Maverick needed an escape from the tension that hung over the pack house like a dark cloud. That was why he was seated at a bar in L'Oréal letting the noise and bustle distract him from the problems he was sure to face back in his pack's territory. The whole Denzel-Cinnia situation was sucking the barely-there joy out of him. As much as he wanted to hate Cinnia—which he rightfully should since she committed one of the worst crimes imaginable—he sort of understood why she did what she did. He knew Denzel understood as well but it was too difficult to look past. Still too fresh in their minds. Maverick took another sip of his drink and was considering getting another when a scent hit his nostrils. "Please Goddess, no," He mumbled as he touched his forehead against the cool glass in his hand. "Not her of all people." Sophie craved a getaway. Ever since she was named Elder after Esther's death despite how young she was, it seemed like the fate of the world and the Darah Haven wit

Gently, Maverick brought her to face him. "I agree. Maybe it's right and maybe it isn't. Why don't we find out rather than assume?" He suggested. Sophie bit her lip, conflicted. "I... You're a werewolf, Maverick. I'm a witch. This is—" "The same thing we all had a problem with when it came to my brother," Maverick finished off for her. "No." Sophie shook her head. "I'm just unsure." Maverick cocked his head to the side and moved closer to her. Their bodies pressed against each other's and he could hear the pounding of Sophie's heart against her ribcage. "I can smell your arousal, Sophie..." His tone was low, sinful. The alcohol on his breath, as he spoke mingled with hers as she gasped when his fingers danced along the waistband of her pleated mini skirt. Maverick shrugged off her jacket and tossed it to the ground. "You want this as much as I do, don't you?" He asked to be sure. Sophie pressed her lips into a thin line as she struggled to maintain eye contact with him. "N-no, I

Cinnia was ready. She had dismissed all the staff after returning from shopping with Mya and had Mya request the other pack members except Kai and Maverick, to leave and return the next day. She spent hours in the kitchen preparing all of Denzel's favorite dishes and snacks—the ones she could anyway. Thankfully, Denzel was holed up in his study as usual so she didn't have to worry about him discovering what she had planned. "Cinnia, it's perfect. Stop fussing!" Mya giggled as Cinnia replaced one garnish that didn't look quite right on the platter, with another. "Yes... Relax. He may not openly show it but he's going to love it. Hell, I love it!" Kai encouraged her and patted her shoulder gently. "Pst. Maverick, say something!" Mya elbowed Maverick in the ribs, causing him to let out a sharp grunt. "Hmph. It's good. You've outdone yourself," He said simply then put on a tight smile. "You guys don't think it's too much?" Cinnia bit her nails as she observed every detail of the spre

The air around Cinnia was permeated with the scent of death. It threatened to choke her out. Then, it was as gone as abruptly as it came. Cinnia squinted into the darkness surrounding her on each side as she took tremulous steps forward. Specters whispered incomprehensible words at her while they glided about her, blending with the darkness so she couldn't see them but she could perceive them. It brought shivers across her entire body. She wanted to call out for Denzel but her voice failed to erupt from her lips. She kept walking further into the darkness, hoping to find some glimmer of light that would signal an escape. It seemed like she had walked for hours with no end in sight. No hope. No way out of the suffocating darkness that shrouded her. Just as she was about to give up and crumble to the ground beneath her, something flashed before her eyes. Bright red. Dripping. Cinnia took several steps back, preparing to run from whatever the thing was that made her heart pound

Cinnia drummed a beat on the oak table in front of her as she sat in the library of the packhouse waiting for Denzel to return with the books he had spoken of earlier. She was lost in thoughts that were scattered in different directions but all related to a particular name. Sebastian. Sebastian. Sebastian. His name rang out in her head repeatedly and she caught herself drumming even more harshly on the table till her fingertips started to hurt. She flattened them and crossed one leg over the other. Cinnia was an avid reader. At least, when she wasn't moving from place to place like a nomad during her years on the run, she derived peace in many hobbies including burying her nose in the pages of both fiction and non-fiction though she much preferred the beauty of fiction. However, she had never come across the word 'Vampire' even in the many paranormal romance novels she had read. In the few horror books she had come across, they only spoke of monsters, creatures that go bump in the n