Page 195 of Crystal Luna

Velora closed her eyes and soaked it up, trying to let the pain consume her. She’d been up all night unable to sleep—even unable to breathe at times. In just a few short hours she would wear that fucking crystal dress so they could mark her and make her theirs—forever.

“Velora, please come back inside,” Asher begged as she heard Isaiah snatch a blanket from the couch.

“If either of you come even an inch closer, I’ll paint the snow with your fucking blood.” She wanted it to sound threatening, but her attempt at a growl quickly turned pathetic as a shiver made her entire being tremble.

“You’re clearly freezing and in pain. Just come inside.”

“Please,” Asher added. The urgency and worry in his voice made her cringe.

She took another step away from them into the falling snow, so cold on her feet that it burned.

“We’ll leave if you want to be alone, just come inside.”

Another step, and she couldn’t feel her toes anymore.

“Fuck, Vel,” Asher burst out as he lost his temper and stormed after her.

He hadn’t made it past the door frame before her hand was around his throat. Her muscles felt like they wanted to burst, but she held strong.

“If you want to live you will stay put.”

Velora slammed him against the door frame and shifted, her wolf taking control over her mind and body. She needed the escape. She let her wolf run her into the woods, the snow cracking beneath the paws that protected her extremities from the cold. She let her wolf take full control, not wanting to think for herself.

Unfortunately for her, her wolf loved the twins. She didn’t understand why Velora refused the bond. Although, she was an animal after all—she didn’t know any better than to return to the other parts of her soul once she’d explored the snow. As she approached the house, Velora returned to her own mind and listened to an argument between the twins and their mother.

“She should be here by now. The ceremony is in less than three hours!”

“She can walk in an hour late and it would be none of your business.” Velora could sense that Asher was biting his tongue.

“How dare you talk to your mother like that!”

Three pairs of eyes turned right to her as she stepped up to the door. Asher rushed to open it while Isaiah picked up a blanket to shield her. The moment she shifted she was wrapped up tightly and pulled past the threshold.

“Lunch is still in the oven but how about a hot chocolate?” Asher asked, though he was already in the kitchen and grabbing her favourite mug.

“Where have you been?”

With her eyes as cold as the ground outside, Velora glared at the former luna. “Asher’s right, you know?” she scoffed. “It’s none of your business. Actually, nothing that happens in this house is any of your concern. Now leave before I personally throw you down the stairs.”

During the days leading up to the ceremony, Silvia had appeared with no other purpose than to grind on Velora’s last nerve. Silvia’s jaw dropped and her eyes filled with tears that Velora could only assume were those of rage.

As the diplomatic man he was, Isaiah stepped in and laid his hand on his mother’s arm. “C’mon, let me take you home.”

“How dare you let her talk to me like that!”

“Let’s be honest, I don’t care to get thrown down the stairs myself so why don’t we just give Vel some space. It’s an emotional day for all of us.” He firmly guided Silvia out and she could hear him trying to calm her as they left.

She stepped up next to Asher, taking the steaming mug in her hands and inhaling the rich aroma of the chocolate as she warmed her fingers.

“Would you like me to fill you a bath?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. Her shoulders slumped and her eyes burned with tears—but she wasn’t sure why. She was angry, yes, but she was also terrified. Not to mention she felt incredibly violated. She didn’t want their mark. She hated the idea that she would no longer be able to sever their link.

Asher leaned against the counter next to her, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Need a punching bag? Because I volunteer as tribute.”

“How would that look? The alpha shows up bloody and bruised to his luna’s ceremony.”

“As long as you leave my pretty face, I’m all yours.”