Hello, wonderfuls! To those who ask when new chapters are released, please note that I try updating at least one chapter daily. I know that this can be frustrating for many readers to wait for chapters each day. This is my first novel, and I made the enormous mistake of publishing chapters as I wrote them. I promise never to put you or myself through this torture ever again. For my next book, I will ensure that I have chapters prewritten before posting chapters daily. I appreciate your grace, patience, and dedication to embarking on Elle and Damon's journey while the story is ongoing. I cannot explain how grateful I am that you love this story so much and take the time to read what I have written. You are the loveliest humans and readers. Thanks for the votes, comments, reviews, and gems! XOXO Emma Taylor
*TRIGGER WARNING SUICIDE* TIBERIUS POV *****FLASHBACK CONTINUED****** ***Six Months After the rejection and death of his mate. Cynthia's Arrival at Silver Run**** Everything seems darker now that Claire is dead, Acheron and I's guilt starting to gnaw away at us like a pet dog chews a bone, slowly withering it away to nothing. The guilt we didn't think we'd feel is starting to make living unbearable. Anger consumes every waking moment, from those in my pack ashamed of my actions to my own that seem to fill me to the brink. No matter how many hours I spend in the gym working away my aggression, it never seems to wane, staying just underneath the surface, starting to concern those around me. If I am not taking care of pack responsibilities, I am in the gym or on the training field. Today is one of those where I will be in front of a punching bag until the last possible second. I must work through the rage brewing all morning before showing Cynthia around the town square. I know
LUNA OLIVIA The morning of the birthday Ball. It's been a whirlwind of a week. I can't help but think about all the shit that has happened while eating my breakfast with the others like I do every day. After Elle's shift, we were left to facilitate numerous conversations about Elle's heritage and why she was brought here. No one asked if it had to do with Damon. At least by the adults, they know how two Alpha are together. While not as uncommon as it once was, it's still a rare thing to see. A pull between two Alpha mates is undeniable. It's magnetic and palpable. Making matters more complicated, I hope to find Elle and Damon at the table with fresh marks every morning. Instead, they turn up with bare necks. It's damn frustrating. I want to throttle their necks for being such teenage idiots! Jesus almighty! We have been following the plan to a 'T,' but nothing seems to get through their hormone-addled brains! Their inability to cooperate has frazzled my nerves, which isn't good w
DAMON POV There is electricity in the air; every pack member is busy scurrying around, helping with the decorations, and making the pack look pristine for the Ball today. Elle was up training early like she had been all week, leaving a little note beside my pillow with a little Hershey's kiss resting on top like it had been all week. I don't know where she keeps them, but I have grown used to the little tradition that developed between us. 'Damon,' my mom's voice rings through the mind link, her voice taking on that pitch, telling me she is pissed off and not in the mood to wait around on my bullshit. 'Are you coming into breakfast or not?' "Yes," I say aloud as I round the corner to the dining room, where my mom is already sitting with the Beta and Gamma families. I walk towards the table and plop down in the seat next to Elle, throwing my arm over her chair before kissing her temple in a silent greeting. I can feel my mom's frigid stare on Elle and me again, and it's been the
ELLE POV The pressure of tonight wraps around me like a straight jacket, and with each second, it's like I am one of those poor Salem women when blocks are placed on their chests. Damon's excitement is almost palpable, and it doesn't help that everyone constantly comments or stares at my neck. Every time I walk by a pack member, they instinctively check to see if our unique mark sits there yet. How stupid would we be to mark each other BEFORE the ball when visiting Alpha's and Council Officers will be able to see it? I am seventeen, and Damon would be thrown in the Council's prison and be forced to step down from being Alpha. Neither of us would be willing to live with ourselves if that happened. New Moon is Damon's birthright like my pack is mine, not to mention this is the only home I have known for the last five years. I don't have any intention of seeing it destroyed, which is why it's so fucking annoying that no one else seems to have the same reservations. "All done, Lun
ELLE POV Walking down the steps behind the Beta and Gamma families, I cannot help but gasp at the breathtaking beauty of the room. Black tables sit on the outskirts of the space surrounding the dance floor, with the pack emblem in the middle. Olivia did a great job incorporating the pack colors of silver and black in everything. Each table has a silver candle stick centerpiece covered with dangling jewels and candles that were lit. A DJ sits in the corner, getting set up for when the dancing can finally begin. The further into the room we get, the more my skin burns under the scrutinizing gaze of the other guests. As Olivia predicted, they hadn't taken their eyes off our group since we appeared at the top of the stairs. A few Alphas made their interest in me so known I am positive they'd resort to kidnapping me to get their hands on a born Luna to strengthen their pack and bloodlines. What they feel for me has nothing to do with who I am but more with what I am. 'Stay close,' T
ELLE POV "How did you know to pick this song?" I ask. My gaze is stuck on Damon; the rest of the world is nonexistent and inconsequential as we continue dancing around the ballroom. "Elle," he replies, a small devious smile, "you have lived in my house for five years. I would have to be an idiot not to know you are obsessed with Taylor Swift. You'd be surprised at the things I know about you." "Oh?" I say, slightly surprised that he knows anything about me, "what else do you know?" Curious to see what Damon's great observations are about my life." "Mhmm..." Damon hums as he ponders through everything he knows about me, trying to decide the best one to impress me. "You always watch Pride and Prejudice, the Kiera Knightley one, whenever you get the rare illness." "Is that all?" I ask with a smirk, hoping he doesn't have any more up his sleeve because if he keeps going, I might melt, becoming a puddle in the middle of the dance floor. "Never," he says, his peppermint breath f
ALPHA CHARLES POV Andrew and Matt are wandering around looking for their mates with no luck, but if I had to guess by the expressions on their faces, they're not too upset about not finding them as they sit at the table with their friends. Damon is supposed to be walking out those doors any second, and I pray to the Goddess he doesn't go straight to Elle and instead sits his ass down, not calling more attention to them than necessary. "Lastly, the reason we are all here to celebrate tonight, Alpha Damon Ledger," comes Harry's voice over the loudspeaker, as the big oak doors swing open, revealing Damon in a suit that matches Elle's dress, with the same flowers inside his breast pocket. As soon as I saw his face and how he zeroed in on her, I knew that he wouldn't sit down quickly. Taking the room in long, confident strides, Damon was at her side within a millisecond, leaning down and whispering in her ear before pulling her away from the table to the middle of the dance floor with a
ELLE POV "Did I tell you how beautiful you look tonight?" Damon whispers in my ear, his warm breath causing my hair to stand on end from his closeness as he spins me around, so my back is against his chest as we sway lightly to the music. "No, you haven't," I say as he kisses my neck, not caring that people are watching our every move, their eyes green with envy. "Well, you're stunning," he says as he nibbles my ear, causing a surprised giggle to leave my throat as I turn around to face him. A warm smile on my lips as my gaze finds his bright blue eyes. "You don't look so bad yourself," I compliment him, "how did you know what color suit to wear to match me?" I ask, curious how he chose a suit that perfectly matches when he wasn't at Elie Saab. "Mom gave me three options," he said with a shrug, "and I chose this one. I didn't know it matched your dress, but thinking back on the options she gave me, they would somehow have all complimented your dress. "That sounds like someth