The awe-struck looks of the pack as they witnessed her wolf form for the first time remained fresh in young Vione's memory. They seemed amazed, impressed, and openly jealous.For a brief moment, young Vione felt happiness well up in her chest. She thought, perhaps for the first time in her life, she might be a source of admiration and envy for others.Unfortunately, this happiness was short-lived. Those who had been mesmerized at first now looked at Vione with negative emotions. Some of them looked at her with pity, sympathy, shock, and even contempt.Young Vione tried to hold on as best she could. She fought back the urge to cry. She strengthened her heart, which was writhing with fear. She stood tall, even though her body felt completely limp.One thing that strengthened young Vione was the realization that fate was often against her. So, she shouldn't be shaken. On the contrary, it was only appropriate for her to be able to face the cruelty of fate that had come again.Young Vione
So beautiful.Young Usher was convinced that there were no words that could accurately describe the young wolf, Vione. All man-made words seemed insignificant, unable to visualize the natural beauty that young Vione possessed. This was because every fiber of Vione's body seemed to resonate with the allure of nature, as if she were a manifestation of hidden strength and elegance.Time seemed to stand still. The earth seemed to stop rotating. The world seemed to disappear from young Usher's sight. Only young Vione filled his eyes and heart.Young Usher was spellbound. He was mesmerized by young Vione's silver-white hair and jewel-like blue eyes. He was speechless, hypnotized by the beauty that rendered him unable to utter a word. He was amazed, he could hardly believe that the magnificence and grace he had never seen before was now embodied in real form.His breath caught in his chest and the young Usher felt his heart pounding. His eyes did not blink; he continued to gaze at Vione unti
The young usher hurried away without acknowledging Storm's polite nod. His steps quickened, and he received the greetings of the young wolves with indifference. His gaze didn't leave young Vione for a second. So, he didn't miss the moment when Lewis just walked by, ignoring young Vione.The uncomfortable pounding in young Usher's heart turned into a burning sensation. His chest felt hot. He was sure that Lewis was one of those who looked down on young Vione after the coming-of-age ceremony.The young Usher and Lewis crossed paths. Lewis wanted to greet him, but he didn't give him the chance. He walked quickly, then left the party hall.Young Usher's eyes wandered. At first, he thought young Vione was on the terrace, but she wasn't there. So, he was puzzled."Are you looking for Vione?"The young usher was startled. He turned to find a maid approaching with a tray of drinks. "O-oh, it's you," he murmured in a slightly stuttering voice. He took a deep breath to calm himself. Then he imm
For Vione, time stopped the moment Usher disappeared from her sight. The time portal didn't just suck Usher in, it took half of his soul as well. Her world stopped, everything seemed frozen without Usher by her side.Vione felt her heart empty, as if she had lost an irreplaceable piece. Every step she took felt heavy, as if the gravity of the earth was pulling her down with undeniable force.Emptiness engulfed her, and Vione tried to find peace. But it was all in vain when a black hole in her chest rebelled and swallowed her whole. She found herself buried in darkness, with the only light emanating from the sweet memories of Usher, shining brightly like a star."I beg you, Moon Goddess. Protect Usher."It could be said that Vione never really left the Mystoria Waterfall. She stayed there for a long time, only occasionally returning to Rowena's house when her body was exhausted from waiting.Vione continued to wait for Usher's return. She kept looking at the waterfall, hoping that the
One thing Usher noticed in the brief moment between unconsciousness and consciousness was the gentle grip that held his fingers. With it came the soft exhalation of someone whose scent was all too familiar, Vione's scent."Usher? Are you awake?"A word spun through Usher's mind. Then came the questions that accompanied it. Awake? Have I fainted?Because the last thing Usher remembered was being sucked back into the time portal. After that, everything was dark, and fainting seemed like the most plausible thing that could have happened to him. Then another question came up. What time am I in?That was the most important thing right now. Especially since Usher was sure that it was Vione who had discovered his existence after he had left the time portal."Usher, can you hear me? Are you—"Usher groaned and felt the vibrations spreading through his chest. His eyelids felt incredibly heavy, as if they wouldn't allow him to fully wake up. But he didn't give up and kept trying.Vione's face w
In the end, the tears could not be held back. A single tear fell and trickled down Vione's cheek. She surrendered to the fear that weakened her body and soul."Tell us, Rowena," Vione whispered, looking at Rowena with hope in her eyes. "How great is the risk of crossing the time portal? Because I swear!" This time she met Rowena's eyes. "I've never seen Usher so weak."Usher shuffled out of his seat. "Vione," he whispered, reaching out to grab Vione's hand. "You—"Vione dodged, creating a distance that stunned Usher. "I don't want to risk your safety to change the past, Usher." She shook her head several times and turned back to Rowena. "So, tell us, Rowena."Rowena's eyes closed dramatically. She couldn't bring herself to look at Vione when she had to reveal a truth she had hidden from him from the beginning. "The time portal drains power. Ordinary people can't go through it. Even werewolves, vampires or witches would lose energy. If the energy loss is too great, the most likely outc
Vione closed her eyes. She could feel Usher's presence. There were no footsteps or other sounds, but her intuition never failed to detect Usher's presence, just like now.A moment later, a gentle touch landed on Vione's shoulder. Her breath caught in her chest, and her body tensed instantly. Then she felt the touch turn into a gentle stroke, accompanied by Usher's voice calling her name."Vione."Vione flinched. She let Usher's fingers slip from her shoulder. She recoiled. "Say nothing, Usher. I will never let you go through the time portal again."But Usher didn't give up. He grabbed Vione's wrist. He held on to Vione and would not let go.Vione struggled. "Usher.""Please, Vione," Usher pleaded insistently. He pulled Vione into his embrace. "Please, listen to me."Vione ignored Usher's plea. Instead, she continued to try to break free. She pressed against Usher's chest with both hands, but her efforts were in vain. Usher didn't budge."This is the only way I have, Vione. So please.
The silent night crept on. Nature created a silence that felt soothing, designed to soothe every soul tired of struggling with life's cruelty. Then it hummed a gentle lullaby through the soft waves of the breeze, like a complement to the graceful dance of the tree leaves.Among all the creatures who enjoyed the peace of their slumber, Rowena remained awake. She paid no attention to the night rolling on and touching the wee hours of the morning, instead focusing on the various types of herbs that adorned her wooden table.Rowena picked five different herbs and chopped them into small pieces. Then she placed all the ingredients in a stone mortar. She began to pound, and it wasn't long before all the herbs were crushed and blended into one.Rowena's busyness stopped when she sensed someone's presence. She stopped pounding, then turned. "Luna."Vione stood in the doorway. Her hands were clasped nervously, her face showed uncertainty. "May I come in?" she asked, uncertain. "If I'm not intr