On the Morning of the Moon Dance, I woke to a soft knock on the door. I made a very undignified groan as I rolled and almost fell to the ground. “Damn it! Who is it!” I called. “Saira, are you up?” Idris Raed’s faint voice streamed into the room. What did he want so early in the morning? I suppressed a yawn and glanced to my right. Sofia was sprawled out on the blanket like an octopus, making my lips twitch in amusement. My heart panged with a flash of pity for her future. ‘He would have his hands full.’ I lamented with another yawn and scrambled off the bed to open the door. “What is it?” I grumbled, running a hand through my wild mane. “Sorry to…” His Adam’s apple visibly moved as he swallowed and shifted his posture to lean against the wall. “Sorry to interrupt your beauty sleep, but I wanted to give you something.” He said, pulling out a velvet box from his pocket. “If it’s jewelry, I don’t need it.” I shook my head, preparing to shut the door. He pressed a hand on the door
By evening, all the invited guests for the Moon Dance had checked in. From a distance, I saw Idris Raed lead my father and mother towards his mansion. I couldn't go over to welcome them. The dinner menu had to be finalized, and well, I wasn't prepared to face them yet. Fortunately, they didn't need me. The Lycan was deeply invested in the role of a son-in-law, carrying their luggage and all. If he was my soulmate- I stopped short, shocked by my thought. It wasn’t a day or two that I spent with Idris Raed. It was nearly half a month. In the time we’ve been forced to stay together, I learned enough to know he had his own agendas. If Raed Basil was a scheming Lycan and Einas Raed a dickhead, then Idris Raed was the cunning beast in sheep-clothing everyone overlooked. He was just as bad, if not worse, than his father and brother. And I was more than happy to ignore him...right? Then why did such a thought cross my mind? “Sai. Sai!” Sofia’s call reached me through the haze of conf
3 hours later, Sofia and I were ready. We stood side by side before the mirror, more than pleased with our appearances. Our dresses shimmered under the radiance of the light. The skirts flared over our hips and pooled at our feet. As the folds fluttered with our every step, they added a natural grace to our overall look. Though similar in design, Sofia’s was more on the sexy, form fitting side, while mine enhanced my curves, but was more of the elegant and graceful style. We had our hair down. Her straight blonde locks were curled at the end for extra volume, while my glossy ember mane was braided with pearls at the front, Idris Raed’s gift, and streamed down my back in curly waves. With the matching jewelry, light eye-shadow, and just right amount of lip-gloss, we looked like Greek goddesses out to rule the mortal realm. "Fuck, am I Artemis reborn?" Sofia posed, making me giggle at her narcissistic comment. At times, she sounded so much like Zaria. The thought made my smile fa
“Saira, Tia and the others...” Sofia gestured to a corner of the clearing. I followed her gaze and saw the ranked members of the Evergreen Pack. Tia, the future Gamma, stood with Bilia and Ilias, the Delta, and her mate. “Let’s go meet them. We’ll need all the support we can get tonight.” I forced a smile on my face and led her to the group. What’s bound to happen will happen. If Zaria and I were meant to shift tonight, then my fear and anxiety wouldn’t change a thing. With this thought, my anxiety lessened, leaving me in a more composed state. “Sai! I thought I would never see you again!” Tia was the first to spot us. Her face broke into a wide smile as she squealed and pulled us into a crushing hug. If I hadn’t left the Evergreen Pack just two months ago, I would’ve thought we hadn’t seen each other in years. She was that dramatic. “Alright, scoot to the side. I need to give my gals a hug too, you know?” Bilia didn’t waste time shoving her aside with her booty. Ignoring the ot
Sofia moved to the side, leaving me in the spotlight. Ignoring Zaria's disgruntled growls, I removed my mask to address the rowdy crowd. “Friends and allies from the Seven Seas, tonight is the night where the Moon Goddess graces us with her blessings.” Steady and strong, my voice boomed through the air. Gasps of astonishment and intake of breaths came from all around me. Without a doubt, everyone was surprised to see a female using an ability unique to Alpha males. But the shock wore off soon and whistles and cheers filled the air. “Beautiful, do you have a date?” “Your voice touched my heart. Your lyrics pulled on my heartstrings. If you’re up for it, I’m willing to make you my Luna!” “Did you create that song?” The sudden onslaught of questions made the melancholic atmosphere brought about our song abate a little. A strained snarl of ‘what the hell is she doing’ sounded from the Lycan Leader’s direction, making my lips twitch. My singing wasn’t part of the arrangement. He was p
True to my instinct, one dance turned into two, then three, four. At some point, I lost count, and stopped caring. Idris Raed glued himself to me like a gum. His hands didn’t wander. They remained firm around my waist, making their presence hard to ignore. Thinking he would shift, or at least move them a little, if I placed some distance between us, I turned my head to side to break the intimate contact of our cheeks. Instead, he buried his nose in the thick waves of my hair and drew me even closer. The steady rise and fall of his chest became one with mine. He groaned and deeply inhaled my scent, making me instinctively do the same. “Saira…you smell…amazing…” My grip tightened on his shoulders. The heady fragrance of his lemongrass and mint scent filled my nostrils, causing my body to subconsciously sway with him as my mind fell in a daze. When was the last time I had ever felt so calm? So peaceful? So at ease, without the anxiety of my truth keeping me on edge? I couldn’t reme
**Idris*** I think I heard Saira say she would give me a chance. But I couldn’t be sure. When a person longed for something with desperation, they begin to hallucinate and dream about that desire coming true. I was more inclined to believe I was hallucinating. That way, it wouldn’t hurt as much when I got the confirmation that, yes, I was indeed having an auditory issue and wishing for the impossible. “Fuck, Idris. When did you become deaf? I heard it clearly. She said she would give us a chance!” Malko’s agitated growl exploded in my head with a force akin to the clap of thunder. I blinked, then narrowed my eyes on the she-wolf in my arms. She was staring at me with a small, almost innocent, smile. But the twinkle in her eyes made me realize she was laughing at me. Laughing at my foolish response to her words. My breath hitched. I hadn’t heard her wrong. She…she said she would give me a chance! Without conscious thought, I lifted her up in my arms again, until we were practical
**Idris** The instant the Alpha King appeared, the righteous anger on Raed Basil's face cooled into an impassive mask. I smothered a chuckle. The two men glared at each other in what could only be described as a silent war. The Alpha placed the Lycan on edge, that's for sure. In a weird moment of communion, I detected unease from the woman beside me. More palpable than any scent in the tension-laden atmosphere, her apprehension had me instinctively pulling her closer to my side and rubbing her waist in silent comfort. She was worried. I knew. But I also knew she had nothing to worry about. I wouldn't allow her or her dear ones to suffer a loss on my watch. After a period of time that stretched like hours, the Lycan Leader finally opened his mouth and asked, “Alpha Malivik, what do you mean by this?” I raised a brow. When my gaze fell on his clenched fist, a ridiculing sneer stretched across my lips. The placidity in his tone almost fooled me into thinking he’d regained his calm