Tragic Love Werewolf Short Stories & Independence Defy Fate Novels

When my sister, Vesper Rowe, begged us for help, my mate, Alpha Sterling Blackwood, and I traveled for three days and nights to reach the neighboring Cloudwolf Pack. Vesper's in-laws made her life as hard as they could. I out-argued every wolf in the room, and Sterling backed me up with brute strength. Once her mate bond was finally severed, a smile finally appeared on Vesper's haggard face. "Moon Goddess bless you both. Don't ever split up, okay? Otherwise, I won't know whose house to go to anymore." Sterling ruffled her hair, then looked at me with open affection. "Don't worry about us. The Moon Goddess chose Livia and me as the most compatible mates in the entire werewolf world. Everyone else could split up, but we'd still be together. "What matters now is figuring out what kind of life you want for yourself." After we brought Vesper home with us, I took even better care of her than before and made sure she got out and met new people. Whenever Sterling saw me preparing a plate of fruit for Vesper, he'd pull me into his arms, acting jealous. "Livia, your sister is a grown woman. I'm your mate, and I'm the one who needs more of your attention right now." I laughed and popped a slice of apple into his mouth, my heart brimming with happiness. When I returned from a month-long training retreat, they were both there to pick me up. Sterling opened his arms to hug me as usual, but I spotted a lipstick stain on his collar. When I confronted him about it, Sterling, who'd always answered every question I asked, remained silent. My heart sank, and I decided I'd break the bond the very next day. But when I reached for Vesper to take her with me, my hand closed on empty air. She gave me one reluctant look, then turned and walked to Sterling.

The coming-of-age ceremony had barely ended when I received a prophecy crystal from my family. Inside it, I saw myself ten years from now. "Ella, stop trusting Noah." "He only applied for the Healing track to keep you tethered to him." "In the end, you became an ordinary wolf. You never got the chance to study the moon phases and prophecy again." I stared hard at the version of myself trapped in the crystal. "And Noah? His heart always leaned toward Mira. He said he loved you, but his love was the cage that trapped you." The crystal shattered. The vision ended. I ran back to the academy and found it. The contract Noah had submitted on my behalf. The one that would keep me on campus. I withdrew the application. Then I booked the earliest flight back to my family's pack. This time, I wasn't giving up my future for him.

I'm a wolf-less she-wolf, yet I'm the fated mate of Alpha Kayden of the Frostmoon Pack. Every time he stayed out late at night, I couldn't help but worry, and I'd reach for him through the mind link. But to Kayden, that was just proof of my weakness—that I could never handle the duties of a Luna. So he refused to acknowledge me. In front of the elder council, his voice was ice: "Ella has no wolf spirit. Low bloodline. And she's far too clingy. How could she possibly carry the weight of a Luna?" "Only when she stops jumping at shadows and can stand on her own as a Luna—only then does she deserve to wear my ring and bear the honor of a Luna." Half a year passed. I really did stop reporting every worry to him. I stopped chasing him down for proof of his love. Kayden was pleased. He thought I'd finally learned to obey. He announced to the entire pack that he would hold a coronation ceremony for me, making me his Luna in truth. But I no longer wanted to be his Luna. I'd already decided to leave him—for good.