Dark brown eyes stared down at Talia(FL), his scent a burning crimson, mixed with a vile smell of ashwood. His fist clenched as it revealed a streamline of veins. One could see the dark red blood coursing through it. His face beamed red with bloodlust, veins appearing at the top of his head. Rage had gotten hold of him, but rage towards who? Jarek Ashenpaw(Father of FL), leader and alpha of the Wildwood Coven, father of Talia, and mate to the beautiful Freya, whose eyes shone with a soft silver-blue colour that could calm the tempest of the sea- who had no doubt passed down her physical attributes unto her daughter Talia. Lord Ashenpaw had come down with a fury. Never had it been known for a werewolf of eighteen to not have had a transformation, but this was the fate of Talia. A failed prodigy, a disgrace to the coven, a weak seed. These were the words resounding in the ears of the Alpha. He cursed the goddess for giving him a weakling, one who could not transform. Who would take reign of his kingdom when he was no longer there troubled his mind.
Talia's POV
I could feel the layers of my skin being ripped part by part; I screeched at the top of my voice at the agonising pain; I could feel my ribs crack as the he-wolf sunk his teeth right down my ribs.
The crack had sent signals down my body as I lost breath down my right ribs.
I had stopped screaming and started gasping. I swung my hands through midair like one buried underwater.
The little breath I had left was used to call my father, but there he stood motionless as I lost consciousness.
I was five years old when this gruesome event took place, and its memory-a glue on my mind.
**Five years later.**
"Dad, where are we going?" I asked.
It was foolish of me to expect a reply and more foolish still to ask such a question. It was now a normal routine every year for the last five years.
Dad took my hands with a firm grip as he led me through the forest.
I had known of the fate awaiting me in the dungeon in the forest. A fully transformed wolf was waiting, ready to pounce on me.
What father had the moon goddess bestowed upon me? I still held the scars from years ago. The pain had become a companion of mine.
My dad had thought that me in the paws of another wolf would trigger my wolf form, and I would transform; little did he know that made me more distant from my other side.
****
"Talia, wake up, it's your eighteenth birthday." Lyra, my younger sister called out.
What was the point of a birthday, I thought to myself. A reject in the family and Coven. What's worse was that I was the daughter of an alpha and supposed future leader of the pack.
Who would accept a leader who has no contact with her wolf form? A jest I was. Scorned throughout the realm, and my mate.
Nothing was more painful than constantly being dismissive in front of my mate. Immediately, I fell off my bed.
"Damn the goddess I hate that pull." I jerked.
It's like one's body moving against one's will while one is conscious. The muscle of my hair follicle had been aroused and all hairs on my body were on full alert.
Dorian was outside. He had come from HighGarden; the territory of the Silver Moon Pack. He was their leader and Alpha, that is, until when my father fought his father on the night of the Lunar Uprising, reducing his Alpha status to an Omega.
"Had he come to see his mate?" my mind raced.
Immediately my legs took me on a quick pace. I was surprised to see how quickly I could get dressed and down the stairs I flew.
On getting there, I had seen him conversing strongly with my father. If only I had my wolf hearing, I could tell of what had brought him kilometres away to CastlyRock.
All the goddess had blessed me with was a bond so fierce the base of my soul had felt another's.
There he was, in a black tuxedo. A 6'3 with broad shoulders and strong masculine features.
His long black hair rested on his shoulders, a jawline face with a protruding nose, and his lips red as blood.
His eyes were dark as the night his stares would send fear down the spine of those who were bold enough to look at him.
I cursed the goddess again for giving me such a mate and cursed her still for giving me one who was that dismissive.
Not that I would blame him for avoiding me. Who would want a mate unable to access her wolf form?
His side eyes caught mine before leaving. He gave a nod to my father as he turned his back, shoulders on high as he took a walk of pride down his car escort.
"Goddess, what a man," I said to myself, unaware of my little sister lurking behind me.
Father was furious, pacing up and down his study. I had seen the rage on his face and immediately recognised it.
The last time he was that furious was when I was fifteen years old when he had left me to the fate of the goddess.
But this was different, something had taken a grip on his mind. His fur was protruding out of his body as he struggled to maintain control.
Whatever message Dorian had relayed had caused an upset so deep he had thrown his gaze at me.
Immediately, I recoiled when his wolf eyes, yellowish in colour, had landed on me. By the goddess, what was it?
****
"Meet me at the Celestial Nexus. A vehicle is waiting for you at the crossroads."
"Don't waste my time." Dorian had called.
The bond given to us by the goddess had not only bound our souls but had also given us the ability to communicate with each other non-verbally.
Not that he had frequently made use of this only when he had a message to relay.
"Why on earth had he chosen the Celestial Nexus to meet me?" I questioned.
My mind had been racing as feelings of uneasiness had settled on me. His immediate call after he left our home had me confused as to what his intentions were.
Although I wanted to ignore his call I couldn't. His voice had run through my body, commanding every muscle in them.
The only thing I was left with was my emotions of fear and agitation. I found myself moving quickly at his command while my mind was in a state of stagnation, wondering what this could all be about.
His message, my father's fury, and his unexpected command. What in the heavens was going on?
A black Mercedes was waiting for me at the crossroads near my home.
"Evening Miss Ashenpaw, please get in." Said Derek.
Derek, Dorian's Beta and right-hand man. Unlike Dorian whose hair was black, Derek had Silvery hair.
His rolled-up sleeves revealed his muscular arms and detailed tattoos. His form was larger than that of Dorian one would assume him to be the Alpha.
He had similar features to Dorian. The jawline face and dark eyes that sunk to the back of his head revealed a terrifying yet distinguishable beautiful face.
Most times he was mistaken to be Dorian's big brother, though his attitude with that of Dorian's had differ.
He was gentle to me. One would take him for an easy man if only he wasn't Dorian's Beta.
"Evening Derek," I responded. Any idea what's going on? I asked.
Silent was his reply as he shut the door behind me and proceeded to drive off.
"Could you at least tell me why my mate has decided to call me up to God's eye?" I fumed.
Again, he ignored me.
My pulse was heating up as the car sped. My vision had gotten blurry as my mind was in an erratic state. The trees had slowed down as the green colour had seemed brighter than before.
Soon movements and figures began appearing before me. I knew I was hallucinating.
I hadn't eaten anything throughout the day. My stomach churned with great annoyance. I could feel a twist in my intestines as though they had become entangled with each other.
Hours upon hours, we drove, ascending the terrain and making our way towards the Celestial Nexus.
The closer we got towards God's eye, the closer I could feel the pull towards Dorian. Slowly life was reabsorbed into my body as the energy from him had brought me back to my senses.
And suddenly our vehicle came to a halt. The door had been opened by Derek, and I could feel the winds, strong and fierce.
Darkness was everywhere except the little light the moon goddess could give. Whatever this meeting was about, it wasn't so he could see his mate.
I could hear the waves crashing against the rocks, the fierce breath of the air was enough to send anyone flying through the sky.
Why on earth had he chosen this place of all places to meet? I questioned. The closer I got, and there I saw him standing close to the edges of the ridge.
Mixed with the blood of two sworn enemies, Astrid was born a half-wolf and half-vampire, with both types of blood remaining dormant. She had spent her life as an outcast, despised by her kind. But destiny had drawn her into the halls of Yormsborg, where a world of secrets and betrayal was unveiled before her. Fated to the Alpha King, her presence ignites chaos. Brooding war and conspiracies, she and Sebastian must stand together and fight the treachery within and from enemies beyond. But when the chaos and the bloodline are revealed, Astrid must embrace the blood in her before everything she loves is lost. Will she be able to overcome her adversity? And will love to defy fate?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
For ten years, Daniela showered her ex-husband with unwavering devotion, only to discover she was just his biggest joke. Feeling humiliated yet determined, she finally divorced him. Three months later, Daniela returned in grand style. She was now the hidden CEO of a leading brand, a sought-after designer, and a wealthy mining mogul—her success unveiled at her triumphant comeback. Her ex-husband’s entire family rushed over, desperate to beg for forgiveness and plead for another chance. Yet Daniela, now cherished by the famed Mr. Phillips, regarded them with icy disdain. "I’m out of your league."
Sheila had her back against the wall when her family tried to force her to marry an awful old man. In a fit of rage, she hired a gigolo to act as her husband. She thought the gigolo needed money and did this for a living. Little did she know that he was nothing like that. One day, he pulled off his mask and revealed himself to be the world's top magnate. This marked the beginning of their love. He showered her with everything she could ever want. They were happy. However, unexpected circumstances soon posed a threat to their love. Would Sheila and her husband make it through the storm? Find out!
Madison had always believed that she would marry Colten. She spent her youth admiring him from afar, dreaming of their future life together. But Colten was always indifferent to her, and when he abandoned her at a time when she needed him most, she finally realized that he never loved her. With renewed resolve and a thirst for revenge, Madison left. Endless possibilities lay ahead, but Colten was no longer part of her plans. Colten rushed to her place in a panic. "Madison, please come back to me. I’ll give you everything!" It was his powerful uncle who answered the door. "She's my woman now."
Iris grew from an orphaned child to the adopted daughter of the Stewart family at age ten, finding warmth in her nominal uncle Vincent's kindness. Seven years later, she became his secret lover. When Vincent's engagement was announced, gossip spread about the notorious playboy CEO finally settling down. But only Iris knew the extent of his cold, two-faced nature. Iris fell for Vincent and, through tears, begged, "Marry me," only to be met with his frosty refusal. Defeated, she accepted a lawyer's proposal, sparking public excitement. Then, on her wedding day, Vincent pleaded desperately, "Don't marry him…"
"You're my wife in name only, on paper only. My heart and love will never be yours." Edward made it clear to Daisy that she was nothing to him. They were both victims of family greed -- the marriage was arranged for them. Six years passed. She remained quiet, gaining a reputation in the army as a tough-as-nails colonel. When she walked into his life again, Edward fell in love with this woman, unlike any he had known. She surprised and delighted him. But will Daisy take him back? Can their son keep them together? Can the rift between them be healed? Pick this one up and find out!