JUNIPER.Oh, when Astrid asked if I knew the sender, I definitely knew the first person that came to mind, her nickname might sound cool, but once it gets too much, it starts to bore.Which is why the moment that Astrid told me all about the sender, I had to rush here, I won’t be timid, I will let her know now.I push open the door of her room immediately, the familiar smell of lavender hitting my nostrils. She’s behind her make-up table, her hands clutching a cigar.“Can’t you knock?” Her voice is hard, but when she sees me in the reflection of her mirror, her lips curve into a smirk, and she turns to look at me.“Cleo.” I glare hardly at her, not knowing where this new formed energy has arisen from.“Juni dear, does it hurt? You know, because you only let those that are close to you call you Juni.” She throws the cigar to the floor and crushes it with the hoof of her boot.My chest is still rising angrily. “You knew it was me.” All along, she knew I was the one, yet she didn’t confr

ZEKE.And, that’s how we ended up coming to this pack, I come here once in a while to check the draft transactions and all that, the villagers are all happy here, they wave over to us as we pass town.My hands snake around her waist, and I pull her closer: Her scent torments me, her figure sets my soul on fire, makes me growl, makes me want to run my hands down those smooth skin, want to see how far she can moan my name.“What are you doing?” Her voice is a tiny squeal, she tries to get out of my grasp, but I only pull her harder.“There are thugs lurking around, stay closer to me else they might hurt you.” I say, gritting my teeth silently, “But, why are you holding me? I don’t see a need to, Zeke.” She shrugged, even though her body was literally pressed against mine.I lean in, my eyes dropping at her earlobe, “Let’s see how far you can moan that name of mine on bed. Huh? We still have a lot to do, and last time I recalled, you haven’t been submissive to me, vixen.” I lean back, f

ZEKE.Hours later, Astrid and I sit in the garden house, just staring at the sky, there’s a kettle of black tea made by Madam Yv and her grandma’s recipe of cookies.All of this feels so weird: Me, her, mates, like everything is jumbled, like nothing makes sense.I feel Astrid’s eyes on me, those irises flashing with a question.“Come on. Ask your question.” I take the cookie, and pop it into my mouth, sour cream exploding in my taste buds, is this what Madam Yv is doing to me? Is she absolutely serious right now?I can picture her in the kitchen laughing badly.“How did you know of my Luna powers?” She’s looking at me so intently now.I stood up from the chair, feeling worn out, I could take Goliath for a ride right now, I could use some stretching.I come out of the house and into the garden back. She follows me.“How?” She says again, “Does Logan know who I am? Does he know my identity?”I face her, a surge of wind flowing through both our hairs. Hers dazzled in front. “Do you want

GUS.The market is bustling today, people shoveling past me as they carry on with their business, I follow Mrs. Lola obediently, and when she reaches her stall, she stops.“Should I drop it over here?” I ask with a smile, and she nods, I drop the basket of fruits and straighten.“Thank you so much. Gus, we don’t see a lot of boys your age helping out old women like this.” She smiles at me, “Especially every morning, helping me with my fruits, you are such a good boy, Gus, don’t let anyone take that away from you.”It’s my turn to smile at her now. “It’s nothing, Mrs. Lola, I am just happy to help.”“Of course,” She chirps, and like though I know what’s coming next. “My grand-daughter is done in the academy and is coming to town today. Will you be kind enough to meet with her?” She gazes expectantly at me, wanting me to say that positive answer.I really wish I could, but now, I can’t even look at any woman except her, it’s like everywhere I go, I am seeing her, everything I do, I am t

ZEKE.Damn.When I stepped into the academy, I felt the cold air flush through my face. Being here, in the same place I attended with Gus and my twin brother, being back here seems weird.My parents and Astrid’s parents attended this academy together, and due to my reports, they seemed to have been really close, but my questions are: Why are they enemies? Why did they wage war against each other? Here, the dorms are spread around the west and east wing, the dining room. I know the problem about having room-mates, because for the entire time I was stuck with Vortex, I know everybody said staying in the academy was every wolf’s dream, for me. It’s just three years of pure hell.The reception at the entrance feels cold, the principal’s office is just to the left, I could picture her frail face leaning on her chair, sipping cold tea, during the years we were here, Logan and I got into thousand of fights and we would always end up in her office, on her seat.She was more scary than the t