RYDEN โDo you believe what she said?โ Zeph asked us as we finally arrived at the penthouse. Renโs two-story penthouse was spacious and minimalist in the center of New York. The interior was modern with floor-to-ceiling windows that overlooked the Fifth Avenue skylines. โYes. I believe her. Do I trust her? Hell fucking no,โ I replied as I looked outside the window. โItโs how easily she could betray us as she glamoured Zarahโs face. We should be very careful meeting people.โ โAnd the fact that those wraiths or legions or whatever they call it can get inside us without even noticing it. Thatโs creepy,โ Theia replied. โWe should wear something to protect ourselves.โ โLike Sphalerites,โ Ren said to Theia. โThe price is extortionate in the black market.โ โHow did you know, Ren?โ Amelia came to the living room, and she just finished showering. She looked beautiful, fresh, and relaxed. โI wanted to know whoโs selling.โ โDid you find out who?โ I faced Ren. โYouโre not gonna believe it
AMELIA Ryden divided us into a three-person team. Walker and Emil were stuck with me, while he, Zeph, and Zarah were preparing for the shield upgrade. Ren and Theia were our backups. Before sundown, we made it to the woods, south of the property. I didnโt know how much I missed this place until I was there. It was supposed to be our sanctuary from other werewolves and rogues. Instead, we were fighting against our own demonic entities. Deep inside, I felt guilty, and I couldnโt get rid of the thought that I was one of the reasons why things happened here. If I hadnโt come back, the wraiths and Alecโs evil plan might not have been implemented today. โYou okay?โ Walker came. โYeah. I caught human scents.โ โMe too. Could these be Alecโs men?โ โYeah, probably.โ I connected our link to Ryden. โDid you make it to the pack house?โ โYes. Weโre here. Completely trashed and weโre scanning for explosives as we speak. You know Alec likes to blow things up.โ โBe careful.โ โYou, too, Ameli
RYDEN โGive me something so I can let you go. Your information for your freedom.โ I grunted. My body still reverberated in anger, and he thought I would just give him mercy. This fucktard that shot Amelia didnโt know what he got himself into. He could barely speak. He seemed in shock after seeing a human just turned into a fire wolf. Despite his naivety, he fired the shots, shells raining down from the tree, and intended to kill my mate. He could have killed her. He could have targeted someone else. And he deserved to die. โCome with me. He had nowhere to go.โ Zeph grabbed me outside the tunnel. Once we were there, he breathed deeply. โAre we really going down this road, Ry?โ I stared at him in disbelief. โHe came to my land, watched for our people for his target practice because he purchased an automatic rifle in the black market.โ That was what he told us, and I didnโt believe a shit. โDo you expect me to just let him walk away after what he saw?โ โHe targeted wolves.โ โWow.โ
RYDEN โThe house is okay.โ She smiled. โYour parents might have checked it a few times while you were away.โ โThatโs good to hear.โ โYou should go, and sheโs in the mortuary. Take this to her.โ โWhy is she in the morgue?โ I asked, confused and shocked. โHoney, this is not a vet.โ โOh. She hasnโt shifted back.โ I took the scrub suit from her. โYes, not until I pulled out the bullet in her shoulder. Sheโs recovered and awake.โ โThanks.โ I followed the direction towards the morgue and found Ren and Theia walking out. โWhat happened to the bad guy?โ I looked at Theia. โDonโt ask when you already know the answer.โ โGood to know or I will do it myself.โ I pushed the door open and found Amelia on the floor. My heart gave a funny flutter as I watched her struggle to get back on her feet. Her eyes widened and lit up as she saw me. โFor a woman who can torch a building, I canโt believe what Iโm seeing right now. How are you this clumsy, Amelia?โ The sheet just fell off her shoulde
AMELIA โAmelia!โ Ren and Theia were screaming my name, and I was surprised to react until a whooshing sound pierced my ears. It happened in slow motion as I watched the bullet pass before my very eyes, hitting strands of my hair that had me gasping. A forceful strong ball of wind pushed me in the chest, throwing me away, saving my life. I was still shocked to react, and I felt my ass being dragged against the ground landing me against Kailinโs car. โSniper!โ Ren yelled at everyone before he took cover. Another shot was fired, just an inch at my foot. I quickly pulled my knees against my body and hit myself. My heart was still in my throat as I hid behind the tire. โAmelia, donโt move.โ Ryden hid behind the SUV with Kailin. I saw the fear in his eyes and felt his jumbled thoughts. โItโs Dane,โ we said in unison. โWhat?โ Kailin reacted, eyes widening as she was finding it difficult to believe her mate was targeting me. โWhy is he doing this?โ โHeโs possessed by something,โ Ryde
RYDEN I couldnโt let her go in my arms the moment they came back with Dane. I had to feel her and make myself believe that she was okay. โWhereโs the donโt fucking do that again?โ โYouโll have it later.โ I kissed her forehead and lips before I let her go. Her eyes danced in excitement because she knew I would never lie about it. โIโll hold on to that then.โ Dane willingly went to our ruined infirmary for a brief check-up. โWhat the hell happened here?โ Shae arrived and scanned her gaze around. โItโs Alecโs evil effect.โ I walked with her to the infirmary. โOur friend Dane was just possessed and used us as target practice.โ โIโm still wrapping my head around the fact that my daughter is the fire wolf, and now demonic possession?โ She stared at me. โItโs actually a demonโs lackey that possessed Dane.โ Ren came to hug Shae. โYou should be very careful. Every one of us is a target.โ โThank you, Ren.โ She began checking Dane. He looked okay though aside from dark circles under h
AMELIA โWhat the hell were you doing back there?โ Zarah was still furious at me even if we were already back at the pack house. โYou could have hurt yourself.โ โI donโt know.โ I shrugged, holding my smile back because I honestly didnโt know what I was doing and I felt so stupid. I panicked and wasnโt thinking straight. โTrying to fix my damage.โ โReally?โ She snapped, lips flattening. โWhy are you pissed at me?โ I raised my sword. โBecause of this? Because it can penetrate your shield.โ โOf course, that sword can. Itโs the Sword of Light.โ โWait. You know?โ At least, I heard three of us ask the same question; Ryden, Ren, and I. โYou know what it is all along and you didnโt tell us?โ โHow didnโt you know your sword?โ โCalder mentioned that name.โ I shrugged again. โSensei gave it to me, and he was not the kind of man who was up for a talk. When I managed to pick it up without killing me, he said, the sword chose me, and I am now responsible for it.โ โIt chose you because you h
RYDEN โYouโre fucking with me, right?โ I blinked in disbelief at Dane. โI wish I was, Ryden. I finally remember everything that happened.โ โWhat happened?โ Amelia asked. โI was snooping at the private airport owned by one of his business partners. Then I got caught. They brought me on the private jet, and I thought they were going to kill me. I swear to the Goddess, I know what I saw. Alec is the new host.โ โHow is it even possible?โ I looked at Zarah. โWait. So, heโs now getting an upgrade?โ Theia asked Dane. โThen weโre in big trouble. This is sickening.โAmelia let go of a shaky breath. โThis is getting better and better.โI looked at Amelia who was beyond terrified just like everyone else in this room. โDemon was looking for a new strong host,โ Zarah voiced out. โSonyaโs body must have deteriorated, couldnโt handle it anymore, and the demon needed to be fed. Who else would be the right person with money, power, knows his way around, and with a god complex behavior? And yes,
AMELIAThree years laterEnochian Institute โOkay, bud. Are you ready?โ Ryden towered at his son as he tried to prepare him for his first day of school. โNo, Dad. Please, donโt call me buddy or bud anymore. Iโm six years old. Alex is fine.โ I looked at them and tried hard not to grin. When Ryden saw my smile, I looked away. โYou will always be my boy, so I can call you bud or buddy until you get a girlfriend or have kids on your own.โ โMom, I need help here. I want to be like every kid at the institute.โ When he gave me this puppy-eyes look, the same look he gave me when he wanted to be with his Uncle Ren or Uncle Drak. I knelt before him as I fixed his coat. Alex was carrying a blue backpack. I looked right into his blue-green eyes. Every time I looked at him, he always reminded me of his father. โMy love, listen to me. You grow up so fast. Me and your dad still see you like our two-year-old boy. Thatโs why Dad still calls you buddy, and itโs actually cool that you and Dad ar
AMELIA I still cried whenever I felt alone. I still cried to sleep knowing he was gone because he wanted me to live. The feeling of losing someone I loved hit differently. It felt like I lost a part of me, a part of my soul. I woke up to the blinding light streaming from the opened window. Or at least I felt like I just woke up when the image of my father appeared before me. โDad?โ I sat up on the bed. I was still sleeping in the same bed I shared with Lucius. โWhy did you let it happen? Why did you accept his deal? Now Iโm all alone.โ โYouโre not alone, Amelia.โ I wiped the first tear that fell on my cheek. โI died twice. You should have let me die. I canโt. I canโt take it anymore. Lucius was a good man. He had a lot of things to live for.โ โAnd you donโt?โ he asked me calmly. โI know life isnโt fair, but I donโt deserve another chance. I would have swapped places with him. These people need their alpha.โ โAmelia.โ He stood before me. โHe accomplished his mission in life. H
RYDEN The moment I received a call from Drak, I knew something terrible had happened. He couldnโt hide the sadness in his voice. I quickly asked help from Zarah to send me to the Blood Moon Pack. Every last member of Luciusโ pack was around. His compound was crowded with the people who loved him, who believed in his cause, and the people he saved and had given a second chance. As I entered the house, a howl of mourning echoed from the forest. It was heart-wrenching. I didnโt only feel extremely sad about losing a great alpha, but he was also a savior and a hero, and I was proud to call him a friend. โThis is so unfair.โ Amelia ran into me. She looked like sheโd been crying. She really looked like a mess, with wet cheeks, and red eyes and nose. โThis canโt be happening.โ โIโm so sorry, my love.โ I took her in my arms. I knew my presence wouldnโt help the fact that Lucius was gone, but I was hoping I could somehow help ease the pain in her chest. โHeโs gone, Ryden. Heโs gone.โ She
AMELIAIf this was the last day we had together, then I would make the best of it. I couldnโt fathom a life without him, my hero, who sacrificed everything so I could live another day. He was the true savior, not me. He was the true leader, the greatest alpha Iโd ever met. He deserved that recognition, yet, here he was, waiting until he let go of his last breath and succumbed to death.It was unfair. Life was so fucked up and unfair. โMaybe you should give me an heir. I wanna have a mini you, please?โ I wiped my tears away. โFor that, I might be able to forgive myself. Then Iโm going to tell him the story of how amazing and brave his father was, his sacrifices for this world, and how much we love each other, and show him our photos together.โ โI will give you everything, my love. If we have a son, I want you to teach him to be a good man and respect and treat Ryden as his father. If we have a girl, tell her, that her father will always be watching her. Tell them their father loves t
AMELIA Lucius pulled away, looking right into my eyes. โWeโre not doing it again, Amelia. Iโve accepted my fate.โ โWell, Iโm not! You should have told me. I could have done something other than keeping me in the dark. I have every right to know, Lucius. Have you forgotten that?โ โI know that, my love, and Iโm so sorry.โ โSave it,โ I said as I faced Ryden and pointed a finger at his face. โYou, I trusted you. Are you happy now? Lucius had sacrificed his life twice for me so I could be with you. And I only asked one thing. Just one thing from you, and you couldnโt do it. You canโt be honest with me. Why should I stay with you if you donโt value honesty?โ Ryden looked away as pain and agony laced in his eyes. โAmelia, donโt say that,โ Lucius said. โOh, so now youโre his best friend because youโre peas in a pod?โ โAmelia, I know this is hard, but Lucius made his decision. You would have been dead by now and the rest of the werewolves who had fallen that day.โ Shit. Zarah was right
AMELIA It had been three months since that war against The Director ended, and our lives had finally returned back to normal. The pack was going strong. No more sightings of demons and wraiths. No more threats other than rogues on occasion. The mother and son Ryden took in, and some werewolves had become the new pack members. Theia and Bryan were still like cat and mouse, but I could feel how much their relationship had developed, especially when it was built with trust. The two elemental werewolves had begun their training at Elysian. We still talked over the phone, especially with Ryden, since he was one of them. Margaret finally woke up a few days after I went back home. Zarah, Samarah, and her had never been closer, and that made me happy. My Relationship with Ryden had never been strong. I told him everything, and he forgave me. He and Lucius seemed to have formed a friendship, which was weird. Since the day I left the hotel room, I stayed close to Lucius, not as a mate or
AMELIA I joined him in bed and kissed him on the lips, and he scooped me so I could rest on top of him. I curled into a fetal position as he wrapped his arms around me, his fingers tracing my spine. I felt tiny and fragile when I was with him, but powerful at the same time. He sighed again as if something was bothering him. โHow did you find me?โ โYour mate gave me your letter. I supposed you went back from where you started. Did you mean what you said?โ He was talking about the letter. โAll of it.โ โHmm.โ He kissed the top of my head. โHe came to me. Heโs worried about you, sweetheart. You should go back.โ โWhat about you?โ I lifted my head and looked him in the eye. โI always trust what you do that you know whatโs best for you. Like always, I wonโt control you.โ He smiled as he tucked my hair behind my ear. โBut of course, I get worried all the time even though I know you can take care of yourself.โ โHowโs everyone?โ โIโm not telling you anything, Amelia. Itโs about time y
AMELIA โI want you right now, Alexander.โ The moment those words left my mouth, he carried me to the bed in my hotel room. He ripped my clothes from my body until I was naked and exposed. Then he spread my legs wide, and one thing led to another. My ovary was throwing a party as he dipped his head between my legs. A gasp escaped my lips as he pressed the softest kisses on my foot, my leg, and my inner thighs, nipping my skin. Then captured my entire pussy with his hot mouth. โAh!โ My hips bucked, hand came to his head to grab a handful of his hair, shamelessly pushing his mouth to my sex. Then he dragged his tongue from my folds upward to my clit, making my head spin. Tingles ran down my spine as I shuddered in delight. โGoddess!โ I panted, rocking into his talented tongue, stroking my clit. Every muscle in my body clenched, and my legs trembled. Then he glided it in my entrance, thrusting in and out, alternately sucking my sensitive hard nub. Tension instantly coiled in my lowe
AMELIA โSo where are you going?โ Gaia asked. Sheโd been spending some time with Ren and Theia while Nora was trying to fix the broken relationship she had with her father. With Victor in the council jail, there was no threat to Alec anymore. โI donโt know yet.โ I looked at the three of them. โPlease, take care of each other. The greater demon might be gone, but there are still a lot of bad people out there. Maybe the good citizens could use your help.โ โIโm gonna miss you.โ Theia hugged me. โDonโt be gone too long, okay?โ โI wonโt, but you should go and be with the Caltech dropout.โ โI will. Ren doesnโt need a driver anymore. Heโs the monkey king after all.โ She got a groan from Ren. โGaia and he will start a new adventure anyway.โ โI have to go.โ I hugged Ren tight. โThanks for not giving up on me. You always have a place in the pack. I love you, Ren. Iโll see you soon.โ โI love you, too, Amelia. Donโt be a stranger. Visit the Raito house once in a while.โ โOnce I figure out