"Bring the chains." Beta Micheal Black barked out an order.A couple of hulking enforcers stepped forward, silver manacles gleaming dully in the filtered forest light. This was really happening - they were going to discard me out here in the wild with nothing."Let's move it, sweetheart," one of them growled, hauling me forward with a cruel yank.I hissed as the cold metal bit into the tender flesh of my wrists, the enchanted silver already burning like hellfire. Michael stepped up, his beady eyes glinting with a twisted satisfaction."Those chains will prevent you from shifting into your wolf form," he drawled, smirking as understanding bloomed in my widening eyes. "Can't have our little Omega Luna--I mean, Ex- Luna running free in the forest, now can we?"I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Without the ability to shift, to tap into my primal instincts and strength, I was as good as dead out here. The forest was an untamed deathtrap for a lone, defenseless woman.But that's exactl
What is this... scent?Fresh blood, but it's different... Shifter blood, belonging to a female no less.The aroma drifted through the night air, teasing my senses with its enticing fragrance. A scent that stirred a ravenous hunger within me. This wasn't the typical mortal crimson that usually graced my palate. No, this was something far more delectable.Stealthily, I stalked through the Witch's forest, my footsteps like whispers against the damp earth. The shadows embraced me like an old companion, concealing my presence from the prying eyes of predators. This was my domain, my hunting grounds, and the inky darkness served as my cloak.The scent grew stronger with each step, beckoning me deeper into the woods.Ah... shifters. Those adorable little mutts. A low chuckle rumbled in my chest. These creatures, so proud and mighty, believed themselves above the food chain. Little did they know, their precious lifeblood was the ultimate delicacy, a rare vintage.Like caviars are for mo
I glared at the feeble little shifter lying motionless in the bed. "Well? What's wrong with the little wolf?" I snapped at Zelda, my maid.Zelda flinched under my withering gaze. Good, she should be afraid. Fear is the only way to keep the hired help in line."Fever, sir."I clicked my tongue. "As expected of an omega, they're too fragile." "Sir..." Zelda began hesitantly. I raised an eyebrow, daring her to continue. She swallowed hard. "The wolf...she has been starved. Forced to live on scraps. Her condition is terrible. If you drink her blood now, it could prove fatal."Fatal, huh? I dismissed the foolish maid with a wave of my hand. She knew better than to linger.Once she had scurried away, I turned my attention to the frail little wolf lying before me. Her tangled red hair was dull and matted. I had already removed the silver shackles binding her wrists and ankles. No need for those anymore. It was obvious she had been cast aside by her pack, left to waste away in the woods. Th
I was drifting in this weird fuzzy blankness when something nudged me. Not a gentle nudge, more like a punch to the gut - which shocked the breath right out of me. Suddenly my eyes opened and everything was blindingly white and freezing cold."Abigail." A soothing woman's voice beckoned me. It was the familiar voice of my wolf Bree. It'd been months since I last linked with my spirit wolf. Omegas tend to have weaker connections with their wolves, and mine only emerged when I was in a deadly crisis to protect her vessel from dying. Like, um, right then apparently?Was I dying? Oh crap, was this the afterlife? Maybe... I was dead already and this cold place was hell, but I thought hell was supposed to be hot--"Abigail!"Bree's voice sounded much closer, and a second later I felt something furry nudging my side. I turned my head - very sluggishly, like I was underwater - to see her luminous white shape blending in against the frosty backdrop."Where...are we?" My voice came out in a
The absolute last place I wanted to be was back at the main house, but duty called I guess. I braced myself as I walked through the door. One whiff told me everything I needed to know - the stench of stale beer and cigarette smoke still hung heavy in the air from last night's rowdy poker game no doubt. And where there's smoke, there's my mate Roy, Alpha Man-Child himself.Sure enough, there was Roy, sprawled out on the couch amid empty bottles and overflowing ashtrays, as if he did it just to spite me. But it wasn't actually him that made my stomach turn this time. Oh no, that honor went to the Beta's nineteen-year-old daughter Cassie, reputation ruiner extraordinaire.Yet there she sat parked on my mate's lap, dressed in scraps of fabric pretending to be clothes. Locking eyes with me, she had the audacity to smirk as she snuggled up closer to Roy, as if they were the happy couple and I was the unwanted wife. Roy of course ate up the attention, a smug grin plastered across his scruffy
I strolled into the bedroom, already over whatever hot mess was waiting for me this time. And get this - little Miss Cassie's scrawny butt was parked right there on my marital bed, scrolling through her phone like she owned the place.Seriously, this girl had some nerve shacking up in my private space. For a second, I wanted to rip into her trifling behind. But getting all emotional was exactly what she wanted. So I played it ice cold instead.I sashayed over, real nonchalant, and said "You're in the wrong room."Cassie glanced up with that sly grin of hers. "Roy told me to wait up in here 'til he got back. Had some pack biz to handle."I stopped myself from snapping at her skanky tail. Roy's played-out games were so tired by now. I just kept it breezy: "Yeah well I'm tidying up in here, so maybe continue your wait elsewhere, 'kay?"Girl took her sweet time getting off my bed, smirking the whole way like this was her territory now. As she slinked past, she whispered all taunting: "Don
I ran my fingertips over a tube of bold red lipstick before applying it to my lips, gazing intently at myself in the mirror. The vivid hue stood out starkly against my pale complexion.My red hair cascaded down to my shoulders in loose curls, framing my face. My dull blue eyes reflected back at me from the mirror with no sign of life or feeling. A smattering of freckles dotted my nose and cheeks, uninvitedly adding some color to my otherwise drab tone.I wasn't the fiery redhead that often portrayed us to be. No, I was far from it. Instead, I carried myself with cold indifference, my demeanor aloof and unfeeling. As Alpha Roy would call it 'As cold as the moon.'The mirror reflected my true nature - a stark contradiction to the stereotype that came with my fiery locks. But I didn't let it bother me. After all, appearances could be deceiving. And this one was no exception."Well, well, look who decided to get dressed up today."I kept my expression neutral as I capped the lipstick and
I tightly shut my eyes and inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself as another burst of intense pain swept through me. Despite the joyous mood outside brought about by the ongoing Moon Festival - filled with laughter and cheerful tunes - I remained preoccupied with the unyielding discomfort coming from my lower belly.Afflicted by wrenching cramp-like sensations, as if being struck in the womb, I doubled over, earnestly seeking some remedy. Regrettably, avoiding this cyclic predicament seemed unlikely now. As the Luna of the Silver Claw pack, I had duties to attend to so having a break was out of the question.Frantically searching through drawers and cabinets, I rummaged around my bedroom, desperate for any form of ailment. My fingers brushed against empty containers that once held precious painkillers, now depleted due to my own carelessness. Panic set in; without medication, how will I make it through the night?With heavy steps, I dragged myself towards Ethan's quarters. He served