Ember’s POVThe sky turned red, as though bleeding. My cage, the East Wing, felt icy and suffocating every damn time, the walls looking like punishment and an insult. The room tiny, as though it was a coffin meant to contain me even in death and the food I received three times a day? Cold and tasted like poison. I hardly touched it, just sustaining myself with little sips of water which also felt poisoned. I was barely holding on, barely alive. I had nothing else to live for. Zane had chosen to ignore me, spending more hours in a day with that bitch, Kaela. And ever since we returned, my wolf still hadn't said anything, not even a whimper. As though she had been buried deep at the back of my mind. She didn't trust anyone again. She felt betrayed by Zane, and maybe me too. And Zane? He finally became his father's “golden boy” again, as Alpha Magnus would call it. Zane had been training with the most powerful warriors in the pack, acting like nothing ever happened between us, li
Ember's POVImmediately we stepped inside the pack house, my breath hitched momentarily. I took a deep breath, the heavy air pressing down on me. My step father's scent lingered literally everywhere, suffocating, overpowering and strong. His thick presence loomed over us, it was a reminder that I was trapped. Zane tightened his grip around my wrists, it was the only thing that kept me connected to him as he dragged me as though I was a prisoner through the halls of the pack house. The surroundings were icy, it hadn't changed a bit but it seemed as though everyone had long forgotten who I was or who I used to be in the pack. My heart bled but I took a deep, shaky breath, trying to keep a straight, emotionless face. I didn't want to show any weakness because if I did, it would become worse. Zane had not said a word ever since we returned, not even sparing me a glance. Whenever our gazes met, he always shifted it away almost immediately. But as much as he tried to avoid me like a f
Zane's POVThe moment the creature smirked, I knew we were doomed. It was not but fate, neither was it by the beasts snarling and clawing at the shattered doors of the temple, no. But it was from something older and darker, buried somewhere beneath us. As the Scorch's beasts all flooded in, their bones grinding, claws dripping with blood, fangs sharp and ready to tear their prey in pieces as they snarled like death itself. But, my eyes were not fixed on them, no. I was staring right into the soil of that fucking monster rising from the pit of the seal itself. It was half wolf and half god, its body shackled in light that throbbed like the heartbeat of thunder. And….it looked right at Ember, it's dark silver eyes staring right into her soul as though it wanted to burn her. But….much to my suprise, it smiled. “You want to burn, huh?” It purred, the corner of his lips curving into a sly smirk. “Then I will fucking light the world on fire for you” Then, as it went silent, all hel
Ember’s POVZane ran. The Elite pack were much and we couldn't fight them off even if we tried to. We were greatly outnumbered. He was still Naked, blood slick and magnificent. He carried me on his back like I weighed nothing, his body bouncing with each movement he made. As I clutched him tightly, I could feel his muscles flexing with each step, his scent lingering around me like an intoxicating drug. I could still feel him deep inside my core, still feel his thrusts, my thighs were sticky, still dripping with cum after what we had done. I was too weak to run, my legs still trembling from the aftermath of the brutal sex. As he ran, I gently nuzzled his back, my lips brushing so close to the sweaty skin there. “You came in me like a fucking storm, Zane” I whispered against his neck. “Twice….” I heard him laugh, low and deadly. “You begged for it, Ember, didn't you, huh?” I rolled my eyes, of course I did. And goddess, I had begged with my soul and body. Behind us, the night ro
Ember's POV The arrow never made it. Faster than air itself, Zane twisted his body much quicker than the poisoned arrow aimed at my heart and then, he took the hit. I saw as the arrow sank deep in his shoulder, black liquid splurging out as it met with his skin. “Fuck!” He growled, his face contorting with pain but he didn't stop running even for a brief second. His grip around my wrist got tighter and fiercer, his claws digging into my skin. But behind us, the forest growled. The Scorch chasing us with fury, fire burning the trees down to ashes, blazing up. And then the roars and howls of dark, guttural rogue wolves. Goddess, they were literally everywhere, hunting me and Zane and they were closer than I could imagine. My breath hitched as I slightly turned my head, the wind brushing against my face, my heart beating vigorously in my chest. As I tilted back, I saw it. The edge, the end of the forest. It was the beginning of the awakening of hell, The Ironfrost Abyss. Cliff
21+Ember's POVThe obsidian courthouse shimmered, pulsing with darkness . It felt alive, the air around icy and biting, filled with something ancient and suffocating. The walls were covered in ancient markings, torches blazing red with fire along the arches, their flames flickering with each roar of the council of elders. The air crackled, not just with only magic, no, but with also judgement. I stood there, alone, at the center of the stone circle, the silver shackles I was bound with biting deep into my wrists. After I had said those words, offering myself as a replacement, they clamped a collar around my throat, it was made from the same cursed, deadly metal that repels werewolves, burning through my wolf. I was barefoot, bruised but still reeked of beautiful defiance. I shifted my gaze to Zane as he watched me, his chains removed from his hands. He didn't just watch because he wanted to, no, but because they forced him to watch. He stood shirtless, chest heaving heavily, b
Ember’s POV The pack hall had never felt this quiet and cold before. Not even when there was a deadly dispute, an auspicious event or the blood moon casting its enticing glow across every sacred stone in the boundary. The ceremonious altar reeked of sin, I and Zane's sin. I barely had time to catch my breath after Zane had claimed me and roughly fucked me for the pack to watch when the pack guards suddenly charged at us, yanking me away from him as they ripped the little torn fabric left I had draped around me. The mating mark carved deep into my skin burned as it brushed against them but I didn't cry or whimper, not even from the pain. I had chosen this and didn't regret it one bit, I was ready to burn for him. The pack became an uproar of chaos, the crowd shouting and throwing curses at us. “You two defiled the moon's law that united our pack!” A pack member roared. “From the moment she stepped in here, I knew it! She's a curse!” Another sneered. “Send her on an exile or e
Ember's POVLucien's imposing height hovered above me, he was so close to me that his thick scent filled my nostrils, wrapped with something somewhat suffocating. I could feel the bond between us, it was difficult to ignore but then again, it didn't feel right. My heart clenched with pain knowing that the moon goddess had given him to me as my mate. He wasn't the one for me, the moon goddess was wrong this time. I watched as his eyes darkened with hunger but it didn't move me as much as Zane's did. Lucien's actions felt suffocating and forced, as though it was a strategy. I just could not bring myself to accept the bond, we shared nothing in common. Lucien moved closer, his hand lightly touching my arm. His voice was quiet but strong, just loud enough for us to hear. "I felt it," he said, his breath warm on my skin. "The connection. It's real, Ember. You're mine." His words felt strange in my chest, like a heartbeat that wasn't mine. No, it's not him.My heart, the beat under my
Ember's POV The pack clearing was alive and bubbling with energy. Torches flickered along the stone walls, casting a soft, ethereal glow on the crowd that had gathered to welcome the return of a name, long lost in the pack's legacy, me. Ember Wraith, daughter of the runaway Luna. It was a mystery traced down to bloodlines. I stood at the centre of the clearing, draped in a midnight silk that kissed every inch of my body like a second skin. It was too revealing for my comfort but then again, it belonged to my mother, I had to wear it because tonight, my appearance mattered. “Smile, Ember” my bestie, Cassia, whispered into my ears. “Gossips are spreading, let's give them a good one to think of” I pursed my lips, forcing myself to smile but it was almost difficult with so many prying eyes fixed on me. They arrived one by one, each more refined than the last. They raised their eyebrows and nodded politely, all pretending not to notice the lingering scent of Zane on me. The soreness