RAYHAN
The sound of women laughing filled the room. All I could see was white mist and dazzling golden light.
Where was I?
"I agreed to your condition years ago when I created that bond. At least you are able to admit that your children are going down a dark path." A voice so deep and melodious spoke. It sounded soothing, majestic and something about it made me want to yield to it.
"Yours are not all innocents. This condition will do us both good. Let us see if they are able to pass this test." This voice was more… magical. It felt like a whisper in the wind, yet held something alluring beneath…
"It is done, under the power of the blood moon… Will they unite their kind or break this sacred bond? Only time will tell, my children love deeply."
Another melodious laugh followed, then suddenly everything was dark.
I was on that cliff edge once again. It was darker than the last time.
I knew this was a dream, a dream of that memory which refused to leave me, although it had been years…
The broken skeletal witch, who looked like she had been to hell and back. Once again, she was haunting my dreams.
"The daughters of Hecate always ask for something in return for helping… I know I am darkness, but even then, may I ask a favour?" Her fragile yet soft voice echoed in my head.
Why had I nodded? I shouldn’t have agreed.
"Don’t stop me!"
I shouted out in alarm as she jumped off the cliff, then I sat up in bed with my heart beating like a drum. My entire body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, as I ran my hand through my hair. Taking a deep breath to focus, I pushed the duvet back and got out of bed, staring at the Blood Moon that shone through the window.
What was I dreaming of? All I could remember was the witch girl jumping off the cliff. There was something more before that... But no matter how much I tried to grasp it, it seemed to leave my mind even faster.
"Damn…" I muttered, getting out of bed, glancing at my watch.
1:20 am
I hadn’t even slept for an hour… I walked over to the window and looked out at the city. Despite the time, cars were out and about in this part of the city, which was still alive at this hour.
If I were at the mating ball, would I have found my mate this time around? Maybe, but I did not want to go all the way down to Bristol for it… Was that it? Or did I feel a pull to this city for some reason? Goddess knows. I couldn’t deny the fact that we were meant to have moved on from this city last night… but I didn’t want to.
And it definitely wasn’t the hot girls or those sexy dancers that were keeping me here…
Dad had been adamant that I should go to the ball, that I needed to find my Luna, but it didn’t appeal to me.
I entered the bathroom to take a quick shower, suddenly feeling sticky and hot. Letting the cold water run down my body, I became lost in thought.
This was meant to be a road trip with a few hot spots to stop at. I even got Lola, Rose and Chris to come down. It had been pretty neat and we had hit up a few clubs. But when we came here, I just wanted to stay for a bit...
Chris had completely gone into whore mode whilst I had just grinded against a few girls on the dance floor, but I didn’t bring any of them back. Ok, maybe I accepted a blowjob or two whilst I was there... But hey, I’m an Alpha, I have a high sex drive, and all I had to do was give those girls one killer smirk and they were willing to drop to their knees for me. As for fucking them, it wasn’t for me.
I mean, I would have in the past, but in the last two years I have toned it down a lot. I heard too much shit from men about regretting their past once they found their mates and I didn’t want that.
I sighed, I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep again. Maybe I actually needed to get out and go for a run or something.
I grabbed some pants, a shirt, a leather jacket and my boots. Once dressed, I walked out of the luxury penthouse I had booked for the four of us.
The sound of moans reached my ears and I sighed, not bothering to give them privacy and looking at the couple on the sofa. Rose was straddling Lola, whose hands were under her top as they made out passionately. The smell of their arousal was strong in the air.
"Can you ladies take it to the bedroom? This is a shared space." I remarked, grabbing my phone from the table. Rose gasped, pulling away and blushing in embarrassment. She obviously hadn’t realised that I had entered.
Well, as one of the best trackers, I knew how to creep up on a person and keep my heart rate low.
Lola quirked an eyebrow with a smirk. Unlike her partner, she sure didn’t care.
"Tell me, Ray, are you jealous that you’re single and lonely on this cold winter night?" She asked, kissing Rose’s shoulder.
"Actually no, not when I see what Rose has to put up with." I said to her pointedly. Flashing her a patronising smirk.
Lola was like Raihana to me; we had grown up together. Sure, she was a bombshell with glossy brown hair, large hazel eyes and a sexy athletic figure, but she was like a sister to me. Rose was slightly more petite with filled out curves. She had ash-blonde hair and grey eyes. Both had found each other at the mating ball a year ago and Rose had quickly become part of our small group.
I sure was glad, because Lola was pretty headstrong and Rose was the perfect remedy to soothe her. Something I often had to put up with before Rose came into the picture.
"Sucks to be you then." Lola shrugged, her eyes narrowing as she looked at me keenly. "Why are you awake? Didn’t you decide on an early night after the call from Luna Maria?"
"Yeah, I did… then got disturbed." I said, unlocking my phone.
Mom’s call... That had not gone well. She really needed to stop stressing out. I was an Alpha, not a newborn pup. I scrolled through the messages.
Raihana complaining, she didn’t find her mate…
Liam wishing me the best… I didn’t tell him I was skipping it this time around. The topic was still painful for him. The man had gone through shit.
"Was it that dream?" Lola frowned.
I had told her and Chris about them, I’m sure Rose probably knew although I didn’t directly discuss it with her, but she was Lola’s mate.
"Maybe it’s your guilt, babe?" Rose said to me with concern.
I didn’t reply. Guilt? Maybe. I often felt like I had pushed her to that extent. Even now, no one mentioned the young witch who had helped us. To our kind, witches were all just trash, forgetting that if it wasn’t for that witch many more would be dead.
"Don’t think too much about it." Lola said, pulling Rose into her lap. "Maybe you should have gone to the mating ball. You and Chris both."
"She isn’t wrong, you are going to be Alpha soon." Rose agreed.
"Something I know. Thanks ladies, for the reminder." I said with a mock smirk.
"Ok, we get it. That’s your business. Now can we have some privacy?"
"Yeah, that’s what bedrooms are for."
"Go to a club or something!" Lola called after me.
I could use a drink…
RAYHANTen minutes later, I was out in the cold, wet streets. As a werewolf I didn’t really feel the chill, we were pretty hot-blooded. Lost in thought, I let my feet carry me and soon I realised I was in a quieter area. I saw a group of men standing against the wall, sniffing drugs and smoking. The smell made me want to wrinkle my nose. "Pretty boy looks loaded… Shall we rough him up?" One of them muttered. "Too stupid to be out here… Those clothes are fucking branded mate, I swear…" "His boots alone are fucking gold mines." Oh, you better not pick a fight with me… I might look like a rich dude, but I could take them all with one hand tied behind my back. I really didn’t want to. I frowned, actually I did want to have some fun. A smirk crossed my face as I carried on walking, hands in my pocket. They really were asking for it… They b
DELSANRA "Hidden in plain sight… You have done well to stay under the radar. To think, we were passing through here by accident." I turned to look at the witch, who had black hair and piercing green eyes, wearing a black cloak. The man wore a leather jacket, with a badge on his left upper arm that consisted of a black six-pointed star on a blood-red background. I knew who he was. A high knight of the coven, a son of a powerful witch. Something Dawson had been training to become years ago. I didn’t recognise either of the two, but they were both strong. When the knight project was established, I knew they were laying the groundwork for the formation of a powerful army. I stepped back. It was too late to play dumb. They somehow knew who I was… How though? "You can drop the dumb act. She's rather pretty for a cursed one, don't you think?" Muttered the man. He took something out of his pocket, and I frowned at what looked like papers with
RAYHAN I awoke to the sound of running water, I sat up feeling the pain in my body. What the fuck had happened? Where was she? Was she ok? I calmed down when I smelt her scent, it surrounded me strongly. This was her place; I don’t know how, but she had brought me here. I smiled slightly. That was sweet of her. Why were witches after her? And after witnessing all that, why did she bring me here? I wasn’t sure what it was, but there was more to her. I looked around her place, it was tiny. The small bed took up a quarter of the room. To one side were some boxes and a faded suitcase. There was a small kitchen cupboard with a sink fitted. A table next to it held a portable cooker and a kettle. Under the table was a box of cereal, a loaf of bread and a few other tins. There was a small mini-fridge on the floor next to the table. On the opposite wall was a chair that was holding a few ironed items of clothing, and I saw that just underneath it stood an iron.
DELSANRA He was confusing me. Why did I feel like my words had hurt him? The guilt and regret in those eyes… I looked away to keep myself composed. Maybe if I just told him, he’d leave. "Ok... back up a little." I said, placing my hands on his arms. He really was built… I firmly pushed him back, feeling the muscle under my fingers. His stormy grey eyes met mine and I didn’t miss how his gaze dipped to my lips. That was confusing me too. Surely someone as handsome as him had a line of women waiting for him, not to mention that he stated that earlier. He finally stepped back but it looked like it had been hard for him to do so. I took a deep breath, "How about you go clean up? I’ll make some coffee…" I said. I just needed a moment. I was relieved when he nodded and walked to the bathroom. I opened the fridge and prayed I had enough milk for two mugs of coffee. I really needed it after how tonight went. Nope… Oh we
RAYHAN Her eyes widened, and I knew she was having a hard time believing that. "When you ran into me, I felt it. Your scent… You’re made for me." Ok, maybe throwing that bomb was not the smartest thing to do, but I didn’t want to leave her. Not in this small apartment that wasn’t safe at all. Not to mention, my bathroom was three times bigger than her place. She laughed nervously. Goddess, that sound. It was a breathy, sexy laugh that sent my heart racing. "Yeah, good joke. You’re damn delusional. Now, get out." "I’m not lying. Why else do you think I’m not losing my cool when you insult me?" Shit. Wrong remark. I saw the flash of worry in her eyes, the way her heart hammered and how she balled her fist. "Oh yeah... Apart from your mates, you treat everyone else like trash that you can beat and abuse as and when you wish, right? Yeah, I’ve experienced it all. Now leave before I force you to." She replied coldly.
RAYHAN I’m seriously beginning to wonder if I’m speaking a different language or something. I had just explained to the three of them how I met her. Yeah, Chris went and got the girls too, so here we were sitting as I impatiently kept glancing at the time. I needed to go to her. "So let me sum this up. You went for a walk, your mate ran into your arms, and then you killed some witches. Then she took you home, took care of you, and then told you to get out?" Lola asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why would she do that…?" Rose asked, frowning slightly. "Wait, she’s a human, isn't she?!" Ok, time to tell them… But… I looked at Chris. Both his parents had died in Endora’s attack. I still remember the day he was told, the pain and denial in his eyes before he looked at Dad and asked what duties he wanted him to do first. Taking the spot as Delta first and mourning the loss of his parents second. I suddenly realised, with a cold rush of clarity, that I ne
DELSANRA Why? Just why did he have to come here to my workplace?! Last night I hadn’t been able to sleep. All I could do was replay everything he said and did… I hated how he confused me, or the way my heart reacted to him. I knew there were rare cases where witches and werewolves had been mated. Most ended in the witch being used and rejected. The very thought made me sick. I had actually thought he’d leave, and not just come back to annoy me. I think it was time to leave. My heart clenched at the thought. Great… Just great, one more person to run from… The way he had attacked the man next to him, the anger I had seen in his eyes… I shuddered. I hated werewolves, I had been a punch-bag for them for long enough… Even after I ran away from Lilly and Alfred’s cottage, I had run into more trouble. Werewolves. When they found out I was a witch… I pushed the memories away, the pain of those memories was crippling me. They had used m
RAYHAN I let him fall to the floor, almost unconscious, with blood dripping from his nose and a busted lip. Fuck, I wanted to kill him. I kicked him hard in his stomach. I stepped back. My mate had a fucked-up life and it was destroying me. Wasn’t this sleazebag meant to be her damn boss? What a shit-face. From the moment this prick called her to his office, I knew something was up. I had followed and listened to the conversation, but she had handled it well. The others had said I needed to leave. Although they had witnessed everything, they didn’t question it, and I was grateful for that. I knew I’d have to be more open about it but now wasn’t the time. I stayed behind to keep a watch on her from across the street as she worked. I now crouched down, grabbing this fuck-face by his collar. He was already out of it, but I slammed him against the car. "Touch my girl again and I swear I will kill you." I didn’t care if he heard or not; the