knew she could feel the pull he felt. She didn't just understand it yet."I mean it, Kalista",he whispered to her. "You're the most beautiful woman I've ever come across"And you're my mate.He said the remaining words in his mind. He wished he could tell her what he was, and what she meant to him. But it wasn't the right time yet."But... you just met me",Kalista whispered and she closed her eyes when she felt his arm tighten around her waist. The feeling was unexplainable.Jade slowly moved closer to her until his lips were just a few inches away from hers. He knew he was moving too fast on her. She was still so young, he could tell. Still in her early twenties, inexperienced and naive. But it only made him want her the more.He leaned in closer, staring at her with his hot eyes, smouldering with the desire he felt within him. As he was about to place his lips over hers to taste her, he froze.Her eyes.There was something wrong with her eyes. Her gray eyes that has hypnotized him the moment he stared into them were no longer gray.Now, they were a very different color.One was bright gold, the colour of a shifter's eyes. The other was a startling blue, as bright as the glow of the Soul Gem.Jade frowned suddenly. What was going on here?Kalista still had her face lifted up and he gently cupped her cheeks."Kalista, your eyes...",he said softly."What?",Kalista whispered. She blinked once and the strange colours in her eyes disappeared. They were back to the steel gray colour.Jade's frown deepened and he stared deeply into her eyes, watching to see if the colours would return.They never did. Her eyes remained the same."Is... something wrong?",Kalista asked when Jade kept staring at her without a word. She couldn't move away from his embrace because his arm was wrapped tight around her waist and his other hand held her chin. She could only stare at his handsome face as he scrutinized her."Your eyes...",Jade trailed off, unable to form a coherent word. Had it been the trick of the light around them? Had he really seen her eyes turn gold and blue?"What's wrong with my eyes?",Kalista asked, a frown taking over her expression. There was something odd with the way Jade just stared into her eyes.Just then, they heard the sound of an approaching carriage. It managed to break the spell that had taken hold of Jade and he finally released her."Forgive me for startling you",he said with a charming smile. "Your eyes are utterly mesmerizing. I couldn't resist being drawn into them"Satisfied with his explanation, Kalista beamed at the complement and turned around just as a carriage pulled by two horses stopped beside them.Kalista recognized the rider and she smiled cheerfully at him."Hello, Sir Gregory",she greeted."My dear Kalista",Gregory smiled back at her and reached down to stroke her cheek. He was a man in his late fifty's, with a bald head and full white beard, making him look like santa clause."How are you doing today?",Kalista asked as she stroked the horses."As right as rain",Gregory answered, then his eyes moved and rested on the white haired man standing beside her. "And who's your friend?""Oh, this is Jade",Kalista introduced. "He's a traveller and I'm taking him to moonlight inn. He's in need of a place to stay""A pleasure to meet you sir",Jade nodded respectfully at the old man.Gregory stared warily at Jade for a long while, his pale blue eyes filled with mistrust and suspicion. He clearly didn't like Jade's presence."We don't need your kind here",he muttered under his breath."Excuse me?",Jade asked and narrowed his eyes.Gregory turned away from him and focused on Kalista who was having her own private conversation with the horses."I'll drop by later, Kalista",he said to her and caressed her hair lovingly. "Send my greetings to your mother""I will, Sir Gregory",Kalista smiled up at him, totally unaware of the tension between the old man and Jade. "Have a pleasant day"Gregory stared at Jade one last time, his eyes no longer filled with mistrust and suspicion, but now hate and malice. They both glared at each other for a long while, before Gregory flicked the reins and urged the horses forward.Jade stood beside Kalista, his brown eyes following Gregory until both horse and rider disappeared into the forest. Did Gregory know he was a lycan? Why else would he say they didn't need his kind there?He would just have to keep his eyes on everyone in Northville, while also searching for the Soul Gem and protecting his mate from the maniac that almost attacked her.Especially with the way her eyes changed colours a few minutes ago....They finally arrived at the town square and Jade was amazed to see how large it was. It was an enormous circular open space, dotted with numerous buildings, bustling as people moved about from shop to shop, buying and selling, sending out greetings to familiar faces.Jade was clearly awed because he had never been in the midst of so many humans.As they progressed deeper into the town, people turned and stared openly at him. He could hear whispers as gossips began to spread round. He knew they were talking about him, and he could hear snatches of their hushed conversations."Look at his hair...""He looks so handsome...""...new to Northville...""I've never seen him...""What's he doing with her...?"The gossips increased as Jade and Kalista moved farther into the town square. Totally unfazed, Jade grasped Kalista's hand in his, and when she turned to stare at him quizzically, he flashed one of his killer smiles that made her face go aflame again."The inn is just over there",Kalista said and pointed towards the end of an alley filled with different shops.They were about to turn into the alley when someone stepped in front of them."I guess the freak found her partner",a voice said.Jade slowly looked up and his gaze rested on the three boys that blocked their path. They were all young, about the same age as Kalista.He remained quiet to see what the three young boys would do."Out of my way, Killian",Kalista glared at the boy that had been bullying her ever since she was six. Some things never changed, she thought."Why?",Killian sneered at her, totally ignoring the man standing beside her. "Too scared to fight back? You should be, you freak""Call her a freak one more time and you will regret it",Jade voiced out coldly. His eyes had changed to a deep shade of brown and his handsome face settled into a scowl.Killian took a step back and assessed Jade silently. He noticed that Jade looked older, way older than him. Yet, he didn't back away. He turned to his boys and the three let out a loud guffaw."You got yourself a new freak bodyguard to protect you?",Killian jeered to Kalista and stepped forward, bringing his face closer to Jade boldly."Killian stay away!",Kalista tried to come in between the two men but Killian shoved her forcefully away. Kalista tripped on the hem of her dress and fell on the ground while the other two boys laughed mockingly at her.Jade felt his beast come to life, furious at the way his mate was treated. He wanted to shift and tear the immature boys before him into shreds, but he placed a leash on his rage. He couldn't let the humans discover him. He still had to locate the Soul Gem."If you ever lay a finger on her",he grounded out in a frosty voice. "I will make sure you feel pain like you've never felt"He turned and was about to help Kalista up when Killian raised his fist and slammed it into Jade's jaw.Kalista let out a loud gasp and she scrambled to her feet."Killian!",she shrieked, putting herself in front of Jade in case he tried to retaliate.Jade had gone totally still after Killian's fist connected with his jaw. His eyes flickered dangerously and he shut it quickly before anyone could see how red it was.A small crowd gathered around them, mainly from the shops around the alley. Men shouted questions, demanding to know what went wrong. Kalista kept repeating what happened to the men, saying over and over again that Killian had attacked the gentleman Jade without any reason. Some of the women scolded Killian sharply because most of them knew how arrogant and rude he was.But in all this that was happening, Jade remained eeriely still with his eyes shut. His hands slowly closed into tight fists, the knuckles so white with the amount of pressure he exerted. He felt a stir within him, a sign that his beast was on the brink of tearing out. He sniffed, marking out Killian's scen
"Don't leave"Kalista felt her heart skip at the sound of his voice and his touch, and she shivered when she felt the familiar sparks tingle her body.Slowly she turned around and raised her head until she was staring into his eyes."What?",she whispered."Don't leave",Jade repeated and his arms tightened around her waist. "I don't want you to leave"As much as she tried to deny it, Kalista didn't want to leave. She wanted to stay with him. She wanted him to stare at her continuously like he was doing now, in a way that made her feel like she was the most important thing in the world to him."I...",she stuttered. "I can't stay""Why not?",Jade asked calmly.Why couldn't she stay? Kalista didn't have a perfect reason why she couldn't stay. Her thoughts were scattered.All the scattered thoughts in her mind suddenly disappeared when Jade lowered his head and kissed her.Fireworks exploded behind her closed eyelids and she sucked in a sharp breath. She didn't know when she began to kiss
Kalista rushed up the path that led to her home and knocked wildly on the door. "Mother",she called frantically, her voice shaking with fear. She stole a glance behind her, her eyes searching the dark forest."Mother, open the door",she cried and pounded on the door desperately.The door was yanked open and her mother stepped outside holding a lit lantern. She was a petite woman with a mop of light brown hair and brown eyes."Kalista, dear child. You will give me a heart attack someday",she quickly placed her arm around Kalista's shoulder and led her inside the cozy cottage. Kalista stepped into the warm living room and made her way straight to her room. The smell of baked bread and roasted beef wafted through the entire cottage, making her stomach growl hungrily, but that was the least thing bothering her that moment.She still couldn't fathom what she just experienced in the woods.Without saying a word to her mother, she stepped into her room and shut the door.Making her way tow
Kalista's heart shattered as she gazed upon her mother's trembling body, as if someone had stabbed and shredded her heart into pieces. Unaware of the burst of blue energy emanating from her body and shooting skyward, she fell to her knees and crawled toward Maria."Mother!" she screamed in agony. Her hands trembled violently as they hovered over the bloody claw wound on her mother's face.Her cries intensified as she delicately cradled her mother's head in her lap. Thunder roared, lightning bolts zigzagged across the night sky, and the moon appeared to boil in anger, its silvery glow intertwining with the blue light.Maria struggled to open her eyes, tears blurring her vision as the realization of her impending death set in. Kalista's face appeared hazy as she stared up at her and attempted to speak."Ka... Kalista..." she sputtered, blood dripping from the corner of her mouth."I'm here," Kalista whispered, closing her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. She grasped Maria's hand
Confusion intertwined with concern as Jade struggled to comprehend the significance of the startling revelation. Meanwhile, Kalista instinctively clutched her bleeding shoulder, wary of the white beast even though it appeared to have a protective inclination towards her. She couldn't afford to let her guard down.Unbeknownst to her, her wound slowly closed, healing instantaneously as if time itself had reversed.Jade, observing her wound heal, found his suspicions confirmed. Kalista wasn't merely human as he had presumed. The question now remained: What was she? And why did the persistent blue glow persist around her, even in the absence of the Soul Gem?Amidst his overwhelming confusion, Jade's instincts implored him to safeguard her and remain by her side. The thief who coveted the gem might return, and there was no telling if he would succeed in harming her.After an internal struggle, Jade made his decision. He approached Kalista slowly, allowing his lycan form to recede, revealin
Alpha Xerxes paced restlessly within the confines of his chambers, his countenance etched with worry and fear. On the grand bed, a tray of delectable dishes remained untouched, a stark reminder of his preoccupied mind. Even the occasional rumble of thunder failed to capture his attention, for his thoughts were consumed elsewhere.His concerns centered on his son, Jade, who had embarked on a perilous journey a year ago in pursuit of the Soul Gem and to avenge Izabelle's tragic demise. Yet, since his departure, there had been no word from him, leaving Alpha Xerxes in astate of agonizing uncertainty. He could not fathom what might have befallen his son, and the absence of communication intensified his apprehension.However, as soon as the thought crossed his mind, Alpha Xerxes shook his head, admonishing himself for succumbing to needless worry. He knew the mettle of his son, having personally trained Jade from a tender age. The warrior within him was strong and resilient.But still, wh
"I saw something I never should have seen," Kalista whispered. "It was a Gem, the same Gem you are searching for. I saw it that day you saved me"Jade said nothing and just allowed her to continue at her own pace. "I think he buried it to keep it hidden, but I saw it," Kalista continued. "And then... something strange happened""What happened?" Jade asked gently, his eyes never leaving hers."The glow from the Gem went into my body. At first I was so confused because it was something I've never experienced," Kalista rushed on. "When you asked me why he had attacked me, I was scared and confused. I didn't know how to tell you, and I didn't mean to lie...""The Gem's glow disappeared into your body?" Jade asked, not sure if he heard her well."Yes," Kalista nodded slowly. "Also, after I left you at the inn, the man attacked me again in the forest, but then the most shocking thing occured. I used the powers of the Gem to protect myself""You harnessed the Gem's powers?" Jade's frown dee
The next morning, word had gone round the kingdom of Northville about Kalista's home. Rumours spread that a wild animal had broken into the house and attacked Maria, but Kalista had escaped luckily.People gathered around the ruined cottage, some huddled in different groups as they gossiped within themselves. Among these humans was Kyle. He stood a little distance away from the cottage, eavesdropping on the humans as they gossiped and tried to gather information.According to what he heard, Kalista hadn't been found yet. People wondered if the wild animal had chased after her and killed her also while others covered Maria's lifeless body.Kyle remained where he was for a long while, listening to the humans gossip foolishly. He knew where Kalista was. She would be with Jade, and since Jade was still at the inn, he concluded that she would be there.Without a backward glance, he turned and walked away.His mind was a flurry of thoughts. Jade must have discovered that Kalista was a half