XAVIER ASHERIUS’S POV(A day before the Moon Festival)"The cops we questioned earlier weren’t all different from the other mortals, Alpha.” Judd reported. I saw his hands clenched into fists as muscles jumped out at his temples. "They're wasting too much time. If you drop your command, I'll crush their bones into mere dust."This was our second day in the mortal world. It didn’t take long for my nine-person team to identify the people who may have had contact with my triplets on the day they disappeared. My team took everything with detail and precision, and I was quite pleased. They handled this impromptu quest with such dedication."Not now." I grinned faintly.After interrogating every elementary school teacher and staff member, Jedd and two other members went to the police station this morning. Only to discover there were no reports of missing children, as Peony had explained to me. Unsatisfied, I had Theo sneak into the police archives, but he returned empty-handed.There was no
XAVIER ASHERIUS’S POVI entrusted all the mortals’ matters to Lazarus and Judd, withdrawing the rest of the search team back to White Moon that very night. However, it still took hours of travel to reach my pack. We managed to reach the northern border after midnight.I contacted Zedd, Chadwick, and the Deltas via mind-link. From them, I learned that the rogues of Deadster Forest from the northeast were the rodents who dared to dig a hole in White Moon. They were alpha-less bastards who dared to live only by shifting into brainless lycans.Yet they were nothing more than puppy-powered monsters, childish and disruptive.A flare of anger erupted in my core. I put Zed, a gamma, and the deltas in my pack not just because they could run the pack as my replacements. How were those intruders able to sneak in when my second-in-commands was scattered all over the territory?They would get their comeuppance right from my hands."Theo, Walter, and the rest, spread out across the area. Evacuate t
XAVIER ASHERIUS’S POV"Does it still hurt?"I walked out of the bathroom as I wiped my fists with a towel after washing away the rogues’ blood. Peony sat on the edge of the bed, seemingly deep in her own thoughts. She glanced at me. Her eyelashes swayed gently as she blinked, followed by a faint smile on her rose-red lips."I'm fine. The regeneration worked," she responded."Let me see."I tossed the towel into the laundry bin and knelt in front of Peony. I lifted her right sole gently, her skin twitching in response to my touch. I slowly peeled off the bandage around her calf. I sensed Peony hold her breath. It brought a smirk to my face.The floor swallowed the fallen bandage, revealing her porcelain skin beneath, perfect without any scars—as she said. I grazed her delicate skin with my forefinger tip. An electric shiver ran down to my skin. Peony tensed as my mere touch transformed into a gentle stroke. Her lips slightly opened, letting out a silent moan.I grasped her sole, liftin
XANDER ALVERIUS’S POVTwo weeks ago. Mortal World.Over the past few years, Blue Moon has increased at a faster rate than any other pack on the entire continent. With some peace treaties, hereditary wars were finally stopped, which led to greater cooperation between the packs under my command.As Alpha of Blue Moon, I was the talk of the pack. That's why I got an invitation from Opal Moon—a pack with the mortal world as their base. I didn't see it as a golden opportunity. Still, I bothered to bounce all the way to the other end of the continent to see what kind of offer they had.Getting out of the car, I was immediately confronted by a crowd of pedestrians. The air was filled with a mortal scent that would make any vampire drool. It was a good thing my ancestors built Blue Moon in the deep forest, sparing me from dealing with weakling mortals.A sudden, strong gut compelled me to follow its call, leading my eyes to a random fast-food restaurant. The windows were wide, and a woman sto
XANDER ALVERIUS’S POV"I suggest you cancel your meetings with Opal Moon. We should get back to Blue Moon shortly," Azalea said the following morning as I sat half-slouched, clutching my head.Lack of sleep became the gasoline for blazing flames within me, distorting my reality. Concern sparked in Azalea's green eyes as she paced back and forth in the hotel room. I just watched her while fighting the damn headache.Fuck. I was an Alpha, yet this fucking unknown pain nearly knocked my power down every chance it got."You kidding?” I grumbled. "It's no big deal. I’ll manage those bastards.""No, you won’t. I won't let you suffer any worse than this, husband. Given the distance from our pack, we should get going now. You know the best treatment only works there."Azalea was much more stubborn than she looked. She held out a glass of dark brown juice that smelled like spices, but I was used to consuming similar drinks, so I just downed it right away."I knew coming here was a bad idea.” A
Peony Crimson's POV"Is everything enough? Please tell me if you need more blankets or anything. Lunch starts in an hour in the west tent.” I knelt down. Before me, a girl with curly chestnut hair sat hunched over, embracing a crumpled, dirty shirt.A day had passed since the Lycan attack on White Moon. With half the villages destroyed, refugee tents were set up in the field behind the packmansion to accommodate members. Gloria and I helped out with whatever we could."What's the point here? I don’t want to live anymore.” She raised her expressionless, pale face. Traces of tears dried on her cheeks. "Half of my soul has already gone to the goddess’ side. Soon, what's left of me will follow."My chest squeezed tight. "I beg you not to say that. The Moon Goddess won’t be pleased at your despair.""You don't get it," the girl muttered. I was about to say something to ease her confusion a little, but Gloria touched my shoulder and shook her head."Please come at lunchtime, at least," I sa
PEONY CRIMSON’S POV"Who told you so?"Zedd’s eyes narrowed as he placed a sack of potatoes next to a pile of wooden boxes. This afternoon, I helped in the kitchen, and Gloria was in the medical tent. Who would have thought that the beta himself would catch up with me and lend his hand voluntarily?I noticed a subtle difference in his demeanor and the way he stared at me. His cold, uncomfortable gaze was gone. I sensed that he was trying to be a little more friendly. Maybe he felt guilty, or Xavier just told him to be nice.To gain his trust more, I told one of his little secrets to break the ice."I saw it myself. When you drove me back to Blue Moon, you took a moment to pick some wild apples at the border because you really liked their astringent and bitter taste," I replied lightly.Zedd grinned, on the verge of disbelief and being impressed. "We were really close before, then."“Yeah, we're so close that you once told me that you were looking forward to meeting your mate. Because
PEONY CRIMSON’S POVThe unexpected sunlight that flooded the room stings my eyelids. Like an animal that had just startled out of hibernation too soon, I hissed. My eyelids fluttered open as I gathered consciousness.Someone stood next to the bed with an innocent smile, welcoming me. I blinked."Fey?"The girl pulled back the blanket, revealing my bare thighs and messy nightgown. I had been sleeping like a log since yesterday afternoon because I was swept in my own panic. I didn’t even know whether Xavier slept next to me last night—the other side of the bed was empty."Good morning, Miss. I came to help you get ready." Fey greeted her in a friendly, lilting voice. Her smile was also so formal that I cringed at it. "The bathtub is already filled with warm water. Is there a special fragrance you prefer?""Huh?" My brain was still processing her presence and everything she said."Or do you prefer to have breakfast first?" Fey asked, still looking at me, frozen on the bed. Just a few day