Everlasting Fire

Prologue Breathe in through the nose, out through the mouth. Strike harder, faster, no hesitations. A simple slip-up is the only difference between life and death. I grunted as I stepped forward, thrusting all my weight into my next blow. The sound of metal on metal filled the air. Sweat dripped down my brow; I ground my teeth as I pushed forward. You have to be better than your opponent. Anticipate every movement, and keep your mind focused and clear. Even on the brim of exhaustion, you must give it your all, and never show your weakness. Never show your opponent what cards you hold in your hand. Fighting is both a game of strategy and preservation. You fight to protect your people, who count on you. Whoever comes out on top is stronger; they’re the ones to be feared. You hold that title until you fall. To be the best and remain at the top, you must always believe you can improve. You must believe that you don’t deserve the title constantly proving yourself to others daily, that yo

Chapter 2 - The Beast     I walked out of my grandfather's house, deciding to head to the forest instead of the palace. I needed some time for myself; maybe I would even let my wolf run for a bit. Something about having the air blowing through our fur was so freeing. I had extra time with my wolf than most, but what I gained in perfecting my shifting, I lost in bonding emotionally. When most werewolves shifted at eighteen, I shifted at sixteen. Something not completely unheard of, it mostly happened in Alpha families. We figured that it was because of the Fae side of me. It had sped up the wolf bond and allowed us to shift early.   Damon got his wolf at eighteen, and so did Nesrin. Balor was early too, getting his wolf this year, on his seventeenth birthday. All of our wolves were unique in personal

Chapter 4 - Night festival  “I can’t believe you actually did it.” I laughed, wiping the tears from my eyes. I hadn’t laughed this hard in a long time.  “I wouldn’t be a true werewolf if I didn’t keep my end of a deal.” Audra laughed. As we entered the edge of the village. She took my challenge to heart. She walked back to the village stark naked. Not a single care in the world as she strutted through the forest. I was half tempted to join her. She put her clothes on before turning back to me.  “Now, we have a few hours before the night festival starts. I have a few more things planned, but I’m also still hungry so we need to fix that first.” She said, I shook my head at her.

Chapter 6 - Warning   We ran in silence for hours, only stopping to drink. The sun was long gone; the sound of the night creatures filled the forest. Oren was quiet, avoiding all paths and thinned-out areas. We blocked out our mind link so we could be completely alone. When I finally stepped forward, allowing Oren to rest, we were in a small clearing. The only sound was the crickets chirping and the leaves rustling in the wind. I looked up at the moons, letting the soft glow kiss my skin.     It was times like these I wish I had someone else to turn to. Someone who could help give me answers. Even though my grandfather was always there for me, he was still influenced by my parent's decisions. I always felt stupid for dreaming of having a simpler life—a life with no rules or expectations. I’m sure I

Chapter 8 - Hope I looked at him, the man I was destined to marry. My future husband. My ticket to cruelty. My mate, Balthazar, the king of the underworld. “He is not capable of love.” Ryuu’s words circling my mind. What a cruel fate, a cruel pairing from the mothers.I thought of what Nesrin said. “Rules were meant to be broken.”Audra’s words mixing in. “Fate is a cruel bitch. Sometimes, she needs a little rebellion.” The world stood still, time nonexistent. At that very moment, my mind and heart were at opposite ends of a rope, tugging me until it snapped. Do I believe what Ryuu said. Trust what my parents trained me for. They trained me to be a warrior. A queen. Someone who thinks well under pressure and weighs all the options in front of her. But what were my options? I don’t know this man, and I don’t know what to believe. My mind w