CRYSTAL
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel as I navigated the winding road back to Lunaheim. The fog was thick, giving this autumn season an eerie vibe. Just finished up another session of my secret training with one of the last witches in Emberwood because we witches were forced to make a pact with the Werewolves to not practice or learn any kind of magic as they think that we might try to practice dark magic which was said to the cause of bringing bad luck to the last Alpha of WhiteLight packs Alpha ANSEL PRIME WOLFE who had recently passed away with his family and the pack was left with no option but to get under the wing of Silverclaw pack's Alpha MIKAEL SALVADOR.As I passed the trees the ancient forest whispered its secrets through the rustling leaves, echoing the knowledge I'd gained. The air was electric with magic, sending tingles up my arms. My senses were sharp, tuned into the mystical energies humming beneath the surface.When I was about to reach the outskirts of Lunaheim, the fog seemed to thicken, making it hard to see more than a few feet ahead.Suddenly, something hit my car hard. Instinctively, I slammed on the brakes almost breaking my toes with force, the screech of tires echoing through the eerie silence.My heart started to pound in my chest as I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and flung the car door open. A small form lay on the road, whimpering softly. The shock washed over me as I knelt beside it. It was a puppy, its black fur matted and eyes wide with pain and fear.Gently, I cradled the injured pup in my arms, my heart breaking for the tiny creature. It was evident that it had been through a tough time - there were signs of a recent skirmish, a testament to the harsh realities of life on the streets but it didn't look like a street dog, it was more like a werewolf pup.Tears welled in my eyes as I carefully looked for the wounds, my fingers trembling. I knew I had to help this poor thing. Being a witch means you don't feel emotions but I was the opposite of it, and I feel them intensely for my good.But it was like my mind had shut down because of the shock, I couldn't think straight. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand, hurriedly.I got up and carefully lifted the pup and placed it in the back seat of my car, gently arranging a makeshift bed with my muffler to keep it comfortable. I turned the car around, my destination momentarily forgotten. This little soul needed me, and I couldn't just leave it behind. Not when my great-grandmother had taught me to take care of everyone because everyone feels the pain in the same way you do.As I drove towards the nearest vet, I whispered soothing words to the puppy, "Don't worry love I will save you", vowing to do everything in my power to help it heal and find a better life.When I reached the vet and called for the doctor the puppy was bleeding in my hands. The receptionist saw the urgency and she called the vet without wasting a second.Doctor Cullen came out and I handed him over the puppy. And I stood there watching with a heavy heart, as he gently examined the wounds and cleaned them up. The pup winced a bit, but it bravely soldiered on.Every whimper tore at my insides. It was like the tiny creature was trusting me to make it all good.And after what seemed like an eternity, doctor Cullen finished it up. He looked up at me with a reassuring smile. "This little one's a fighter," he said, "with some care and love, I think it will pull through just fine. Thanks for bringing it here, Crystal.""No, don't thank me, doctor, it was my mistake, I accidentally hit it with my car." I felt so bad when I confessed it. And in reply, doctor Cullen chuckled, "It's okay, he's going to live because of you, no need to guilt shame yourself. You're always been kind to these animals." He pointed around the injured animals that I've brought here. Whenever I saw one, I couldn't ignore them so I ended up bringing them here."Sadly, I couldn't keep this pup here until it gets well, because as you can see we don't have any space left for him. We are full." Doc said with a sad sigh and I knew it wasn't his fault."It's okay, I think I could bring him back to my home," I announced with an unsure smile."Are you sure, I remember the last time you took back a puppy your Mother, Mrs. Maynard nearly killed you?" Doc said with concern but I knew he was teasing me so I narrowed my eyes at him."I can take care of it, Doc. Bye!" I said and stomped my way back with the little puppy in my hand as I kept him closer to my chest so that it stayed warm.I cradled the little one in my arm, I couldn't help but have a little chat with him."Okay buddy," I whispered, "we gotta be super sneaky. My mom's not exactly thrilled about me bringing animals home. I've always wanted to turn 18 as soon as possible so I could move out of my parent's home and have a cute little pet like you, but now I'm almost 16, well exactly 2 years until I turn 18, but still couldn't move out, apparently I'm not a good cook. So, you gotta promise me, no barking, got it?"The pup looked up at me, those eyes seeming to understand every word. It was like we had our secret code.I kept talking to him at my home. I parked the car a few blocks before my home so that my mom couldn't see me coming."Once we are inside, I'll find you a cozy spot. You'll have water, food, and a comfy bed. Just hang tight. Okay? We are in this together."Thank goodness, the autumn fog was like a cloak of invisibility, muffling everything around us. I carefully approached the front door, hoping it would not creak too loudly.Once inside, I quickly made my way up to my bedroom. I looked around and found a perfect hiding spot, it was in between the bookshelf and my window, around the corner. I set up a comfy bed for him with a comforter that I hand knitted and some cushion, and I made sure the put had everything.Looking down at our secret nook, I whispered, "You're safe here, little guy. I'll check on you real soon."When I came back with a bit of grub for the pup, I couldn't believe my eyes. Some of its wounds looked like they'd patched up on their own, and the little guy... he seemed a bit beefier than when I first scooped him up.I did a double take, my brain doing somersaults. Magic? Nah, that couldn't be it, right? But Emberwood, Lunaheim, and the surrounding towns were full of weirdness, full of Werewolves, witches, and other creatures, living alongside humans, blending in plain sight, so who knew what could happen?I decided to shove the weirdness to the side, focusing on the here and now. I set the bowl down and coaxed the pup to dig in. It chowed down eagerly, tail wagging like mad.I watched, and a mix of awe and worry washed over me. There was something special about this pup, something not quite normal. But for the moment, all that mattered was that he was safe, fed, and on the upswing.CRYSTALIt's been three days since I rescued him from that accident with my car. What started as a total downer turned into something straight out of a supernatural movie.Checking him out from across the room, I couldn't believe it. The little guy went from looking like a total wreck to practically brand new. His scars were there, but they were fading fast. It was like he had some kind of crazy healing powers, way beyond what's normal. Then it hit me - he wasn't just any normal pup. Nope, he was a werewolf cub. His eyes, man, they held this ancient knowing. It felt like we had some kind of connection that went way back.Heart pounding, I stole a glance out the window at the mountains where the temple to Hecate stood. The goddess of magic, witchcraft, the night, moon, ghosts, and necromancy. She was the only child of the Titanes Perses and Asteria from whom she received her power over heaven, earth, and sea.My folks were out there, doing their whole goddess-worshipping thing. And her
NIKLAUS PRIME WOLFEI'm standing in front of this big mirror, staring at myself. Got this eye patch on, covering up memories I'd rather forget. It's a constant reminder of that crazy day that turned my life upside down. Fiddling with my tie, I'm doing this routine I've got down pat. The eye patch, it's like a part of me now, keeping prying eyes at bay. I unstrap it, revealing the scarred canvas that used to hold my vision. Looking into the mirror, I meet my own eyes - one alive and kicking, the other marked by a whole lot of hurt. It's all thanks to that girl, the gutsy savior who defied the rules of our world. She pulled off some forbidden magic that night, desperate to save my skin. I'm instantly transported back to that moment. The smell of autumn leaves, distant wolf howls - it all floods back. As I'm standing there, I'm trying to grasp that memory of her face. It's like trying to hold on to smoke, you know? Slippery and hard to pin down. I can kinda sorta remember those eyes, fi
CHAPTER 4NIKLAUSI stood at the entrance of The Mayhem: School for Gifted, feeling the weight of the moment, like a ton of bricks on my chest. Today, the big shot, Alpha Skylar, head of the Alpha council, wanted to introduce me to the crew I'd be working with. I decided to slap on that custom-made fake eye, trying not to freak out the professors. I strolled past all the curious looks, heading in with purpose. And there he was, Alpha Skylar, looking all commanding and serious, like Negan from The Walking Dead. "Hey, Niklaus," he greeted, with his Luna Sparrow right beside him, radiating warmth compared to Skylar's tough vibe. "We've been waiting for you."Thanks, Alpha Skylar," I said, playing along. Then Skylar's eyes landed on my lonely self. "So, where's your Luna, Niklaus?" he asked, with a touch of concern. I let out a bitter laugh. "Haven't found her yet."That's a tough break," Skylar sympathized. "You hit 35 this year, and that's pretty late for an Alpha not to have a mate."I cou
CRYSTAL I stumbled into our cozy stone cottage, my head pounding like a drumline at a rock concert. The place smelled of herbs and earth, a familiar scent that offered a bit of solace in my skull-splitting headache. Alpha Skylar had given us this place when he took us in, a real solid move on his part. I couldn't help but think back to the day we joined Skylar's pack. Dad struck a deal, promising we'd keep our magic on the down low. It was a no-brainer, really. Beats the heck out of being out in the cold with no place to call our own. I took a good look around, the soft light through the leaded windows casting a warm glow on our homey setup. The place had character, no doubt. You could practically feel the history in those old wooden beams overhead. The fireplace sat there all quiet, no fire to be found. It was a stark reminder that my magic was off-limits. I couldn't forget that day our old place went up in smoke. My parents played it off as a dumb mistake, but I knew there was more
NIKLAUSChillin' in the tub, prepping for my first day at Mayhem School. I'm all set to take Mikael Salvador down, but can't shake off last night with Crystal. Man, my mind's racing and I gotta admit, things are a bit tense down there too.Last night with Crystal keeps replaying. She was wasted, pouring her heart out about some mate drama. The whole bar was watching her sob, clinging to me like a lifeline. I don't even know why I cared, but those prying eyes on her pissed me off. Tried to get her to call someone to pick her up—it was getting late. My wolf's getting possessive, and her light touch, it's messing with my head. Getting turned on amid her chaos, it's ridiculous.I picked up Crystal because she was having trouble standing. I knew where she lived from a background check, so I took her home, hoping her parents would be there. Turns out, they weren't. I had to get inside, but the door was locked. When I asked about the key, she grabbed my hand and led it to her back pocket. Th
CRYSTALI was standing with all these other students, feeling kinda out of place. The Mayhem School grounds were huge, like the start of some epic adventure.Tried to blend in, you know? But I couldn't shake the feeling that Niklaus Prime Wolfe was watching me. It was intense!I shifted around, pretending to be super interested in the orientation booklet I was clutchin'. Niklaus was like a legend, everyone talked about his training methods like they were straight-up magic.Kept sneaking glances at him though. Those blue eyes and that mysterious smile had me curious as heck.Tried to focus on why I was there. This was my shot to learn from the best, to level up my skills, and really shine. But when Niklaus started talking, it was like he had us all under his spell.This was just the start of something big, and while I was definitely nervous, I was also pumped about what was coming next. Bring it on, Niklaus Prime Wolfe, I'm ready to take on whatever challenges you throw my way!There he
CRYSTALMy phone just wouldn't stop buzzing, and it totally woke me up from a deep sleep. Ugh, I was so annoyed! I grabbed it and saw a ton of messages and missed calls from Katherine. When I finally answered, she practically yelled, "Where are you, Crystal?!" I was still half asleep and grumbled back, "Katherine, it's like the crack of dawn. What's going on?" Then she told me Niklaus had called everyone to the ground urgently, and I was the only one missing. She said he was furious and I needed to get there ASAP. Man, I felt this mix of annoyance and panic. How could I have slept through such an important call? I rushed to get dressed and grabbed my stuff. "Okay, okay, I'm coming," I said as I basically ran out the door, with Katherine still chewing me out over the phone. I was cursing myself for not setting more alarms and for being so careless. As I finally made it outside, I promised myself I'd never oversleep again, especially not on a day like this. When I got to the ground
NIKLAUSAll right, so there I am, in Skylar's office, supposed to be plotting how to take down Mikael Salvador. But instead of focusing, my eyes keep drifting to Crystal.She's out on the training ground, kicking butt like it's nobody's business. And I'm standing there, watching her, wondering why she's got me so hooked. It's like there's something about her that feels familiar, you know? But it doesn't add up. If we'd met before, I'd remember her scent. Yet, every time I see her face, it's like a déjà vu moment smacking me in the face. I try to shake it off and get back to the whole Mikael situation, but Crystal's presence is like a magnet pulling me in. Is there more to this connection? Forget about Mikael, my mind's stuck on Crystal and the mystery she's stirring up.I came down to chill on the training ground, waiting for everyone to show up like I told them to, at the barracks I assigned. It's all part of my master plan, you know? Gotta keep an eye on Matt Salvadore for things to