DEMETRIUS’S POVI shifted immediately upon leaving the pack house and ran into the woods. My wolf was elated to be free. Even though I had let him out the day before yesterday, he always yearned for freedom, and this could disrupt my personal schedule. My senses sharpened; I could see clearly, and my hearing was keen. The woods appeared lush and vibrant, and any potential danger ahead was highlighted in red, making it easy to detect threats or enemies. That's why I preferred fighting in my wolf form.The sudden news of my pack members shifting at such a young age didn't sit well with me. Something must be amiss; the only reason young ones would start shifting before the age of 17 was if there was a hidden danger lurking. I needed to get to the bottom of it, so I decided to check our borders to ensure the security was tight.My Beta, Lucas, would be waiting for me at the south border. I increased my pace and let my wolf, Demon, take over. This was one of the areas he excelled in, and
Layla's wolf, Linda, stared at Annabelle. Annabelle wondered why Layla was not changing back to her human form. She pointed to the clothes and then to Layla.“You need to shift back to your human form, Linda,” Annabelle told the wolf.Linda gave a small growl to convey her message, but Annabelle stood there confused. Linda walked closer to Annabelle and used her head to push Annabelle away, gesturing for her to turn around. Realization crossed Annabelle’s face.“Oh, sorry, Linda. I should have known,” Annabelle said, turning away. She walked back around the tree where she had shifted.LAYLA’S POVJust as I had shifted to my wolf form, I focused on shifting back to my human form. It took some time to complete the shift, so I quickly grabbed the dress and started dressing. We were both barefoot, and we didn't mind it. Feeling the ground under our feet, whether dry or wet, was strangely satisfying.“I’m done,” I called out to Annabelle.Annabelle emerged from behind the tree where she wa
Elena was caught off guard by the sudden attack, but her wolf was prepared. She growled at me and attempted to pick me up, but I struggled in her grasp, forcing her to release me. Elena swiftly turned and landed a few blows to my head. I managed to dodge the last two and rolled away, my breathing ragged. As I regained my senses, Linda retreated in my mind.I lay on the ground, trying to catch my breath. Elena walked over to me, her proud expression fading instantly."Good, but you gave up too quickly," Elena commented, offering both a compliment and a reproach in one sentence. "Next time, allow your wolf to fully defend you," she advised. "That's all for today." With that, she quickly made her exit.I let out a long breath and closed my eyes. My head was pounding from the few blows I had received; they had been powerful enough to ring in my ears for a moment. I reminded myself not to underestimate Elena. Nonetheless, today's training had been productive, and I smiled, looking forward
LAYLA'S POVI stared at the king in horror. He wanted to mark me as his, but not now. Everyone would notice, and I wasn't ready for that kind of attention. "Layla?" he asked, clearly confused by my reaction. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, but it only made me feel more disoriented."You can't mark me, not now, please," I pleaded."Okay, I won't mark you now," he assured me. I let out the breath I had been holding. He smiled at me, and I managed a small one in return. "Thank you for accepting this," he said before leaving my room.I slumped into the nearest chair and stared out of the window. I hoped I had made the right decision. I couldn't afford for things to go wrong now, especially when I was just beginning to settle into the pack.That evening, as I was about to eat, the door swung open, revealing Annabelle with a food tray. She grinned at me and took a seat. "Hello, Layla.""Hi," I greeted, making space for her at the table. "I wasn't expecting to see you this eve
Layla was left to browse through the store, ostensibly looking for a dress. However, she found herself just admiring the beautiful dresses. She felt that she had no right to take advantage of Annabelle's kindness. Meanwhile, Nancy was secretly plotting something behind Annabelle's back.Annabelle shook her head at her friend, fully aware that Nancy would soon interrogate her for more information about Layla."So, tell me, what's her story?" Nancy inquired, blocking Annabelle's path."I'm surprised Lisa hasn't told you anything about Layla," Annabelle replied."Well, Lady Annabelle has a business to run, and discussing things with Lisa would be my ruin," Nancy stated.Annabelle laughed, "I don't understand the two of you and your friendship."Nancy shrugged. "Lisa is quite the chatterbox, and she's quite skilled at it. Once she starts, I can't let her go, and my business would be left unattended.""Right, better not to get her started.""She's so different from the people you usually b
LAYLA'S POVThe pack house was a hive of activity, with people bustling about to prepare for the upcoming event. The kitchen staff had risen early to prepare the meal, and I was absorbed in my tasks, trying to keep my mind off what lay ahead. I also thought about Annabelle, who was juggling her responsibilities. To my surprise, Nancy arrived early, holding the dresses for the "Luna’s Creed" event. I seized the opportunity to retreat to my room for a while.I went to the washroom, splashing water on my face to clear my thoughts. Glancing at my bed, I saw the dress Annabelle had helped me pick out for the king's event. Even in the midst of her busyness, she had considered me. This made me feel even worse. I had been avoiding the king since I learned of Annabelle’s plan, a decision that weighed on me heavily.Sitting at my desk, I rested my head in my hands, the relentless pounding in my head mirroring the turmoil in my heart. Was I really making the right decision by giving up my second
DEMETRIUS' POVAnnabelle held her breath as she waited for my response, I shook my head and continued. "What do you think you're doing?" I asked, my frustration showing.Confusion filled her expression. "What?"My next words were like a blow to her plans. "We can't be mates," I stated firmly."Why not?" Annabelle said, looking around at the room full of expectant faces. She should have seen this coming, and I couldn't understand her reaction. She should have been grateful that I was willing to talk."Annabelle, we are not mates," I reiterated, trying to make her understand.Unwilling to give up, Annabelle argued, "As it stands now, we do not have one. The pack needs a Luna!" I then raised a critical point. "And what if we find our mates later?""They came late, and we haven't found our mates yet. Let's move on," Annabelle insisted.I stuck to my decision, firm in my resolve. "No, I can't. I can't be mates with you because I found my mate."I watched Annabelle's reaction, knowing this
Jarod opened his eyes, finding himself in his bed. He sensed something had gone awry, a situation that would incite his rage. Although he didn't know the details, he felt the disturbance. He turned toward the slumbering figure beside him, drew her naked body closer, and initiated a kiss. It was a way to release the pent-up anger within him.He buried himself in her warmth, but it couldn't fill the void he felt. It wasn't the same warmth he once found when he sought pleasure from his long-deceased supposed mate. Something was amiss, and he vowed to get to the bottom of it. He wouldn't rest until he had answers, and the satisfaction he derived from it would be his reward. He had much to do, and the best time to start was now. He left the bed, got dressed, and left his companion to recover from their encounter. A smug smirk played on his lips; he had old friends to visit.ANNABELLE’S POVI paced my room, consumed by rage. I was not just angry; I was seething. The two people I had trusted