Axel was the first to notice Diana's absence. He didn't know what jarred him awake but his eyes suddenly snapped open and he sat up.He turned amd when his gaze fell on the empty spot beside him, he went into a full blown panic."Where's Diana?" He asked, rushing to his feet.His question was like a warning bell to Alden and Asher because they were awake in the next second."What do you mean? She was lying next to you." Alden complained."I was deeply asleep Alden." Axel snapped at him. "Did you expect me to be awake when she left?""Enough of this argument." Asher silenced them both. He crouched on the ground and examined the footprints that led into the forest. "I don't think she was abducted. Maybe she..." He trailed off uncertainly."Maybe she what?" Alden asked."I'm not sure." Asher said thoughtfully. "Maybe she sleepwalked.""Diana has never sleepwalked." Axel countered. "Why would she start now?""Haven't you noticed Diana has been acting strangely ever since she got her power
Alpha Alaric sat in his study, lost in thoughts. It had been a year since his sons left with Diana. A year since he discovered that Syrena was the betrayer that had broken the pack bond by joining Jasper. A year since news of Syrena and Jasper's death reached them. And still they had not returned. The pack had been opened again after the death of Jasper and the rogues. A sacred memorial was held for beta Damian, the innocent lives that were lost in the last battle, and Syrena even though she was a betrayer. The Michaelson school was back in session, and Alpha Alaric kept recruiting supernatural creatures and welcoming them into his pack. The pack grew stronger with each passing day, but everyone knew it would never be the same without the Alpha triplets and Diana. A deep sigh escaped Alpha Alaric for the umpteenth time. He had tried to go to sleep, but his thoughts kept him awake. Luna Catherine had tried all her best to cheer him up, but still, he couldn't be calm. He was just
"Alden?" Alpha Alaric whispered, wondering if the cold night was playing tricks on him. "It's me, father." Alden replied him. His expression was one of longing and relief, and it was quite obvious that he had really missed home. "We're back."Beside him, Asher and Axel emerged and finally, Diana stepped forward. "Dad," She whispered, tears filling her eyes. Without another word, she threw herself into Alaric's waiting arms, crying joyfully. "My darling," Alaric whispered back, holding his daughter tight against him. How he had missed her. He released her and held her at arms length, looking her over. "You've grown into a beautiful young woman."Diana smiled, her eyes slowly closing as Alaric wiped the tears off her cheeks with his thumb. "I missed you so much." She confessed. "I missed you much more." Alaric responded, and his gaze trailed to his sons. "All of you."They didn't hug, but one could clearly see the emotion in their eyes. "Your mother would be so happy." Alpha Alar
"Don't move." Diana's voice reached him. "I have a dagger at your back, and you don't want me to hurt you.""Diana," Alden gasped in surprise. "What are you doing? It's me, Alden.""I know it is you." Diana replied. Keeping the dagger pointed at him, she walked around until she was standing in front of him. There was a slight smile on her lips when she faced him. "Did you really think I wouldn't know you were following me?"Alden tried to smile back, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something was definitely wrong. Diana's whole demeanor was off. It was like he was staring at another person. "Where were you going?" He asked. Diana lowered the dagger and stood staring at him. "I couldn't sleep. I needed a walk to clear my head.""You've been acting strangely for days now." Alden voiced out his concerns. Though he appeared relaxed but he was alert to his surroundings. "Since you got your powers back from Astrid...""Did you expect things to go back to the way it was so easily?"
"NO!" Alden roared. "If you dare harm my mate, I will...""What? Kill me?" Astrid taunted him. Her cold smile widened. "Don't you get it Alden? I am not the one who will hurt her. It is you, and everyone else who will try to kill me. Being in the same body with Diana sure has its perks. I have her powers, and her body is under my control. But if you kill me, she'll die."Alden was at a loss of what to do. He couldn't destroy Astrid without losing his mate in the process. He thought everything would be back to normal after Astrid's death. How wrong he was. The battle wasn't over. Astrid looked up to the moon. It was past midnight. She needed to begin the spells. She gazed back at Alden and her smile disappeared, leaving her face cold and dark. "If I were you, I would run back to my parents and warn them of the impending doom. Because the moment I destroy the moon, this pack is going down first."As she turned to leave, Alden made up his mind. He shifted abruptly into his beast and l
Alpha Alaric jerked awake when he felt the mansion tremble. Besides him, Catherine shot up from the bed, one hand gripping him in fright. "What was that?" She whispered. Again the mansion trembled and shook as if the earth was about to split in two. Without wasting another second, Alaric pushed off the bed and hurried towards the door. "Alaric wait." Catherine called, throwing on her robe and hurrying after him. As they ran through the hallway towards the stairs, the tremor increased until the mansion felt like it was being uprooted from the earth. The chandeliers flickered repeatedly and went off, plunging the mansion into darkness. The warriors hurried up the stairs just as Alaric and Catherine descended. "Alpha...""Henry, what is happening?" Alaric demanded, his voice loud and powerful. "We have no idea Alpha." Henry responded, his voice filled with fear and confusion. "The earth suddenly began to shake. It looks like an earthquake.""Get everyone out of the mansion." Alar
Immediately the pentagram's connection was severed, Astrid lost control of her powers for a moment. This gave the large wolf an opportunity to tackle her to the ground. "No!" She screamed, struggling to free herself from the wolf above her. The other two wolves stepped out of the pentagram and hurried towards Alden and Asher. "Mother, Axel," Asher called out in a voice filled with relief. Catherine and Axel swiftly shifted into their human forms and loosened the vines holding him and Alden. "How did you know where to find us?" Alden asked, freeing his hands from the vines. "Astrid destroyed the moon. Didn't you feel the pain?""We felt it." Axel answered, grabbing Asher's arm and lifting him up. "I felt like I would die. Mother and Father were down too, until suddenly, the pain disappeared. I don't know how it happened, but I used that opportunity to lead them here.""It was Astrid." Asher replied. He held on to his side as his wound slowly began to heal. "Now that she has destroy
"You have to kill me."Alpha Alaric froze, the color draining from his face. He slowly released Diana, shaking his head in denial. "No," He whispered. "Dad please...""No Diana." Alaric shook his head, his entire body trembling. "How can you ask of something like that from me?""It is the only way." Diana cried out. "Astrid is going to destroy the realm, and she has already succeeded because the moon is gone...""No..." Alaric adamantly refused. "Dad we can't let more innocent people die...""I can't do it Diana!" Alaric suddenly burst out. Then his voice lowered and trembled as he continued. "I can't kill my own child, my own daughter.""So you would let other people die?" Diana whispered. "If Astrid takes over, I'll die. Why not make use of the opportunity and defeat her instead?""Diana, it isn't as easy as you want it to be." Alaric whispered back. There were tears glistening in his eyes, threatening to fall. "I can't kill my own daughter. This is a difficult decision you're as