Years had passed since the last battle with the devils and the lycanthropes, and everything was finally back to normal.Riven didn't return to the hidden island, the only place he knew as his home. He decided it was time to start a new life somewhere else.He established a new territory in the human world, a city called DeVille . He built a much more magnificent mansion and the entire lycanthropes lived in peace just as they had been living in the hidden island.His business thrived, producing billions for him every year. Soon, Riven Qinn became the talk of the city. Men respected him, women adored and worshipped him, wishing they could catch the young handsome billionaire's attention.They had no way of knowing that Riven was centuries old, and he would never love another woman.Caleb was promoted to the position of Supreme Beta and Knox was the new Supreme Gamma.Over the years, majority of the lycanthropes were united with their mates and the Dark Creek Pack expanded as babies were
Riven felt suddenly whole. He shut his eyes, forgetting everything else and focusing on the feeling of Layla's soft body close to him. His arms tightened around her, one hand reaching up to caress her hair. The scent of apples and roses, the scent he had grown so used to, flooded his senses and made him dizzy from relief. All of a sudden, everything seemed alright. All the years he had been wallowing in anguish and guilt sudden disappeared. It didn't matter anymore as long as his mate was in his arms."Layla",he whispered in her ear, burying his nose in the crook of her shoulder and breathing in her scent. The unique scent that belonged to only her. "Is it really you?""Yes, Riven",Layla whispered back to him, tears rolling down her cheeks when she answered him. "I came back to you, my love"The feeling was surreal and it still felt like a dream to him. Only the sparks of the mate bond and the softness of her body made him believe it was actual reality.He was really holding his ma
Three years later....Riven sprinted through the large halls of his huge mansion, racing towards his room at the top floor with a woman behind him.She was a doctor, a shifter who didn't want to belong to any pack, and prefered to live on her own. She had volunteered to help Layla in her delivery for a handsome fee.She was just a young werewolf, only two hundred years old with no sign of her mate yet."Alpha slow down",she chuckled behind him as she rushed towards the room where the Luna was waiting. "We still have a few more hours before the baby comes""The contractions are getting unbearable",Riven said over his shoulder but didn't reduce his hurried steps. In a panicked mode, he sent a mind link to his mate.[My love, hold on. The doctor is on her way to you][Oh Riven, hurry. I'm so terrified], Layla's reply made the beast in him more frantic and he flew up the remaining flight of stairs.He shoved the door open and hurried to the side of the bed where Layla was.Layla was sitt
Six years later....Riven's mansion was filled with the sound of celebration and decorated with Christmas lights. Outside, it was blazing cold and snowing hard but inside the house, it was warm and cozy as a low fire burned in the chimney.There was a large Christmas tree in the middle of the living room, decorative lights twinkling like a thousand jewels. Beneath the tree, there were dozens of presents, boxes wrapped in fancy wrappings.It was Christmas.Six year old Xavier and Cade raced around the large living room, laughing happily as they were being chased my Clarissa, Caleb's three year old daughter. The boys totally adored her and they protected her from the bullying of the other shifter's kids. Clarissa had bright blonde hair like her father, but had her mother's sky blue eyes. Her smile was enchanting, the deep dimples on her cheeks giving her an adorable look.As the children raced around the living room, Layla watched them from the top of the stairs with a smile. She had
The human realm, Kingdom Of Northville....The sun slowly rose from the eastern horizon and brightened the magnificent city of Northville, welcoming its citizens to a brand new day.At the edge of the kingdom, hidden among the wild flowers and surrounded by the forest of the willows was a fancy cottage.The front door of the cottage swung open and a white haired young woman stepped outside, holding a basket of grains."Kalista, don't forget to feed the chickens",a female voice called from within the cottage."Yes, mother",Kalista responded and twirled her way towards the metal cage behind the cottage. She hummed to herself along the way, holding up her dress and skipping lightly."Good morning, my little feathered friends",she smiled warmly as she got to the cage and crouched before it. The chickens squawked in anticipation for their morning meal, and Kalista carefully tipped the basket she held and poured out the grains into the feeder."Don't rush, there's enough for everyone",she
Wake up you worthless girl!".Layla jerked awake at the sudden command. Her eyes snapped open and looked around frantically, trying to get her bearings."I said wake up!". The voice commanded her sharply again and was preceded by a bucket of cold water that was splashed on her.Layla jumped up from the sack she had slept on through out the night. Her bones protested with her sudden movement, aching terribly from laying on the hard ground every night. She wiped the droplets of water from her face and stood still, shivering slightly from her drenched dress coupled with the morning chill. She looked up at the woman who stood at the entrance of the basement and curtsied a little.Madame Parker glared at the mute girl with so much venom in her eyes. "What are you waiting for? Get to work right this instant!",she snapped at Layla.Layla quickly ran past her and climbed out of the basement. She made her way to the kitchen and stopped, staring unbelievably at the mountain of dirty dishes and
Layla tumbled down the stairs and landed at the bottom with a loud thud. Her body ached terribly and her head felt like it would split in two.It turned worse as the door to the study was yanked open and Madame Parker marched out. She took one look at Layla and knew instantly what she had been up to."You worthless girl! What have you been doing? Eavesdropping on us? Spying?", she snapped angrily. Layla struggled to her feet and shook her head in fear as Madam Parker lifted her dress and marched down the stairs towards her. She fell to her knees, tears spilling down her eyes. She had been caught and there was no escaping it."You stupid girl. You have such guts to listen in on my conversation when you should be doing your chores!",Madam Parker spat angrily and raised her hand high up, delivering a harsh slap on Layla's face.Layla fell, blinded momentarily by the pain on her face. She tried to crawl away from the wrath of the furious woman and was dragged back viciously."Where do yo
Layla tore through the busy road, moving swiftly through the moving vehicles. Drivers honked as she dashed past the front of their cars and a few cursed at her.She didn't stop though. She kept running through the downpour, the rain obscuring her view. Pedestrians stared at her as she ran past them, taking in her drenched dress that was plastered to her body, her hair that was matted to her face with the rain. And a few wondered why she was in such a hurry. No one stopped her though. They all went about their businesses, trying to get to their various homes before it turned completely dark.Layla kept running without glancing behind her. She was terrified that if she so much as slowed down to look back, she would see Madame Parker coming after her like a furious maddened woman. So she kept running. Even when she left the busy roads and entered a deserted street, she kept running. Even when she got tired and out of breath, she kept running. She didn't know where she was going. She hadn