Patricia
"Have you ever been so scared of the world that the only way to survive is to roar and pretend you're a tiger when, in reality, you're a fraud, a kitten hiding behind a wall?"
Dior takes my hand as we stare up at the ceiling. His head is propped up on his palm, and I'm curled to his side. The morning light is dancing in through a crack in the blinds, and part of me doesn't want to get up and save the world. Not when I'm this bubbly and excited about what the future might hold in store for us.
"You're not high, are you?"
I playfully slap his chest. "Hey!"
He chuckles. "Come on! It's too early for poetry, even for you! Like goddamn, what time is it? Eight in the morning, and you're already turning into the female version of Shakespeare?"
I'm cracking up but trying hard not to, and while I try to sound strict, my voice comes out all giggly instead. "Shut up, Lavigne!"
Dior breathes a laugh and pulls me to him. It's a mira
AliceI officially hate what I've become.Classical music is playing from an old-school stereo, and Riley is dancing around with me in a room with barely any furniture. She is humming the melody and throwing me around like a rag doll, not caring about the numbing pain in my limbs.In Riley's eyes, I'm a toy, and in mine, I'm a lifeless zombie without a purpose. After hours of compulsion and a night of not sleeping, I'm so exhausted I've forgotten the meaning of breathing."Bravo, Alice!" Riley is beaming at me, showing her razor-sharp teeth as she twirls me around with graceful movements. "You're lovely with that red dress hugging your waist. Too bad your mate isn't around to watch you—William would love to see you dance."My eyes water. I want to slap Riley's face, but my body is put under her compulsion and forced to dance against my will. Fuck, I'm so tired. I've been doing this for hours, first with June and now with Riley. I think the go
Patricia Adrenaline is gushing in my veins, and the sound of paws hitting the dirt fills my ears. I'm jumping over sticks and stones while wolves are clashing on either side of me. Vampires are hissing and throwing themselves at my fellow Winterbite members, but I can't help them. My top priority is to make it to the mansion and save Alice. Elijah and Wesley can lead the Winterbite pack in the battle outside while I sneak inside with Dior and William. We went through this tactic with the others earlier this morning, and our fellow wolves got our back—they are working hard to let us pass through the forest without getting interrupted by the Summerburst pack. As we near the door, I mind-link with Dior and William. 'Don't you think it has been a little easy getting through the Summerburst army?' William growls. 'June is waiting for us—this is all part of the game she loves to play. She loves to inspire hope in her enemies before she rips out thei
Alice The moment I'm released from Riley's compulsion, I rush down the stairs to the raised column holding up the ceiling. Lightning and fire are being thrown behind me, but I couldn't care any less. My biggest concern is William's wellbeing. A part of me is still hopeful, thinking he might not die from his injury. But the moment I fall to my knees and see the damage, I know he is a goner. Shit-shit-shit! My heart is pounding against my ribcage, so hard and fast it's threatening to break me from within. I've never been this scared in my entire life, and I hold my breath as I take William's hand in mine. He is already cold! "William?" I sob. My mate slowly opens his eyes, but he is too weak to speak. Blood is spilling down on the floor, covering the entire floor beneath him. William is dying, yet his lips form a gentle smile upon seeing my face, which breaks me apart even further. I never deserved this lovely man.
Patricia The wind is dancing with me as I evade another lightning strike. Riley is laughing and shooting fire from her feet, twirling and spinning as debris fall from the ceiling. Electricity is zapping from her fingertips, and the ground is shaking with every step that she takes. 'She will destroy the entire building!' Finn shouts. 'We need to end her before that happens!' Dior growls. 'I know that, but I can't close enough to jab at her! She isn't even aiming but projecting her magic everywhere! I can't read her movements or figure out her next attack.' My eye travels to the white wolf. 'Can't you open up a portal?' 'There isn't enough time for that,' Dior grunts when he gets hit by a rock and shakes dirt from his white fur. When he lifts his head, his eyes are filled with anger. 'Fuck! Keep Riley busy for three minutes—I need to gather the shadows from the forest!' Finn laughs nervously. 'We will try!' I lock my eyes on Rile
Epilogue - The ending of the first book Patricia Things have changed after we defeated Riley and June. William has returned to his old pack, whose members are no longer influenced by June's compulsion. He even took the lost vampires under his wings, and now he is leading the Summerburst pack as an ally to the Winterbite pack. Alice has completed the mating ritual with William and is now a member of the council led by Rebecca. I'm unsure who the other members are, but I trust them to keep our timeline safe—Alice won't let them turn evil. Finn was released from the crystal orb, and the minute he became a free fairy, a mysterious portal opened. The light proved too bright for my eye to see what was on the other side, but Finn cried and said, "I can finally return to my world!" before he wrapped me up in one last hug. A smile graces my face as I remember Finn. I miss the fairy, but I understand he is where he is supposed to be, and I have Dior and
Beginning Of Book 2 Maya From the moment I was born, I was different. My twin sister, Lily, was born with black hair and the presence of an inner white wolf whose power couldn't be mistaken—she was strong from the beginning, a natural luna. Meanwhile, I was born with white hair, and to my misery, there wasn't any trace of an inner wolf within me. And although my parents have always loved me and accepted me for who I am, I've always thought of myself as an outsider being the only human in the Winterbite pack. I mean, my pack members never bullied me—Lily glared at anyone who even glanced my way. But truth to be told, I'm looked down upon by both my pack and family members. My family loves me, yet they never let me make my own decisions. They deem me helpless, and sometimes I don't get the chance to finish my half-spoken sentence. If that isn't enough, they give me guilty, sympathetic smiles whenever there is a hunt. Their treatm
MayaArvin isn't moving a muscle. His jaw is ticking, but his head doesn't seem to have fully processed the meaning of my words. He stands there like an ice cube, gaping at me without even breathing.Should I run?I take a step back from Arvin, aware of the crowd whispering louder now. Shivers travel up my spine, and the warning bells inside my head are chiming, yelling at me to run.What have I done? I'm an average human, and I've rejected Arvin, the Springclan's glorious alpha—surely my parents must be so disappointed with me. Not only that, but my actions might be the beginning of a new war."How dare you..." Arvin laughs, and time seems to stand entirely still when he lifts his hand. His nails turn into claws, and even though I know the slash is coming, my legs won't budge. I don't avoid the impact. "Take that, you bitch!"A smear of blood lands on the floor, making Arvin laugh out loud. My hand goes to my cheek, where the red liqu
MayaI limp after Arvin, ignoring the burning pain between my two legs. Blood is trailing down my inner thigh, and I pick up my tattered, frilly dress in a rush. I don't care if it's ruined, and without a second thought, I wipe the red liquid from my leg and then struggle to get my head through the hole of the half-massacred fabric."Are you coming?" Arvin asks.I press my lips together. The fight is no longer going on outside in the ballroom. I'm assuming Arvin's pack chased out the other werewolves from their territory, which means I have to listen to this bastard if I hope to survive."I'm right behind you!" I chirp.I speed up my pace, only for Arvin to smack me across the face with a haughty expression the moment I'm next to him. "Who gave you permission to speak?!"Slowly, I touch my cheek for what seems like the billionth time today with shaking movements, knowing there will be a scar there tomorrow. Arvin appears to be a man who love