ELIJAHJoshua’s eyes turn wide, his jaw dropping slack for a moment. Then, a grin splits his face wide. “Really?” he bonds, his voice filled with disbelief and delight. "You're not pulling my leg here, are you?” he asks. “No, I’m serious, I admit, a touch of desperation creeping into my voice. "I know it's a crazy time to even think about this, but Verena… She's important to me. And right now, she needs me. Her pack, everything she holds dear… it's all in danger." I explain everything Cyrus had said, the weight of his threats pressing down on me. As I explain, Joshua’s frown deepens, his face etching with a mixture of concern and anger. “That tyrannical pig!” Joshua roars, slamming his fist on the desk with a force that makes the papers jump. "Now they're going to dictate who you can love as well?"“I won’t let them control me. That’s why I need your help.” I say and he looks at me. I sigh, “Facing Rowan head-on is a suicide mission. I need the pack's help. I’d need the entire
ELIJAH “Rowan will find other ways to separate us, but once I get married to Rena, we can plan how to break the pact together. For now, this is the best way to prevent Rowan from attacking her.” I say. It isn’t the ideal plan, but it's the only way I can protect them without breaking any contact with her. Though, I’d be the happiest if Rena becomes my wife again and Ezra stays with us. I’ll have my family back with me“That’s a great idea!” Irene squeals. “Oh my Goddess! I can’t wait for you two to get married again.Just propose to her already!” I frown. “I can’t do that on text. It will sound so…” “Unromantic?” Josh asks. “Yeah.” “Then go to her pack right now and propose to her. Don’t waste time,” Irene says and grabs my hand. “Hey! I don’t have a ring yet,” I say as she pushes me towards the door. “Argh! You are such a disappointment. Then we need to go shopping tomorrow and buy a ring for her. No, wait. Let's go right now!” She yells and pushes me out of the office door. “
VERENAA dark shape materializes in the doorway, momentarily blocking the moonlit path that stretches across my bed. My heart skips a beat as I recognize Elijah’s silhouette. As he steps closer, the moonlight baths his face, highlighting the sharp angles of his jaw and the worry etching in the lines around his eyes. Despite the tension that clings to him, a warmth spreads through me at the sight of him. “You’re here,” I say, feeling excited. I missed him so much. I instinctively push myself off the bed, but a strange sensation washes over me. My limbs feel heavy, an invisible weight pinning me to the mattress. Panic claws at my throat as I struggle to move. Why can’t I move? “Hush, calm down,” he whispers, his husky voice soothing my tense nerves. He takes the chair beside the bed and looks at me, his eyes glinting with sadness. Why is he sad? His eyes slide to my leg and he watches it for a few minutes before he utters. “I’m so sorry.” I frown. “Sorry for what?” I ask, wanting t
VERENAHis gaze follows mine to the bandage, a flicker of worry crosses his features. "The doctors said your muscle tissues and tendons were damaged," he explains, his voice soft but firm. "The wolf's bite punctured pretty deeply. They stitched the wound closed, and it's healing, but it'll take time." I purse my lips before I ask. “How many hours has it been?” “An entire day.” He says and the news hits me like a physical blow. “A whole day. I was out for that long?" Dad drags the chair kept beside the bed to the front and sits on it. “The doctors found some substance inside your body that slowed down your healing. You shouldn’t have been feeling this much pain and it should have healed. But it isn't, because of that substance.” His jaw clenches, a flicker of worry igniting in his eyes. I remember seeing Nixie before I passed out. I can bet that it was her who had injected some kind of herb or concoction in me to slow down my healing. But why was she there? What relation did she
VERENAI clearly remember how strong those wolves were. They can’t be of any normal Shadow Den gang. They can’t be ordinary wolves. If Serena hadn’t used her powers at the last moment, we would have been dead meat. I look at my arms. Those powers that came out of me…it wasn’t in my control. I wish I could control those powers. I would need to train Serena to learn using those powers whenever we need. “What happened to the girls, dad? Are they safe?” I ask and there’s a knock at the door. The door opens and Kyla walks in. Her arm is encased in a bright pink cast. A cheerful smile stretches across her face as she sees me. Relief floods me on seeing her. She looks fine. Except the arm-injury though. The wolf must have attacked her hand. “Luna,” she bows and I shake my head. “No need for these formalities. Is your arm healing well, Kyla?” I ask and look at her arm. “Yes, Luna. I’m sure I won’t need this cast by tonight,” she replies with a bright smile. Thank the Goddess. Her eyes
VERENAMazie bites her nail, her eyes lost in thought. “Um, one of my friends in the orphanage was sold to the royal family as a maid by our… w-warden.” Her face turns bitter on mentioning her. “This man came to the orphanage to take her to the castle. I was there and trying to help my friend fight the man. She didn’t want to be sold. But he dragged her from there and I was very angry at that man. That’s why I can’t forget his face.” I frown. A servant from the royal family? So is the man who was part of the gang associated with the royal family? It does not make sense. I turn to Mazie. “Thank you for letting me know.” Mazie nods and then after talking to her for a few minutes, she leaves the ward. I look at dad. “Ezra?” “Ezra doesn't know anything about the attack or that you are in the hospital. Just like every other time, Maria told him that you have an important meeting and that you are on a mission to save the word,” he replies and chuckles. I smile, feeling relieved. Being
VERENAThis isn't "nothing." This is worse than I let on, worse than I dared to admit even to myself. A whimper escapes my lips before I can clamp it down. Shame burns hot on my cheeks.Carlisle’s face swims into focus as he walks closer to me. “Don’t push yourself too far, Verena,” he whispers and I look up to see concern in his eyes. He extends his hand to touch me but then gets still and retracts it. “I won’t.” I say and nod curtly.—-------------I don’t know how many hours have passed while I stay in the hospital bed. The hospital allows me to use my phone. I scroll through my messages and call records countless times, checking if there was anything from him. There’s nothing. I feel a tightness in my heart. There’s only a message from Elijah that is new. ‘Increase your pack security as well as the security around your house.’ That’s all. He must have sent it because of the threat of Ashwalkers. But something in my gut tells me that isn’t it. There’s more to his message. I t
VERENAMy eyes go wide in shock. “What. R-really?” I ask, looking down at my belly. She nods, her smile turning into a full grin. “However, it's still very early. My tests never go wrong and I can confirm that you are pregnant. But we’d still need to do tests. Why don't we schedule another appointment for a follow-up ultrasound in a couple of weeks?" I am not able to utter a word, my mind completely occupied with what she just said. I am…pregnant? I remember Elijah and me not using protection while having sex that night. Since I am a werewolf now and his mate, the process of me getting pregnant must be faster than normal. Happiness floods me. I’ll have another child. Elijah and my child. But hope is quickly doused by a wave of fear. My pack is in danger, Elijah hasn’t responded to my calls and I just went through an attack. Everything is uncertain. How will I bring a child into this chaos? Because of me, Ezra has already gone through a lot. Am I ready for such a responsibility?