Winter Rise Novels & Stories

An obsidian stone is inside my seal, and the guards fall over themselves to let us inside once they know who I am. The wall is ridiculously tall, made of thick, reinforced steel. I crane my neck back, move my hair back to see it all. The portly guard pulls a lever, and a portion of it lowers. Clunky and groaning, the ice flys out, the gate forcing its way open. The gate lowers completely, warm water slowly trickles out, and the inside of Estate Eclipse is steaming. I grab onto Dante and he helps me past the blocks of ice until we cross the other side of the gate.

I turned Triana and we aimed that direction. Veline was on my heels. “We’ll help.” Veline urged me to lift Triana onto one of the flat slats. I guided her up and then caught her ankles and turned her up over the stone. Wind rolled through the trees and turned into the Vale. Sweeping up Triana’s skirts and making her shiver. “You too.” Veline directed. Gesturing to another boulder. I climbed up and crossed my hands over my belly. Staring at the sky as I wondered if I was so dazed from pain and exhaustion that I was imagining all this.

Once the sky brightened with the rising sun, he could slowly feel that it was not as cold as when he first got up. This was what winter in Wiltspoon was like. Sometimes, on sunny days, the temperature could rise to about 80 degrees Fahrenheit, which made it hard to believe that it was wintertime. When it snowed heavily in the north, the cold air would move southward, but it would only be cold for a few days before the temperature began to rise again. “Nana, the azaleas on either side of the road to the hilltop have bloomed. Let’s go see them.”

CAIN (Listen to HUSHH by AViVA for the vibe) Yona soared higher and higher, weaving in fluid motions through the sky. She was breathtaking, her dark hair fanning out behind her as her wings flexed and contracted; the appendages catching the light and revealing their true colors. She had come for me, I hadn’t thought she would; a broken man like me had nothing to offer her. The soul tie thrummed in my chest, demanding I go to her but I fought it; I knew it was useless and that it was dooming both of us. As time went on I became weaker, sicker and I knew she was suffering the same fate. It was selfish of me, but I couldn’t seem to help it, everytime I even thought of the tie, Verity's face sw

Payna says, “You might feel dizzy.” “I’m fine.” I stand up and stretch my hands over my head. A wave of energy pulses through me, and my fingers fold into fists at my side as I wait for it to pass. What the hell? I inch my way out of the cabin and I step out into the sunlight. There’s a slight breeze that grazes my skin as I make my way to Riven’s cabin. The other wolves have started to absorb themselves in their daily duties, carrying in fresh meat from a hunt, going to their posts to guard the camp. Just about everyone here has found a way to contribute, and mine will be taking out Marcel.

CHAPTER 7: REBORN LUNA Veronica Pain stretched through my body like a daring arthritis as I tried to move. A sharp moan escaped my lips and I lay back down, then it came flashing back. The dynamic energy that exploded through my veins. The strange sudden awakening of my long silent and inactive wolf… the rebirth of my wolf. That overwhelming and nearly dangerous desire to destroy anyone and anything that tried standing in the way of letting me get what I wanted.

I yelled, my voice cracking with desperation. “Please Silvia, fight" I screamed, fighting harder against the hands holding me. They were too strong, and I couldn’t break free. My eyes darted around, searching for Adrian or his beta, but they were nowhere in sight. Then it hit me—my wolf was weakening. A small cut on my ankle burned, the pain spreading fast. *Wolfsbane,* Alexa whispered, her voice fading like a dying echo. “No, no, no!” I gasped, realizing why Silvia had suddenly gotten weak too. The wolfsbane was sapping our strength, leaving us vulnerable.

Soon, old scandals resurfaced, banks withdrew loans, partners abandoned ship, and reporters besieged the mansion. Kirk updated me. "Richard blames it all on Olive, saying she colluded with outsiders to drain the company. Liam and Neal have cut ties with the Winters and are being hunted by Richard's enemies." I paused on a page—an equity certificate for a biotech company my mother owned. In my past life, Richard had obsessed over it but couldn't unlock its technological secrets. I closed the file. "Time to let him know what it feels like to lose everything." Three days later, the Winters Group declared bankruptcy.

It hadn’t felt that cold earlier. Laying my head back against the window, I couldn’t even feel excited about the snow. It was my favorite but all I could do was close my eyes and wish that everything would just go away. ‘Winter, don’t give up. Wake up. Stay strong. Please. He’s coming, Winter. Don’t worry, he’s coming for you.’

"Once everything is done, send me back to Merica. You will also need to make sure that the Hough family will never come looking for my parents or me." Freya expected Ivy to have some other requests. She did not expect it to be such a simple one. She nodded in agreement. "No problem." "Then, we have a deal." "Deal." They shook hands and looked at each other with victory gleaming in their gazes. In the blink of an eye, Jason and Ivy’s wedding day had arrived. The venue was filled with social elites from all walks of life. Countless cameras were aimed at the luxurious stage, livestreaming every movement. Online, viewers flooded the screen with wedding blessings.