โNo!โ I shook my head in disbelief, my mind rejecting everything I had just heard. โNo! Tell me youโre lying,โ I said, trying to laugh it off as a cruel joke.But her silence, paired with the helpless gloom in her eyes, told me otherwise. She wasnโt lying. She had planned the day of my demise even before bringing me into this world.โHow could you do this to me, Mother?โ I mumbled, my voice trembling as my lips quivered. A silent sob escaped me. I didnโt even know if I should call her โMotherโ anymoreโnot after hearing how cruelly she had condemned her own child.โI am sorry, my child,โ she said in a pleading voice. โI had no other choice but to sacrifice you to save the world.โA tear escaped my eye as flashes of my life flickered before me like a relentless movie reel. Memories played on repeat, and I wanted so badly to rewind to the part before I met Zanderโbefore I fell in love. Because now, no matter how hard I tried, I couldnโt imagine leaving him to bear the unbearable pain of
When I returned home, I found Zander waiting for me in our room. His arms were crossed, and his expression was a mixture of relief and concern.โWhere were you, mate? I was worried. I couldnโt reach you,โ he said, his voice gentle but laced with unease as he closed the distance between us in two quick steps, taking my hands in his. The bond from our mating mark had been restored, reestablishing our connection and allowing us to mind-link once more. The link with the pack had also returned. But when I was in the Lunar Realm, the mind-link didnโt work. That made it clear: hiding my visit to the Lunar Realm was a bad idea. Heโd know if I lied in a heartbeat.We had promised each other we wouldnโt keep secrets anymore. So, I took a deep breath and told him the truth.โZander, I went to see my mother,โ I admitted.His eyes sharpened, instantly more attentive. โAnd?โ he prompted, his tone calm but firm, knowing I would have had serious discussion with my mother.I hesitated, searching for t
Authorโs POV.In the dim, oppressive air of the dark den, the Dark Alphaโs voice echoed with a chilling resonance. "Damon, your army is useless. It didnโt help me terrorize Alpha Zander Blake,โ he sneered, his tone dripping with mockery.Damon stood amidst the flickering light of a ritual circle, the golden trident in his grasp glowing faintly. He had been channeling its ancient power, weaving warlock incantations to strengthen himself for the inevitable day of destruction. The interruption was unwelcome, his irritation evident in the way his shoulders tensed.โDonโt blame my army for your incompetence!โ Damon roared, his deep voice reverberating through the chamber as his concentration shattered. The dark energy around him flickered, momentarily unstable, as his fury took hold.The Dark Alpha smirked, his hulking figure barely visible in the shadows. โHah! Then who should I blame?โ he retorted, his voice laced with mockery. โAlpha Zanderโs efficient warriors, perhaps? Or is it his cu
*Selena*I was still confused, trying to piece together what was going on in Zander's mind.โBaby, just sit and relax,โ he said, his tone calm but firm. โLeave the rest to me.โEasier said than done. How could I possibly relax when I knew our livesโand the fate of so many othersโhung by a thread?โZander, I still donโt get it,โ I pressed, suspicion creeping into my voice. โHow is it that youโve found Damon but still havenโt caught him? What are you not telling me?โHis jaw tightened slightly, but he met my gaze with steady resolve. โI havenโt pinpointed his exact location yet, but Iโm close,โ he replied, his voice laced with determination.Before I could question him further, Maddox entered the room.โAlpha,โ he greeted, touching his heart and bowing respectfully. Then his eyes shifted to me. โLuna.โ He repeated the gesture with the same reverence.I gave him a soft smile and a nod in acknowledgment, though my mind was already racing.โWhatโs the update, Maddox?โ Zander asked, cutting
I agreed to his plan; it seemed foolproof. But my only worry lingeredโthere was still no sign of Oliver, my half-brother. If the rest of my family was alive, then surely Oliver must be alive as well. The thought sent a shiver through me as I remembered what Zander had told me about him and the depths of my familyโs darkness.I struggled to accept that my entire family could be so corrupt, so deeply involved in criminal activitiesโฆ except my mother. How could I have come from such a twisted lineage?โWhatโs wrong, mate?โ Zander asked, his voice gentle yet concerned, as if sensing the storm brewing inside me.I hesitated, unsure of how to express the turmoil in my heart. What would he think of meโhis mateโcoming from such a wicked family? โUmm... Zander, I was thinking about Oliver,โ I said, my voice barely above a whisper. โThereโs still no trace of him.โZander nodded knowingly. โIโve thought about that too. Donโt worry,โ he assured me, his tone steady. โMy people are already looking
โBlair, Iโm telling you, this is a bad idea,โ I said, following her reluctantly as she led me down an unknown path along the outskirts, carefully avoiding the main routes where guards patrolled.โTrust me, Selena, Iโve done this plenty of times,โ Blair replied confidently, pushing aside a low-hanging branch. โBack when my father was the alpha, I used to sneak out all the time to escape his dictatorship.โI rolled my eyes. โThat was years ago, Blair. The packโs security isnโt the same now.โShe glanced back at me, realizing I had stopped in my tracks and sat down in the middle of the narrow trail, exasperated.โWhatโs wrong?โ she asked, her voice softening with concern. โAre you tired? If you need to rest, we can, but we donโt have much time if we want to help our mates.โI sighed and got back to my feet. โBlair, I still think this is a terrible idea. If Zander finds out we took this route, heโll be furious.โHer lips curved into a confident smirk. โIf he finds out,โ she said, her tone
Lyon and Micahโs presence alone was enough to strike terror into the witchesโ eyes. Before anyone could blink, the wicked witch was ripped away from Blair with savage force as Micahโs massive paw slammed into her, sending her flying through the air. She crashed to the ground with a loud impact, a pained hiss escaping her lips.Before Blair could hit the hard ground, Micah was already beneath her, his soft fur providing a cushion to break her fall. He let out a low, reassuring growl before gently nudging her to safety.Then, without hesitation, Micah sprang to his feet and joined Lyon. Both wolves prowled toward the witches, their deep, menacing growls vibrating through the airโa deadly warning of the storm about to come.The two witches staggered back, fear flickering across their faces, but they hadnโt accepted defeat just yet. Their expressions hardened, and I could see the determination to fight still burning in their eyes.Lyon and Micah prowled around them, circling like predator
*Maddox*I was already worried to death, and my naรฏve little mate seemed to love driving me insane by constantly throwing herself into danger. Was it so damn difficult for her to understand how much I loved her? We werewolves, especially Alpha and Beta males, were instinctively protective of their matesโwe treasured the goddessโs gift more than our own lives. And for me, Blair was my heart, my reason to breathe. Seeing her in trouble made me want to set the world on fire just to keep her safe.โLittle mate!โ I growled, throwing her onto our bed. โYou should know better than to put yourself in danger. Or do you need me to remind you just how brutal your punishment can be, huh?โHer doe-like eyes blinked up at me innocently, and for a moment, I nearly abandoned my plan to teach her a lesson.โBut I just wanted to help you, honey,โ she pouted, and damn it, I wanted to devour those red lips right then and there.I shook my head, forcing myself to resist the temptation she was stirring wit
I gasped, my breath hitching in shock. My eyes darted to Zander, but he remained eerily calm, unaffected by the demonโs taunts.โIf you had just accepted my terms, I wouldnโt have had to go this far,โ the demon sneered. โI wouldnโt have had to destroy your people, enslave your shadows, and turn everything in my favor. Now, youโre all nothing but my slaves for the rest of your pathetic lives.โ His eyes darkened with cruel delight as he added, โAnd the Ancient Wolf will be mine.โThen, his gaze snapped to me, and his filthy grin widened. โThe only thing that remains the same,โ he spat, โis that Selena still dies.โโYou can dream, demon,โ Zander said with a soft, knowing smile before turning to face me. His eyes held a mixture of determination and sorrow, making my heart clench.โThis is the only way to stop him, mate,โ he whispered, his voice laced with finality. โAlways remember, I love you.โConfusion twisted inside me. โWhat are youโโBefore I could finish my sentence, Zanderโs voice
โSheโs a traitor too!โ the man who looked exactly like Zander shouted.Before I could even process what was happening, Maddox stepped forward, flanked by two guards.โYouโre under our custody,โ they declared, raising their weapons at me.Shock crashed over me like a tidal wave. Maddox? Betraying Zander? But before I could react, they shoved me toward Zander. I didnโt resistโI wanted to be close to him.โWhatโs going on, Zander?โ I demanded, my voice laced with confusion and fear.โOh, Selenaโฆ why did you come here?โ he groaned, his voice thick with anguish, his face filled with helplessness.โWell, well,โ the imposter drawled, finally catching my full attention.The Dark Alpha.I narrowed my eyes at him, my stomach twisting in disgust. I knew exactly who he was.โI was waiting for you, mate,โ he said smoothly.Even though his voice sounded exactly like Zanderโs, it made my skin crawl.โI am not your mate!โ I bellowed.He chuckled, shaking his head. โFeisty, huh?โI turned to the counc
Four months had passed, and the world had gradually settled back into its natural rhythm. The catastrophe had been averted, and peace now stretched across the realms, restoring balance to the universe.I remained in the Lunar Realm with Zander and Austin, embracing the destiny that had been chosen for me. Austin had now remembered everything as the spell was broken and he now thrived under the love and attention he received as the prince of the Lunar Realm. The people had accepted Zander as my mate and husband, granting him the same respect they showed me.Despite his responsibilities as Alpha King, Zander traveled between his pack and the Lunar Realm daily. I had voiced my concerns, telling him it was risky to shift between realms so frequently, but he had only smiled and said, "For me, it's just like commuting to work."I couldnโt deny how much I cherished his presence, so I let him make the choice.On days when he had to stay in his pack longer, I accompanied him, ensuring that our
As my heart sank, the lava began to recede, shrinking its perimeter and retreating on its own. The ominous red moons grew smaller, drifting farther away with each passing second. The sacrifice had workedโthe prophecy was fulfilled.โLetโs go from here,โ the Moon Goddess said, her grip tightening around my hand.โWhat will happen to the Dark Realm?โ God Pyrrhos asked.โThe Almighty will assign it to another deity, appointing a new god of destruction,โ Goddess Sylvara informed, and the Moon Goddess nodded in agreement.With that, we left the Dark Realm, but my eyes lingered on the spot where my mother had made the ultimate sacrifice to save the universe.I found myself back in the Lunar Realm. The sky had now returned to normal, and the three red moons were nowhere to be seen.โSelena,โ the Moon Goddess said, her voice gentle yet firm. โI now entrust you with the Lunar Realm. It is yours to protect and nurture.โโBut Goddess, how will I do it alone without the High Priestess?โ I asked,
God Pyrrhos swung his hands aggressively, and the men performing the ritual were hurled through the air, crashing into the far corners of the field.The moment their chanting ceased, I felt Arena surge back into me, our bond reforging like an unbreakable chain. She howled in my mind, her fury mirroring my own.Kaelvor snarled, his hands emanating thick black smoke, ready to strike. โWhat are you all doing in my realm?โ he growled, his voice laced with venom.โI should never have trusted you, Kaelvor,โ my mother seethed, her body trembling with fury as she stepped toward me. She knelt, helping me to my feet, her warmth grounding me amidst the chaos.Kaelvor let out a mocking laugh, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. โAnd yet, you were fool enough to do so.โโMy mother is no fool!โ I roared, my voice ringing through the open field.She wasnโt a foolโshe was a mother willing to defy fate itself to save her daughter from prophecy.โBut you are foolish enough to believe you could co
"No!" I screamed, my voice raw with agony. The pain of being torn from Arena was unbearable, searing through me like fire, both physically and emotionally. My soul felt as if it were being ripped apart. Breathing heavily, I fell to my knees as my vision blurred."Stop this right now!" I yelled, struggling against the invisible force holding me in place. But the chanting only grew louder, their dark ritual continuing without pause.Kaelvor watched with eerie detachment, his expression almost bored. "Just a few more minutes, Selena," he said carelessly, as if my suffering was nothing more than an inconvenience. "Then youโll be free from this pain."That evil god!"You... you will regret this, Kaelvor," I snarled, my voice hoarse from screaming. Arena whimpered in my mind, her pain echoing mine.Kaelvor let out a low, amused chuckle. "Ah? And who will make me regret it?" His golden eyes gleamed with cruel delight. "You?" He shook his head, lips curling into a wicked grin. "Your world wil
God Kaelvor took me to the Dark Realm with him, and the journey itself was an experience beyond imagination. His realm-traveling ship was unlike anything I had ever seenโcrafted from gleaming obsidian and etched with silver runes that pulsed with a faint, rhythmic glow. The air inside was thick with power, a hum of energy that sent shivers down my spine.As we entered the dark realm, I braced myself for an endless void, for a world without light. But instead, we were greeted by a strange sightโthere was illumination here, a soft glow from the swirling skies above that bathed the land in hues of violet and deep red. The terrain was rich with bizarre, otherworldly flora that seemed to thrive in the strange light. It wasnโt a barren wasteland, as Iโd imagined, but a place that seemed... too alive.The people who walked the cobblestone streets looked anything but normal. They moved with mechanical precision, eyes fixed forward, faces cold and emotionless, as though bound by some unseen fo
"King Jasper," I murmured, keeping my gaze steady. "What are you going to do with the golden trident?" I asked, trying to read his expression.His face remained unreadable, but his grip on the trident tightened. "This weapon holds immense power," he said. "It can also possess whoever wields it, turning them into its slave. Keeping it in my possession would be too dangerous."I frowned. "Then what do you plan to do?""I canโt just leave it behind for another power-hungry monster to find," Jasper continued. "So Iโve decided to destroy it, rendering it useless. That way, its power will be absorbed back into the universe, never to be claimed again."Hearing his decision, I finally felt at ease. It reassured me that Jasper truly wanted peace among shifters and the entire paranormal world.Jasper placed the trident on the ground and instructed, โTake a few steps back.โ We did as he said.He then chanted something in a hushed voice before raising his staff. A beam of light shot out, collidi
I looked around, my gaze sweeping over Alpha Albert, Cassandra, and Oliver. They stood beside Damon, their expressions unreadableโbut not surprised. So Selena was right. They had been waiting for us to split up, hoping to take advantage and defeat us separately.I let out a low chuckle, my eyes locking onto Damon. โI also didnโt expect you to be hiding like a coward,โ I taunted, a smirk curling at my lips. โThe great ancient Warlock Kingโturns out heโs nothing but a weakling.โDamonโs eyes flared with fury as he slammed his golden trident against the cave floor, the impact sending a faint tremor through the ground. โShut up!โ he snarled. โIโm not a coward! I was waiting for the right moment.โโWhatever!โ I snorted, my gaze flicking to his so-called army. โYet here I am, alone, standing right in front of you in your own little domainโand you still need your pathetic lackeys to face me.โโWeโll see whoโs pathetic,โ Damon sneered, lifting his trident, ready to strike. But when I didnโt m