-VALEN’S POV -"Argh!"Releasing a discordantly frightening shout that disturbed the quietness of the night, I jolted up in bed, shuddering, terrified, and in a cold sweat.Clutching at my heart where the mermaid had clawed the life out of me, I was wrestling with the other hand, the void of impassive air.Staring wide-eyed in the darkness, a gentle palm cradled my cheeks. As my chest erratically heaved, I saw nothing until the hallucinations wilted.Goosebumps rose all over my body from the overwhelming arctic chill that loitered. My head ached and my hand moved to my forehead to wipe the beads of perspiration that tarried.I wasn’t aware that someone had rushed into my large bedroom to be at my side. My thoughts were jumbled. I could not tell whether I was alive and in the pitch darkness of my bedroom or had I died and crossed into the gloomy blackness of death.I blinked a few times before being certain that this was real.“Valen!” Her forehead pressed on mine and warmth embraced m
-VANCE’S POV-The partially dead man only gave a manic laugh, “Bah-ha-ha-ha-ha!” while his weak red eyes stared at me. No fear was detected. I pursed my lips as the rage in me escalated.Duke, Blayne, and Raj were defensively positioned at attacking points while Marlena rushed to my side.She strived to break through the walls of his mind before he descended to the hell where he emerged from. He squirmed on the floor, resisting her magic. Marlena persisted by creating a green pentagram beneath him. Each green point released a shackle of neon chains that tethered him.“Grrrrrroik!” He shrieked as Marlena’s superior magic bore into his skin."Alpha, this man is a barakian kripling," Marlena whispered after her discovery.A barakian kripling is a warlock who was brought back from the hollows of hell after already dying by a necromancer, which signified that he had a master. Now turned into an unholy pawn. Someone must have summoned this diabolic creature for this fucking mission, but who
-THIRD PERSON’S POV-Valen followed the barakian kripling into the dark Lifeless Ebonvale dimension. He hovered in the air looking for the kripling that had taken his younger sibling. His hazy vision experienced difficulties through the unusually scalding atmosphere of the dark-red misty realm with canyons of ocean-deep silty valleys.The volcanic mount spewed boiling lava in various areas, and the canyons trembled. Several ruby boulders with wavy patterns and dazzling minerals eroded into the hollow. No civilization was evident.Cough!The toxic atmosphere began to affect Valen. He placed his right index finger under his nostrils to reduce his intake of the alien air. Zuzu plunged into the abyss of the canyon to chase after the monster. The bald eagle guardian shared the vision with her master as she latched on the kripling’s worm-like smoky tail.Venus screamed incessantly, thrashing and violently fighting a futile battle. She could not connect a blow. Luckily, Valen teleported in f
-VANCE’S POV-“What’s this?” I growled, walking into my office at the pack house with Blayne setting up his laptop on my desk.Duke averted his gaze from the large luminous moon through the window to look at me while he leaned against the wall. Fatigue adorned each of us and we wanted to crawl back into bed with our mates. Unfortunately, pack safety came first. The hunt for the enemy brought long days and reoccurring migraines.Sianna and I were just about to go to bed when my Gamma urgently linked me about an imperative matter for my immediate attention. My wolf grumbled and was pissed that we were dragged from canoodling our mate.It’s been one week since we battled the barakian kriplings. The attack and the importance of preparations for any other attempt had us all working overtime. Therefore, Sianna had no time to dwell on the Esme situation. Thank goddess!Apparently, Bette Clarkson had warned Esme not to approach me. She would have done it subtly with Sianna. Esme was very impa
-SIANNA’S POV-“Baby, why aren’t you home?”The mind-link came through and to provoke him, I ignored it.I slinked through the moonlight, pursuing the critters of the night, and enjoying the freedom that came with morphing into my silver wolf form. The woodland was strangely peaceful at this hour. With patrols tightened, a curfew on forest grounds was stipulated. Nevertheless, my wolf wanted out tonight. So as soon as Vance left to meet with Duke and Blayne, I came out for a night’s run.Whenever I shift, I am fond of the tingling sensation on my silver fur. Around me, the tree-filtered air was like a pool of liquid metal. The earth beneath my paws as I ran with agility through the cool breeze was soothing to the mind despite the troubles of the pack. It was exhilarating being in the calm of nature.For the fun of it, I tracked a set of coyote prints on the ground, wanting a good chase. Or maybe I was looking for a ferocious fight. Something to release the rage I had felt when those k
-VALEN'S POV-"Valen, where are you going?" Devin stalked me out of the classroom to catch me heading to the large football field.It was almost lunchtime and I didn't want him involved. He's my best friend, so I hesitantly replied, "I'll be back before dismissal."I turned around and jogged away only to hear a second set of footsteps behind me. Halting, I swung around in annoyance. "Devin, I'm not taking you with me.""Why the hell not?" He caught me up, standing at my side. His Prussian blue eyes questioned me with unyielding perseverance. He could be a stubborn bull at times."I'm teleporting somewhere." I tried to hold some of my agenda back. "You hate it, remember?"He was wasting my time and I had to be quick. Once the teacher realized I missed a session, they were bound to give Mom a call. He would get into trouble too."Yeah, but we made a pack. So when you get back and your father's killing you for going out of territory, aren't we supposed to die together?" He insisted, with
-SIANNA'S POV-"Where's Valen and Devin?" I inquired, sitting at the window gazing into the courtyard as the school bus pulled up and let off the children.It was rather strange when Theo, Thaines, Raina, and my twins arrived at the pack house without the two older ones as their mode of transportation. Earlier in the afternoon, we sent each of them a text message to come directly here after school.Usually, I was home by 3 p.m. to make dinner and cater to my kids. Vance, Duke, Blayne, Raj, Marlena, and some warriors left before dawn for Holmeva Ferney to reign terror on the werelions. Therefore, I hung out at the pack house with the ladies and we intended to have dinner together. Since we shared the same anxiety in praying that our men would return home safely.Venus and Vaheed slumped down on the couch next to me. “Hey, Mom.” They greeted in unison.The kids joined us in the living room. As mothers, we smiled joyfully at seeing our children home.Theo and Thaines kissed Cleo in sync
-VALEN'S POV-Paddling down the cold salty brine as it engulfed me, I continued into the deep as the blue darkened. The yellow light which had previously vanished, sprung again as a guiding lane to the bottom of the ocean.Using my powers, I formed an invisible air bubble to divide me from the embracing water’s crushing currents. Although my clothes were already soaked, I determined this was the solution to get to the ocean floor without breathing complications. I glided moderately as I made the descent."The Beta is usually right about things. Why are we seeking a woman who is not our mate?" My wolf, Zeus, groused in strong opposition."I need to sleep. She haunts me and I will put an end to it, today." I rigidly told him, "Now let me concentrate." I blocked him since he could not be much help in the water.Boldness harnessed within me since I had my guardians inside of me, alongside my querulous wolf. Therefore, I was not defenseless. Not like my nightmares. The white light from my