~ CASPIAN ~True to my words, the delegates are assembled already. Faster than I expected.Word travels quickly when fear and danger are involved. The atmosphere in the hall is tense, and everyone looks anxious as they stare at the delegates from the Moonclaw Rogue Pack.I enter and take my seat. Callan settles down too.The meeting begins.“Thank you all for gathering so quickly.” My voice is loud enough to silence the restless murmurs. “There’s a threat we must address before dawn tomorrow. Jocelyn Valdez of the Moonclaw Rogue Pack will now speak.”Gasps intensify the tension in the air. When Jocelyn stands, the atmosphere shifts. More whispers spread. I can see the way some of them are looking at her with suspicion, but more look at her with something else.Respect. Curiosity. Fear, maybe.After what happened this morning, I don't really blame any of them for acting the way they're acting now.“Ladies and gentlemen,” she starts, straightening her shoulders. “I'd like to apologize f
~ CASPIAN ~I can’t believe my ears.An attack. Tonight. From a monster called Thanox. And of all the times to pick, he chose exactly the worst time for us.“We have to inform the other delegates and prepare ourselves.” Jocelyn’s voice interrupts my thoughts, breaking the silence. “Another meeting has to be reconvened immediately.”She's right. When she was sharing the bad news with us, she didn't look like she was confused or guessing. She didn’t even look as if she cared whether I believed her or not. She looked like someone who already knew she's right, and she’d told us for our sake, not just hers.I believe her. I believe her with everything I am.Also, whatever we need to do, we need to be damn fast about it.I turn to Callan. “Callan, send word to the delegates and summon them back within the hour. No delays.”“Yes Alpha.” He bows slightly before leaving the room. Jocelyn sighs, her eyes telling me she's skeptical but relieved. She opens her mouth as if to say something, then t
~ JOCELYN ~Lycena.If anyone here in the summit would dare try to poison me, it would be that bitch.The thought keeps running through my head as Sarah lays another warm towel across my forehead. Her touch is soft and gentle, and my nose is filled with the sharp scent of crushed herbs in a bowl sitting on the bedside table.My body feels weak, but I know the feeling will pass very soon. My mind is alive. My powers too.Sarah dips the towel again into the steamy bowl of water, wrings it out, then presses it gently to my neck.“The color is coming back to your face,” she murmurs. “Just rest a little more, my love. You scared everyone today.”“I’ll live,” I mutter, though my voice still sounds faint to my own ears.My suspicion of Lycena and poison hasn't left my mind. But the suspicion isn’t even the worst part. Thanox is the worst part. And after that encounter with him and all that I heard, I can't stop myself from imagining the bloodshed waiting for all of us when he storms the Nig
~ CASPIAN ~What the hell just happened?Everything flashed before my eyes so quickly: the light that exploded from Jocelyn’s hand, the teacup melting like wax, the sight of her collapsing in the middle of breakfast, her head lolling, her skin paling white.Fear ripped through me.And now, her eyes are snapping open as though she had been caught in a scary nightmare.I don’t hesitate.In a blur, I am already kneeling beside her, my hands hovering over her.“Stay away!” Sarah hisses at me.“She's my guest.” I answer calmly, employing every immediate ounce of strength I have. “I'm not leaving her side—”“If you know what's best for her, you'll stop pretending that you fucking care,” she hisses back in an equally but deadly tone. The hate in her eyes tells me to back off and not complicate matters more than they already are.I'm not pretending. I love Jocelyn.But this is not the time to be adamant or fucking reckless.I stand up and step away, choosing to do so for the time being. Despi
~ JOCELYN ~The next morning, I wake up feeling tired. Throughout the night, I was restless, and barely caught enough sleep.Everything that happened last night in the garden still lingers in my mind, piercing me with words and memories I wish I can just burn the hell out of my mind.Anyway, I'm here for business.I stretch under the soft sheets, watching the pale morning light filtering in through the window. For a few seconds, I let myself breathe. Just breathe.Today is the first official day of the summit. I have work to do. I’m not here for Caspian. I’m not here to relive the past.I’m here because countless lives are in danger, including mine, and I will not fail my pack.After getting off the bed, I select my outfit, get rid of my clothes, and head into the bathroom. I cleanse my teeth before turning on the shower, letting the water steam to a warm temperature before I step under the downpour.A relaxing sigh escapes my lips.The water feels so good. I allow it to ease the morn
~ JOCELYN ~After throwing those words at him, I let go of his stupid collar, turn my back on him, and storm out of the garden.I don’t look back.I don’t need to see his face again tonight.The cold night air clings to my skin as I march back towards the party. My pulse is pounding wildly in my head and veins. I can't breathe properly, and every step I take feels like I’m walking away from a battlefield littered with pieces of my past.Fuck him.The music from the party grows louder as I get closer. The warm yellow lights spill from the entrance doors like liquid gold.I push inside, letting the noise swallow me.The room is still crowded. Suddenly, everything about this stupid party begins feeling wrong to me.Everyone I see is just too cheerful and completely unaware of the disaster I just ran away from.Quickly, my eyes find Sarah and Elian near a round table by the far wall. They’re talking and laughing with each other, but they spot me instantly.I head straight for them.The mo