RYKERNow I know what Fredrick wanted to tell me. I do not doubt that he must be the one who did this to Natalie. But after he pulled out Evangelina, she might have betrayed him.I tried connecting to Natalie. I have a hunch she is somewhere back in her mind. I don’t know if she can hear me talking or not but I desperately want to hear her voice.Fire spreads towards me, as I watch my mate’s body controlled by an evil spirit in shock and confusion. What can I do to bring her out? What did Niyara—the witch who raised me ever tell me about this? I can’t recall, given that I never had any interest in something like this.Screams sound from around me, but I can not turn around or rush to their aid. I know they are burning and that everyone is scared of the fire. Anyone strong can fight against water, rising wood, metal, and harsh air but fighting against such a fire that consumes you, that kills you with a single touch…No one can do that. Not even me.“ What do you want? ” This is the onl
NATALIE“ How long are you going to stay like this? ” The soothing voice asks in the empty bright space.“ Am I dead? ” I question, sighing heavily and sitting up on the grass.The field around me is filled with blue, yellow, and pink flowers. It’s comforting and pleasing for the eyes. For the first time in forever, I think I can breathe without feeling like my lungs are aching.“ You wanted to die? ” The voice chuckles.I smile, glancing at the woman from over my shoulder. She is perched up on the rock behind me. I don’t know who she is or why I am even talking to her so calmly but seeing her is pleasing to the eyes and mind.Her glossy silver hair fall over her shoulders and back in waves and her silver shimmering eyes watch me closely. Her chin is placed in the palm of her hand, and her elbow is supported on her knee. The loose white dress she is wearing flaps due to the comforting blowing breeze.“ Am I really dead? ” I whisper.Does this mean I lost? Our child? The war? Ryker?“
NATALIE“ Uhm…what’s happening? ” I whisper in Ryker’s ear.The situation is not good. I can tell. He pulls away, his hands sliding down to my wrists. “ are you okay? ”Taking my eyes off Zero, I steal a glance at Ryker and nod my head to assure him. “ Who is he? ” I gesture to the man on Ryker’s right side.He sucks in a sharp breath and throws the man a subtle glare from over his shoulder. “ he is…Vampire King…Gualterio Corentine. ” Zero’s father. I lift my head to look at him closely. He looks back at me, his black eyes catching my attention. He doesn’t look much older than thirty…then again…he is a Vampire…and well, I have never encountered a higher-ranked Vampire in my whole life. They are cold and can send chills down your spine with a single glance. What’s unsettling is that…there is no way to find out what his power is. He can be reading my mind right now, for all I know.Dragging my tongue across my lips, I take a deep breath through my nose.“ Why is the King here? ” I pu
RYKERI made Natalie drink my blood and pledge her loyalty to me in front of the whole pack. The bond snapped into place in her mind. She was in pain which was usual and then she urged me to take her home so she could take a bath and fall asleep.She didn’t speak much but I knew she was traumatized by whatever has happened. It’s hard forgetting about some things sometimes.She saw me almost die for her, she could feel our child agonized and she barely survived herself…It will be a little hard to get over all of this but I am sure she will be fine. She is the Luna now, after all.Putting her to bed, I went down to the living room where Zio was waiting for me as expected.“ I asked you to escort your sister and Giana out of the packhouse. What happened? ” I hiss, marching forward and grabbing him by the collar.How he was not affected by Britney’s death irked me out. I can sense something off about the whole situation.“ What happened, Zio? ” Seeing his lowered head made me lower my voi
RYKER “ He came to meet my mother when I was ten. That’s how the Originals suspected her and me, to begin with. ” He discloses. “ My mother begged him to take me along yet he told her that they were at war and he couldn’t afford a hybrid son when everyone hated werewolves. Vampires were hungry for blood. They would have overthrown him if he had accepted me as his son. ” “ Originals came to know about it and caught you? ” I huff. He never told me about this before. “ So you hate him? ” I question before throwing my head back to stare at the ceiling. “ I don’t feel anything towards him. ” He replies. “ Why did you go to meet him then? ” I sigh. “ Fear. I wanted to see the fear in his eyes. ” His voice remains impassive and cold, not betraying any emotion. “ You wanted to scare him after letting him know that his Hybrid son was still alive and his rule was in danger? ” I smirk. At least, there is someone who thinks like me. “ He was not scared though. Time seems to have changed
NATALIE The rain decided it was the best time to grace Earth. I sigh for the nth time and throw my head back to glance up at the stormy sky. Drops of rain fall into my eyes, making me close them and take in a deep, calming breath. It’s Rhianna’s funeral. And Britney’s funeral. And all the Original’s funerals—at least what’s left of their bodies or ashes. The warriors and everyone else that died are also getting their last rituals done. Zio arranged it all. I don’t know how he is doing but when I woke up and had breakfast, Ryke told me that he is struggling and he wishes to leave the pack for a while. I was shocked and furious that he agreed to let Zio go. I don’t think he will be fine on his own. The grief of losing his sister will consume him. Yes, Ryke did tell me about the pushing incident but I will never admit that Zio did it consciously. It happened in the heat of the moment. His loyalty won over his love for family and so he got rid of the problem for his Alpha—or more l
NATALIE My heart sinks. I lift my head and walk to Ryker with small steps. All eyes fall on me. To my surprise, they glance once and then lower their gazes in respect. My heart beats in my stomach as I reach Ryker and he instantly curls his fingers around my hand, squeezing the coldness with his warmth. My eyes fall to the graves, all in line, all open, all carrying a different casket with a different person but the feeling is the same for all of them. They were not good people, not worthy of love but their death still saddens me. Ryker takes a step forward and urges me to follow him. We both approach the first grave, Britney’s grave. He bends down and grabs a fistful of sand before dropping it over the half-sand-covered casket. He straightens to his height afterward and looks at me, waiting for me to do the same. Sighing, I do the same and we move on to Rhianna’s grave. Ryker’s grip tightens around my hand, carrying all the patience and endurance to me. I blink back the tea
NATALIEA month passes by quickly. Everything settles down. Everyone now follows their own path.The absence of a council and my refusal to subject anyone to such absurd binding rules anymore, has made every single pack of the werewolf community make their own rules and choose their own ways.I can’t say everything is all good and better. But, at least, now there is nothing like a ruler over werewolves. They are free to do whatever they want. They can choose the wicked side or they can choose to be good. They can become enemies or they can become friends with each other or other races.No one can object to Hybrids anymore. If someone does, it has become an individual issue for the packs. To cut it short, everyone is on their own and the tyranny has come to an abrupt end.I do think that everyone is a little confused because many Alphas of different packs came to visit me when they got to know that all Originals were dead and I was the only one left. They wanted me to rule, to guide, t