What in the moon goddess just happened? I stood frozen to the spot, my eyes glued to the window he’d just climbed down from. He’d disappeared in a flash, carrying a wind with him. The office building is several feet tall, how could he manage that? I heard his growl again, the sound causing goose bumps all over my skin and many minutes passed as I stayed rooted to the spot, willing my senses back to life.Did I do sometime wrong? Whatever it is I did to get him this upset, I knew he’d not forgive me easily this time. Even after lying to him, I’d not seen his beast this upset that he’d not been able to hold back.I reflected on the figure of him I’d seen before he jumped through the window. I didn’t see his full shift, but it was scary seeing him grow in height and muscles. Lycans can stand on their two feet as against werewolves, making them taller. But his beast had to be the most scary thing I ever saw even when he hadn’t fully shifted. As the first Lycan, he had the largest beast, a

ESMERAYI overslept again. I started to rise from the bed, but he tightened his hold on me and pulled me closer against his chest.“Stay,” his eyes were still closed when he spoke, and I was glad he didn’t get to see the redness on my cheeks. It deepened as my eyes rested on his chest and my heart started to hammer all of a sudden. I’d upset him yesterday, for moon goddess knows whatever reason, but Draven didn’t need a reason to be upset. It seems like my slightest movement angered him, or maybe he was angry by default. It wasn’t just me, everything angered him.I’d seen Scarlett in her Lycan form yesterday when we went on a short run, but we had to return early because her mate had started to search for her and she was skeptical about what Draven would do if he found us together. She also said she felt Draven’s angry beast and powerful growls while we were out. Since she was a Lycan and had been sworn in as a member of the Royal palace, she had a bond with him that I didn’t. I was s

“No one is going to hurt her. She is safe here,” Cordelia told Draven who glared at her unsmiling and made no effort to move. “Please. It is mandatory that the goddess speaks to her alone. You know the whole process,” she pleaded when Draven remained unmoving.The room I was in was painted pure white and apart from the large table I was laying on, there wasn’t any other thing in the room.“I’ll have a word with her alone first,” his eyes were unreadable when they settled on me. Cordelia nodded her head adamantly, cast me one more look, and then she was out of the room.“Esmeray,” there was something different about the way he pronounced it. He took few steps close to me and took my left hand in his, his eyes studying my fingers before finally resting on my face “Why do you always keep the truth from me?” he asked. What was he talking about and what was there to tell about the fact that I thought I was crazy and running mad? “You make it hard for me to trust you, little mate,” he added

I was back to Draven’s suite by morning and a little disappointed to find that he wasn’t available. I’d been gone for almost four days but Smythe had been the one to pick me up from the temple and bring me back to the house. We stopped at a restaurant to get food on our way home. Draven didn’t bother to turn up.I had to talk myself out of my sour mood while I took my bath in the shower and reminisced on all that went down with the oracle and my time with the moon goddess, especially what she’d said about Zayden not being mine. Maybe that was part of my punishment for not allowing her in. It’s been about a week since he died, but I still didn’t feel bad about him or that he died. Matter of fact, a part of me wished he’d gone sooner even though guilt wouldn’t make me admit it. I have felt lighter since he died and after my encounter the last few days, I must admit I’ve not felt as good as I feel right now in all my life. It feels like half the burden has been lifted off my shoulders. T

DRAVENPressure. Unending pressure. It’s what I’ve known all my life. From the minute I was born, the pressure followed me everywhere. It became a part of me, from infant into adulthood. I learnt to handle it, but some days could be worse than others, and today happens to be one of my terrible days. After the scene I’d just walked into with Donovan and my mate, my beast only craved one thing. Blood.The last few days have been horrific. Asides from the pressure from the council and kinsmen to hasten the mating ceremony, I’d had to deal with different conflicts rising here and there within and outside the palace. Our borders were breached again. Plus, the issue with Silver Moon pack that my mate once belonged to. After the unruly behavior of the alpha’s son and seeing those scars on my mate’s back, I was determined to shut down the entire pack. Esme had told me she wasn’t one of the favorites in her pack, and I had the gut feeling that they had all one way or the other contributed to