~Nyla~
It has been four days that Kian returned from his trip and lay sedated in the bed most of the night. Rex was still not back and the only assurance is from Rachel's words that the pack doctor said he was still alive.
As days passed, Kian seemed all right on the surface, but his wolf was in pain. With his dad and Ryder taking charge of things in his absence, I was extremely careful to not wander around in the daytime.
I patiently waited for it to be night so I could spend time with him again... for those precious two hours when I could lie next to him until it was time to feed Ari again. He was always sedated at night to heal faster, and his folks left him alone once it was past midnight.
Until a few days back, the pack warriors did not guard the buildings because of the enchantments, but now there were guards in every corner to stop intruders since Rex wasn't there to detect them.
It's funny how no one ever suspected an insid
~Kian~ It had been raining cats and dogs for the last three days, and Rex and I were restless to go for a run. Even at almost 5 AM, it was still dark and drizzling. I needed this break to forget all the stress we have been carrying around with never-ending meetings and daggers that Nyla threw at me. Rex was always a defiant piece of shit. Now he has become impossible to reason with. He had been giving me grief over the situation with Nyla ever since I planned my trip with Finn. That trip had cost Finn his life. He definitely died because of me and my preoccupation with Nyla's thoughts. Skinwalkers were terrified of the Storm Moon Pack for the last two years and never dared to attack any of us when passing through the White River Forest. They knew how powerful and relentless we were, and a mistake I made changed it all. "Kian, a Rogue!" Finn had pointed to a golden brown wolf cowering in fear and failing to blend in with the surroun
~Kian~ When dad said he could smell a woman on me, I knew for sure it was her and not just a dream. My spitfire of a mate actually kissed me and held onto me when she thought I wouldn't know. My mouth twitched into a grin, thinking about how heavenly those kisses felt. Meanwhile, my dad was grilling me like I was some captive in the dungeons. He was pushing my patience to the farthest limit. To make it worse, my mind was wandering off, and I even thought I caught a whiff of rain and raspberries. It was growing stronger by the minute until Nyla stopped about two feet away from the conference room entrance. What the hell was she thinking? She would have been in so much trouble if someone had caught her sneaking into my room at night. My dad may not be the Alpha of the pack any longer, but he was still Alpha with a stronger sense of smell than Ryder and the others. If not for being swamped with work in my absence, I'm sure he would have traced th
~Nyla~ Someone was knocking on the door nonstop, ruining my beautiful dream about once upon a time when I was with Maya at my home, happy and carefree. I rubbed the sleep away from my eyes and turned to the window to look outside. What time was it? The treetops formed dark silhouettes against the deep blue skies. I suddenly jumped out of my bed with renewed enthusiasm. Two more days to go for the full moon. "Riley... Wake up!" "Oh Rae, just a second." What was there to wake up so early? I have been grounded for about ten days now, and Kian was gone for almost a week on some pack business again. "Is everything okay?" Rachel was falling asleep while waiting for me to open the door. She said she was supposed to be on the night patrolling duty tonight. "Hell yeah! Talked to my brother just now. He said you can train again!! And we can go shopping in my new car after that." "Whoa! What changed?"
~Nyla~ Beads of sweat trickled down my forehead even after I showered. Pacing back and forth in my room, I waited for Ren to come and tell me what was going on. Unless Adalyn was unconscious, I should be in the dungeons by now. From the look on Kian's face earlier, it didn't seem like she told them what had happened last month. It was so ironic that she returned now, creating many doubts in my mind about tomorrow night. How did she even survive? This was why Maya told me, "Always get their jugular, even when you aren't hungry." I was never a fan of drinking blood, and being in human form and eating delicious meals satiated my hunger thoroughly, leaving no appetite for blood. I should have at least snapped her neck to make sure. All because of Sadie. Walking back to Ari's crib, I wondered how I was going to sneak her out without getting noticed. I knew she got the werewolf gene because I carried her for less than six months
~Third Person's POV~ It was a late spring night, but there was an unusual chill in the air already. Beta Ryder drove around in circles looking for a parking spot near his mistress's beachfront property. He checked his watch and let out an exasperated sigh. His phone screen lit up, showing a notification from Maria. Rolling through a stop sign, he took a quick peek to see if she had sent him any more sexy pictures of her. Candles and bubble bath. His lips curled up in a smile, thinking about the glorious night that lay ahead. After parking his fancy Hellcat a few blocks away from Maria's place, he pranced on the deserted street under the moonlight, humming a cheery tune. A sudden gust of wind had him stop dead in his tracks. He turned back to face the beach. It was almost midnight, and there wasn't a single creature outdoors for miles. At least that's what he thought when he had stepped out of his car a few minutes back. Then why did he hear a wo
ONE YEAR AGO ~Wyatt~ I have lost all hopes of ever meeting my mate. I turned twenty-five last month and have begun to believe that my mate doesn't exist in this world. My parents have been forcing me to take a chosen mate for years now, but I have this feeling that she would show up the moment I accept someone else. Tonight was one of those full moon nights where my dad has organized a huge ball for all unmated werewolves to find their mates. Invitations were sent months before the event to ensure that almost everyone who turned eighteen by today would plan well ahead. I put on my best party jacket and got that perfect five o'clock shadow going for a few days now. Spraying a decent amount of cologne, I left my room with a fantastic feeling. Tonight might be the night when I finally get to see her. I scanned the ballroom from two floors up and decided to get laid if none of these beautifully dressed women turned out to be the one for me.
PRESENT DAY ~Nyla~ The moon hung low in the sky as I wiped my last drops of tears and breathed in the moist, salty air. The night went by too fast. It was an hour before dawn, with no breeze and not a sound except the crashing waves and serene brutality of the ocean. I should feel accomplished after leading Ryder and almost the entire Night Walker Pack to their ruin. All I felt was sadness and guilt. I missed Wyatt much the same and didn't feel any less pain. He wouldn't appreciate the monster I have become, neither would he want me to spill so many tears dwelling in the past. He would expect to see Ari safe and happy, and I failed him already. I prioritized killing the enemies over escaping from this place for good and checking if I can take my baby home with me. I was actually too scared of finding out she was just a werewolf who could not survive the ocean. What would I do then? With the pendant gone, I cannot return to the land after this
~Nyla~ "I'll just catch a tiny rabbit for you all, I hope." I heard Rachel giggle nervously while the others told her she will get at least a baby dear and nothing less. She looked like a little fairy dressed in a white traditional robe and wearing a lavender flower headband. The woodland setting and garden arches with twinkling lights and flowers made the entire place look like an enchanted forest at twilight. "Oh yes, Riley! What took you so long? You look beautiful!" "And you look stinking cute!" I pressed her into a tight hug. "Can't wait to see you in your dress once you bring us back a large elk." "Elk it is then." She giggled again and hugged me back. "I know you won't disown me even if I disappoint everyone else tonight." "You will do fantastic and your dad and brother will be proud of you. You are an Alpha just like them, Rae. Don't stress." "I told her the same. Don't know why she wants to hear it from you." Tiana bar