LIANA“I am stuck in a meeting with the elders and a few others,” Zaylen apologized.Disappointment hit me like a punch to the gut. I leaned against my car, closing my eyes for a moment to collect myself. "Oh," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "Okay, I understand."And I did understand. I knew the pressures he faced, the responsibilities that seemed to grow heavier with each passing day. But understanding didn't make it hurt any less. I couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness. It seemed like ever since we started dating, we hadn't had a single day of peace. Our time together was always cut short by some urgent matter, some unforeseen complication."I'll make it up to you, I promise," he added quickly, sensing my dismay.I couldn't help but think, that's what you said last night too, though."Sure," I replied, forcing a smile he couldn't see. "Just... don't work too hard, alright?""I won't. Take care, Liana.""You too," I said softly before ending the call.As I slid
ZAYLENI sat at the head of the expansive oak table, flanked by Elder Sophia, Elder Marcus, and other esteemed members whose wisdom was only matched by their concern etched deeply into their faces. The room buzzed with an anxious energy as everyone waited for me to reveal the latest developments."We have a critical update," I began, my voice carrying an urgency. I placed the premium, unreleased edition of Leonel's book on the table, its cover gleaming under the dim light of the council chamber. "This is the book we have found at the investigation site near a victim."The premium edition of Leonel's book lay before everyone, its pages holding secrets that could tip the scales in our favor—or lead to our downfall.Marcus leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “This could lead us somewhere."I nodded solemnly. "Absolutely. Not only have we secured the book, but we have also confirmed a troubling detail. The victims have all attended the same high school." I paused, letting the revelation
ZAYLENI couldn't bear the thought of losing Liana. The idea of something happening to her, of not being there when she needed me most, was unbearable. I had to find her.Without wasting another second, I grabbed my keys and bolted out of the door. The drive to the apartment we had shortlisted last night felt like an eternity, each passing second adding to the weight in my chest. My heart pounded in my ears, the sound of my pulse deafening.As I sped down the highway, my mind replayed every moment we had spent together — the laughter, the sadness — everything. It made my heart heavy with guilt that I hadn't been able to give her too much time in the past few days. It has already been hard to deal with that.The thought of a life without her was unimaginable. I couldn't lose her, not now, not ever.The city lights blurred past me, my focus solely on reaching her. I prayed silently, begging whatever higher power existed to keep her safe. The fear of the unknown gnawed at me, but I
LIANA"Seriously, Liana? Lara?" Zaylen's voice was sharp, almost disbelieving.I took a deep breath, trying to steady my racing heart. "I have a strong feeling it's her—"He cut me off. "It can't be her.""Why not?" I challenged, meeting his gaze. "Lara is also a rogue werewolf, and she is strong too—""And what motive would she exactly have to go around murdering people?" he interrupted, frustration evident in his tone."Maybe she's trying to take revenge on me," I suggested, my voice trembling slightly but resolute. Zaylen laughed harshly, the sound cutting through the night air. "Revenge on you? Liana, these murders aren't even connected to you. What do you mean?"I could feel his disbelief like a weight on my chest, his words chipping away at my confidence. "Yes, I know," I started, my voice started to get shaky now because of his disbelief. "But she must know that I'm also a werewolf. We are sisters, Zaylen. There's some connection there."Zaylen shook his head, frustration evi
LIANAThe soft glow of the TV cast a gentle light across the cozy hotel room, which was perfect for a night of Netflix and solitude. Curled up under the warm duvet, I was halfway through an episode when a knock on the door interrupted the peaceful ambiance."Who is it?" I called out, not bothering to move from my comfortable nest on the bed."It's me, Zaylen," his voice came through the door.My heart sank a little at the sound of his name.What was he doing here now? What did he want? Was he here to lecture me again how dumb I sounded to him?My mood instantly soured. I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. I wanted to yell at him, of course, but that wouldn't be an adult way to handle things, now would it?"Go away!" I retorted, my voice firm but laced with a touch of hurt."Liana, I am so sorry. Please, let me in," Zaylen pleaded.Okay, so he wasn't here to lecture me again. That was a relief. If he were, I swear…I sighed, torn between wanting to stay mad and wanting to hear what
LIANAAs the credits rolled on the movie, I couldn't shake the lingering worry.My inner wolf didn’t talk to me yet and Zaylen could already figure it out with my expression. I turned to Zaylen, who was now sitting next to me on the bed, my brows furrowed with concern. "Zaylen, why wouldn’t my inner wolf talk to me? What should I do?""Liana, it's okay," he said, trying to soothe me. "Maybe, it's not that serious."I frowned, not convinced. "How come? A few minutes ago, you were so surprised that my inner wolf hadn't talked to me. This means it's not supposed to be something natural."He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Yes, but don't worry. I think your inner wolf will talk to you soon enough.""But when?" I pouted, the uncertainty gnawing at me.Zaylen looked at me, his expression softening. He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. "When the right time comes, don't worry," he said softly.Despite his comforting words, I still felt a lingering sadness. "Bu
LIANAI stirred in the warmth of Zaylen's embrace, feeling his strong arms around me. For a moment, I was content, safe in his protective hold. But something nagged at me, pulling me from the edges of sleep. With cautious movements, I slipped out of his arms, careful not to wake him. The room was dimly lit by the moonlight filtering through the curtains as I made my way to the balcony.The night air was cool against my skin as I settled into a chair, gazing up at the thin sliver of the moon hanging in the sky. Its pale light cast a melancholic glow over everything, as if it too carried the weight of unanswered questions."Hi, Moon Goddess," I whispered, the words feeling strange and foreign on my tongue. "You know, it's a little strange for me to suddenly start believing in you. But Zaylen and the others do. They have faith in you. And I… I have faith in them. So I will trust them on this as well."Leaning back, I let out a sigh, my breath mingling with the crisp night air. "They
LIANA“Well, it’s a very interesting thing,” Zaylen let out. “I think it's better if we sit and talk about it. I remember your feet hurting from dancing so much before we went to sleep.”I smiled at his words. He remembered every tiny detail. He was the perfect boyfriend one could ever ask for. I nodded and we sat on the balcony lounge chair, the cool midnight breeze brushing against my skin as I glanced nervously at Zaylen. His dark eyes twinkled with a mix of amusement and affection, making my heart race.“So,” I began, trying to sound casual, “you were going to tell me about this ‘marking’ thing…”Zaylen’s lips curled into a playful smirk. “Yes. The infamous marking. The werewolves’ version of a commitment ceremony, minus the white dress and expensive cake.”I raised an eyebrow. “Does it involve any less bloodshed than your usual shenanigans?”“Depends,” he teased, stepping closer. “But for you, I promise to keep it as blood-free as possible.”I couldn’t help but laugh. “That’s re