Joy Natividad

My mate, Andrew Claude, is the Alpha of the Celestial Pack, the sworn rival of my father’s Venus Pack. For three years, we have hidden our bond, knowing that our union could either bring peace between the packs or ignite war. On Lunar Year's Eve, beneath the full moon’s silver glow, we stand on the castle terrace, whispering promises of our future. Tonight, we finally agree to perform our bonding ritual, sealing our fates before revealing our love to our parents. My wolf stirs in anticipation, her instincts urging me toward him. But then, Andrew leaps down into the grand fire-dance festival, his powerful wolf form shifting mid-air before landing in a flourish. The scent of burning pine and roasted venison fills the air, warriors howling in celebration. The pack’s bonfire crackles with enchanted flames, casting shadows of prowling wolves against the towering stone walls. I watch from above, heart pounding with joy—until my smile fades. In the heart of the revelry, Carol Sinclair, an Omega maid, clutches a bundle of enchanted fireworks. Andrew strides to her, a warm, easy grin on his face. With a flick of his fingers, golden flames dance from his palms, sparking the firework in her hands. "A little fire magic to help you, Carol," he chuckles. She gasps in admiration, giggling as the firework ignites—only for it to spiral out of control. It veers wildly, the enchanted embers lashing through the air. Searing pain blooms across my arm. The stench of burning flesh fills my nose. I barely react before Carol bursts into tears and flees into the crowd. Before I can speak, Andrew turns on me, his golden eyes flashing with rage. The onlookers fall silent, ears twitching to catch their Alpha’s words. “Did you bully her, Bella?” His growl rumbles deep in his chest. “Just because you’re an Alpha’s heir doesn’t mean you can do whatever you want!” The warriors glance at each other, their tails stiff with tension. I stagger back, stunned. He doesn’t even ask if I’m hurt.

'Hindi kasalanan ng anak ang kasalanan ng magulang. At hindi lahat ng kasalanan ng magulang ay kailangan akuin ng isang anak.' Mula pagkabata, namulat na si Carl Angelo sa dinanas na hirap ng kapatid niyang si Caren dahil sa kagagawan ng isang baliw na lalaki. Nasaksihan niya ang paghihirap ng kapatid dulot ng hindi karaniwang sakit nito. Masakit at mahirap makitang nasa ganoong kalagayan ang kanyang kapatid at habang lumalaki siya ay may namumuong galit at paghihiganti sa puso niya sa taong gumawa noon sa kanyang Ate Caren. Hanggang sa lumipas ang mga taon at dumating sa buhay niya ang isang babaeng kayang palabasin ang lahat ng nakatagong emosyon sa loob niya. Sa unang beses na masulyapan pa lang niya ang magandang mukha ng dalaga ay nagawa nitong buhayin ang lahat-lahat sa kanya kasama na doon ang nasa pagitan ng kanyang mga hita. At doon pa lang ay itinatak na niya sa kanyang puso't isipan na pagmamay-ari niya ang babaeng nagngangalang Vanessa Joy Gayla. Pero paano kung dumating ang panahon na malaman niyang ang babaeng kinahuhumalingan niya ay anak pala ng taong kanyang kinasusuklaman? Paano niya maisasakatuparan ang paghihiganting nabuo sa kanyang isipan? Isang magandang pagkakataon na para maging sandata niya ang dalaga laban sa ama nito. Pero kaya nga ba niyang gamitin ang dalaga na sa simula pa lang ay walang ng ibang ginawa kun'di ang mahalin at pagsilbihan siya? Kaya ba niyang saktan ang babaeng nagmamay-ari na ng puso, isipan at katawan niya? Matuto pa rin kaya siyang magpatawad kung alam niyang habambuhay na nagdudusa ang kapatid niya dahil sa kagagawan ng ama nito? Alin ang pipiliin niya? Pagmamahal o paghihiganti?

Alpha Ethan's first love, Sarah, died unexpectedly just days before their marking ceremony. His grief was so profound, it sent shockwaves through the entire Duskrend pack. I spent my youth walking beside him, helping him crawl out of that darkness. And finally, when he was ready to love again, he chose to mark me. In the first two years after he marked me, I got pregnant twice. Both times ended in miscarriage. Ethan, heart aching, told me he couldn't bear to see me suffer through childbirth again. That he didn't want me to endure that kind of pain anymore. But in the third year, I conceived again. On the way to see the pack healer for a routine checkup, I was attacked by a wild beast. My wolf, desperate to protect me, burned through most of her life force holding the creature off. Ethan arrived just in time and carried me to the pack hospital himself. But the healer shook his head. We had lost too much time. The pup couldn't be saved. Worse, my ability to bear pups would be permanently damaged because my wolf was too injured to ever carry life again. My mother clung to me, sobbing. Ethan stood in the corner and smiled. "Joy just can't have pups anymore," he said. "But Sarah—Sarah lost her life because of people like you." Then he looked at my mother, his voice edged with contempt. "You were the one who forced Sarah to abort. You watched her—an Omega without a wolf—scream herself to death. So now, your daughter shall feel that pain too." Five years after severing our mate bond, Ethan had become the most powerful Lycan Chairman the region had ever seen—courted, admired, endlessly celebrated. And me? I was working at an underground club. I was dressed in scraps of fabric, smiling until my cheeks ached, bowing and pouring drinks for whoever walked into the VIP room. There shouldn't have been any reason for our paths to cross again. But Ethan held me tight, eyes red and refusing to let go— “Say it,” he whispered, voice breaking. “Call me your mate.”