WINTER'S POVI jerked awake, gasping for breath, my eyes widening as I took in my surroundings. "Again?!" I growled, scowling at the asphodel flowers that danced in the gentle breeze. "When will I finally cease coming here?" I mumbled to myself."Only when you halt your relentless pursuit of self-destruction," came the cool response.I turned abruptly, my gaze colliding with hers—Selene, the goddess of the moon. Her regal aura was undiminished. A high chignon held her hair, adorned with a delicate silver tiara. Her white toga dress fluttered as she approached, her smile outshining the moon itself. Traces of snowflakes lingered in the wake of her steps—a detail I hadn't noticed before. My focus had always been entrapped by her appearance, neglecting the subtle wonders she performed whenever she drew near.Besides the snowy path she treaded, she extended a hand, and the slumbering asphodels stirred. They unfurled obediently as if answering an unspoken summons. "That is but one characte
WINTER'S POVAs soon as he finished speaking, a bright light flashed, piercing my eyes."Watch out!" Goddess Selene yelled, her hand stretched out, perhaps to catch me. However, the gesture flung me backward, and my back slammed into the wall.I closed my eyes briefly as pain flooded into me before opening them again. But something was wrong. I couldn't see. My vision was blurry, and I tried my best to blink away the haze, but it was futile. It seemed like the more I blinked, the more blind I became."What happened to you giving a warning before you changed? And why can't you stay in this appearance?" I heard Goddess Selene scold."Well, I didn't know I had to announce my actions to mortals every time," came the annoying voice of Helios.Somehow, he reminded me of him. Rafael. He was as annoying as Rafael, or maybe the latter was more bothersome than he was. Yet, there wasn't much difference between them. They were egotistical, selfish, and cared only about themselves rather than othe
WINTER'S POVGasping, I jerked awake and pressed my hand to my chest as it palpitated..."Hey, are you okay?" came a voice.Abruptly, I turned to my side, and my eyes collided with Rafael. He was sitting beside my bedside, worry flickering in his blue eyes."W-what are you doing here?" I sputtered, wondering why he was staring at me as if it were normal."Did you remember what happened?" he asked, ignoring my question.Of course, I remembered. Why wouldn't I? However, I hadn't seen him when it happened. He was the one who had put me in this predicament in the first place. If he hadn't been so selfish and had only thought of himself, I would be fine."What is this?"I glanced in the direction Rafael was pointing and noticed the Luminastrand. I remembered never taking it from the god Helios. It was strange to see it on my bed."It's a necklace," I mumbled, glancing back at Rafael."Oh, I see," Rafael mumbled, raising a brow prompting for more information."How long have I been out?" I a
WINTER'S POVDeath... The last time I thought I would hear or see that was when Slade died. Yet, here it was again, looming like a dark cloud. Another cursed prophecy, hinting at its arrival.Or maybe Rafael was bluffing, but his expression showed no trace of jest. Even if he were joking, I doubted he would have come to this pack bearing such grave tidings only to tease me."I don't understand," I said, my voice trembling slightly."What don't you understand?!" Rafael snapped, causing me to flinch.Since I had awoken, despite Jude and Kendall's attempts to provoke him and even Linda's subtle hints for him to leave, he had never lost his temper—until now."It's simple, Winter," he said, his tone tense. "We're embarking on a quest together, in search of who knows what, and if we fail, death awaits us!""When did you receive this prophecy?" I inquired, making him scoff in response."Do you truly believe this to be a joke? Why would I come here just to toy with the concept of death? Think
RAFAEL POVAs soon as I stepped out of the room, I realized that taking a stroll within an unfamiliar pack wouldn't be easy. I could easily be mistaken for a spy or even kidnapped, which could lead to my downfall. Packs, in my experience, never took matters involving spies lightly. I, for one, would always have them thrown into the dungeon, followed by execution.Perhaps, that grim fate awaited me as well.However, I harbored doubts about that outcome. The way everyone gawked at me with widened eyes, their expressions etched with curiosity rather than the fury and disgust I had anticipated, surprised me. I had anticipated a negative reaction due to my striking resemblance to their past Alpha. This was especially puzzling since I was a rogue.According to Jude, Kendall, and Linda, I should have been met with strong animosity, and the pack members would have been eager to expel me. But, up until this point, I hadn't encountered such a hostile reception."Hey," I said, steadying a brunet
WINTER'S POVI found myself trying to understand the bewildering circumstances that surrounded me. It was disconcerting to realize that I was clad in nothing but a towel while Rafael bombarded me with incredulous questions about my feelings for Jude. His eyes bore an unsettling mixture of curiosity and something more ominous, like a brewing storm."I've asked you a question, Winter," Rafael's voice snapped me back to the present."Your question is ridiculous," I retorted, furrowing my brow and attempting to extricate myself from his grasp. However, his fingers held onto mine with an unyielding grip.Rafael guided me towards the wall adjacent to the bathroom, pressing me against it. A soft gasp escaped my lips as my bare skin grazed the rough surface of the wall."How long have you both been in love with each other? How many times will you toy with me, Winter?" His expression contorted into a scowl."Let's be clear. I'm not dignifying that question with an answer. And for the record, t
WINTER'S POVJude gasped awake, his eyes widening before he grimaced, possibly recalling all that had transpired."Jude," I said. As soon as his eyes locked onto mine, he quickly glanced away. Great, he probably hated me now."What prompted the fight?" I asked."You should ask the rogue you are harboring in the pack," Jude retorted, still avoiding eye contact."I need to know what happened to you first; that's why I've been here for the past two hours, waiting for you to wake up. If I wanted to ask him, I wouldn't be here," I scowled, earning a shrug from Jude.For a while, I thought he wouldn't respond, but he finally spoke. "You let him kiss you.""W-what?" I asked, frowning."Fine, I was the one who punched him. He started taunting me, saying he kissed you and called you a cheap whore. That's why I did it. You can berate me for hitting him, but I'm not sorry, and I'll do it again, even if it means taking my last breath.""You won't be getting into any more fights with him," I said.
RAFAEL POVTraveling through the darkness was no easy task, and being in an unknown territory made it even worse. What had transpired between Jude and me weighed heavily on my mind. I knew I was partially at fault, but Winter putting all the blame on me was unwarranted.If Jude hadn't intercepted me while I was out and provoked me about not being good enough for Winter, I probably wouldn't have thrown that punch. He taunted me, and I responded in kind by mentioning that I had kissed Winter. Though I never revealed the real reason for telling Jude about the kiss that led to our fistfight, I doubted Winter would want to hear it from me. She seemed furious, and I suspected she had already made up her mind about sending me away.Maybe, just maybe, if I had tried harder to convince her, I wouldn't be aimlessly wandering here now. Yet, the urgency to do so had escaped me at the time. Exhaling a breath, I paused by a massive tree, leaning against its trunk before closing my eyes.A calm bree