It was dark and silent. Total darkness, not a single shred of light could be seen. Too dark for Layla to see anything. She listened hard, hoping she would hear a sound that would make her know where she was.Nothing.Just darkness all through.Layla felt the familiarity of the place. She had been here before. She knew it. She tried to move but found her body immobile. She couldn't move a muscle. Her limbs felt like lead, weighed down by invincible weights.The last thing she remembered was curling up in bed with Riven's arms around her. The room had been illuminated with a burning lantern and she remembered snuggling into Riven's embrace. Now that she was back in this place, she began to wonder if it was a dream like last time, or if it was real.The intensity of the darkness suddenly began to choke her and she struggled to free herself. She wondered where Riven was and she longed for his safe arms. Terror seized her throat and she cried out in fear."Riven...",she sobbed. The darknes

The atmosphere dropped suddenly, right after Annabelle broke the news about being Layla's mother. Riven took a step back away from her, disbelief evident in his eyes. The woman whom he had hunted for years, who had escaped the annihilation, was no other than the mother of his mate? It didn't make sense. And at the same time, it did. Killing her now would be difficult because he couldn't bring himself to murder the mother to his mate. He turned away, his mind reeling from what he just heard.Henrietta on the other hand didn't take the news easily. "You're Layla's mother?",she asked incredulously. "Like hell I'm going to believe that. Where have you been all these years?""I don't have to answer to you witch",Annabelle said and was about to walk towards Layla when Henrietta blocked her way. Although Henrietta wasn't as strong as Annabelle, she was still a powerful witch and she didn't feel a shred of fear as she stood before the Sorceress."Get out of my way Henrietta",Annabelle said s

Months later, Annabelle and Riftan sat close together in the meadow, staring at the sunset. The dying rays of the sun cast a magnificent glow on the earth and the sky was alight with brilliant colours. The wind played around, lifting dead leaves up in the air and bringing the scent of flowers towards the two figures sitting close to each other.After their first encounter, an attraction had sparked up between the two of them and Riftan would always find a way to wander into the domain of the Sorcerers, just to speak with Annabelle. She reminded him of someone he met years ago, the strange girl that claimed to come from the future and stopped the Supreme Alpha's son's wedding. He found himself always staring at Annabelle, getting hypnotized by her enchanting eyes. And he knew he was falling hard for her."So were you born like this?",Annabelle asked. She just discovered Riftan wasn't a normal shifter. He was a hybrid;a crossbreed between a shifter and a vampire. Her head was still reeli

For days, Annabelle remained inside her home, locked up and hidden from everyone else. She ate nothing. She drank nothing. A part of her hoped Riftan would come to find her, and explain what she already knew.Riftan never showed up, and she gradually slipped into a deep state of depression. Her heart was shattered totally. Her eyes were red rimmed and swollen from crying every night. She lost her colour and turned pale, dark circles surrounding her eyes. For her, her world was over.And then one morning, as she forced herself to eat for the sake of her baby, she heard the sound of growling and snarling. Explosions sounded from afar and shook the earth, and as if on cue, an urgent knock sounded on the door, followed by a loud shout."Anne Hale! You must come out now"Annabelle rushed towards the door, almost falling over from dizziness. She grasped the doorknob and yanked it open.Salvador recoiled at her ashen appearance and took a step back. He was one of the pure blooded Sorcerers a

"What makes you think I'll let you do that?"Riven asked in a dangerous and frosty voice. His heart rate increased at the thought of Layla leaving him. His fists remained balled beside him and his eyes were gradually turning dark. It was getting increasingly difficult for him to control his rage.Annabelle shrugged, not even showing an ounce of fear over Riven's dark expression."You have no choice. Your presence won't help her",Annabelle said and walked passed him towards the bed. She sat beside Layla and brushed a strand of hair off her face. "Until she can stabilize her spirit, you and your kind need to limit your presence around her""That's ridiculous!",Riven scowled and began to pace angrily. "She's my mate. Why should my presence be a threat to her health? Why should I believe your words?""I'm her mother Riven",Annabelle said for the nth time. "I wouldn't do anything to hurt my own child. You saw how I healed her. And remember I came here of my own volition""Which still makes