Broken by One, Desired by All

Zane's Point Of View They didn’t speak. They didn’t need to. Two guards dragged me up by my arms, their claws barely sheathed. One of them kicked my knees out from under me, and I crumpled like cloth. Another punch landed on my ribs. I heard the crack."Confess," one of them snarled. "You’ll save yourself a lot of pain.""I didn’t do anything wrong," I spat, blood painting my teeth.They didn’t like that. The next few minutes blurred into a haze of fists, boots, and pain so sharp I thought I might black out. My body shook violently as they dunked my head into a bucket of ice water and held me down until my lungs screamed.When they pulled me up again, gasping and broken, another voice echoed through the cell."Still refusing?" Marius’s voice was calm. Too calm. Ash’s father stepped into view, his tall frame casting a shadow over me. His eyes, cold and empty, regarded me like I was something stuck to the bottom of his boot."You could make this easy. Just say what we all know you are.

Zane's Point Of View “Where the hell am I…?”The words left my mouth before my eyes even opened. My voice sounded strange… oo smooth, too calm, like it didn’t belong to someone who had been beaten within an inch of death.I bolted upright with a gasp, cold sweat slicking my body as my chest rose and fell in heavy, panicked breaths.But something was wrong.There was no pain.No bruises. No blood. No broken ribs. My body… violated, stomped on, nearly left for dead, felt untouched. Healed. Whole. I wiggled my fingers, flexed my toes. Everything moved. Everything worked.This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be.I blinked and looked around, heart hammering like a prisoner banging on steel bars.The room was... breathtaking.Polished marble floors stretched out beneath a ceiling painted like the night sky, stars glittering as if they were alive. Silk curtains swayed with a breeze I couldn’t feel. Warm firelight danced from a golden hearth, flickering over the emerald-green wallpaper and casting

Ronan's Point Of View“Ronan! Didn’t think I’d see you here,” Mark called out, striding toward me through the grand marble hall of the Arcanum Institute like he owned it. His white robes were spotless. Too spotless. The glint in his eye told me he’d come not to catch up… but to stir the pot.I didn’t move at first. My hands were clenched behind my back, fingers digging into the fabric of my sleeves. The hall was buzzing… students moving between classes, magical sigils dancing on the domed ceiling overhead, teachers whispering incantations as they walked. And yet, Mark’s voice sliced through it all like a blade.He stopped in front of me, eyes gleaming. “Did you hear?” he said with a smirk. “They were only supposed to take one from our region. But thanks to Zane, someone else didn’t make it. Poor bastard blocked the slot.”I narrowed my eyes. “Is that so?”“Oh, yeah,” he chuckled. “Zane’s a failed awakening. Mixed-blood. Probably shouldn’t even be here.” He leaned in conspiratorially.

Zane's Point Of View The night air bit at any part of me not covered by the cloak, sharp and cold like warning teeth. The further I climbed, the quieter the world became, like even the wind was holding its breath.The library loomed like a cathedral of old secrets.Stone arches. Endless rows of ancient books. Dust motes caught in the faint blue glow of magical orbs floating lazily above the stacks. I could hear the faint tick of some unseen clock echoing in the space between shelves, steady and slow, like the heartbeat of something ancient.And then, I saw him. Top floor. Eastern wing. Just like Miles said.Ronan.Not the untouchable, arrogant Alpha everyone knew, the one who carried himself like he owned every inch of the ground he walked on. No. This was something different.He was in the far corner by one of the massive stained-glass windows, his back pressed against the wall, one knee drawn up to his chest. His head hung low, strands of dark hair messy, shadowing his face. His br

Zane's Point Of View “Zane?”Miles leaned forward sharply, concern flashing across his face. “What’s wrong? Are you in pain again?”I stared at him, eyes wide, chest rising and falling with sharp, panicked breaths. “No… I mean… yes… no… it’s not that… I…”I gripped the sheets, my fingers trembling violently, and forced the words out before I lost my nerve.“I heard something,” I gasped. “A voice.”Miles blinked. “A voice?”“My wolf.” The words spilled out, shaky but real. “I-I think… I actually summoned it.”For a moment, he just stared, processing.And then without hesitation, he smiled. Not that usual sharp, knowing smirk he wore like armor, but something softer. Warmer. Real.“That’s…” His voice broke, and he shook his head slightly, like he couldn’t believe it either. “That’s incredible.”And before I could think, before I could stop him, he reached out and hugged me.I froze, stunned, caught between the unfamiliar weight of his arms around me and the realization that no one… no