THIRD PERSON"Olena… Olena…"The voice reached her through the haze in her head, soft and shaky, like it was coming from far away. Her eyelids felt heavy, each blink slowed by the pounding ache in her head. Shapes moved and blurred in front of her."Olena!"The sharp call made her eyes snap open. She turned toward the sound, breathing fast, and saw June crouched beside her, worry written all over her face. June’s hand held her jaw, gently lifting her chin."Are you okay?" June asked, her voice trembling as her thumb brushed against Olena’s cheek."Yes…" Olena whispered, her voice weak. She glanced to her left and froze for a moment when she saw Zinnia with her face etched with concern as she was kneeling beside her and watching her"Try to sit up," Zinnia said softly, slipping an arm behind Olena’s back. She gently helped her until she was upright. Olena’s body felt a little stiff, her thoughts were slow as she sat on the cold floor, looking around with blurry eyes, trying to remember
ABRAHAM’S POVMy fists clenched so hard my knuckles hurt, the veins standing out under my skin. Ten years. Ten long, cruel years since I’d seen that monster’s face. And now he was here, walking toward me like no time had passed. My throat was dry, but I forced myself to swallow.A loud thud cut through the air—a heavy, sickening sound. Sam’s head rolled into view, lifeless eyes staring right at me. My stomach twisted. I’d know that face anywhere.“I’ve missed you so much, brother,” he said, opening his arms like he really thought I’d hug him.Kane stepped forward to block him, but Alaric’s fist smashed into Kane’s jaw, snapping his head to the side. Kane just shook it off, a low growl rumbling from his chest. His claws slid free, and with a wild snarl, he tore them across Alaric’s back, ripping through fabric and skin.Alaric stumbled forward, but before he could turn to fight back...“Enough!”The voice sliced through the chaos as I turned toward the doorway. Grandpa Charles stood th
OLENA POV Zinnia tilted her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes. “What gemstone?” she asked. I drew in a slow breath, realizing I’d never told them about it. Words spilled out as I painted the whole story to them, how the king told me about it, how I was the vessel and everything that happened in the vampire palace. June crossed her arms tightly over her chest, her nose wrinkling as if the very thought left a bad taste in her mouth. “As much as I want him to suffer more…” She paused, letting the silence hang before she exhaled sharply. “Fine. I’ll go with you.” “Well, I don’t mind,” Zinnia chimed in, her tone so casual it almost felt like she’d been waiting to say it all along. But beneath the words, a knot tightened in my stomach. I didn’t want to do this too, especially not after learning the cruel thing he’d done to an innocent girl’s life. Yet here I was, trapped between what I felt and what needed to be done. “But how are we even getting there? You’re supposed to go with
OLENA"Is everything okay?" I asked, watching him drop a grape into the basket with a quiet plop.He nodded, brushing his hand against his trousers as he smiled faintly. "Yeah, I'm just picking fruits... storing them in the fridge section."I stepped closer, eyeing the half-filled basket. "Let me help you then."He shook his head quickly and lifted the basket in both hands. "No, don't worry. I'm done already," He turned and started walking, his steps slow on the grass. I followed behind until he suddenly stopped in his tracks, glancing over his shoulder."Wait..." he muttered, brow furrowing. "June told me something... about a weird creature stopping you guys on the way back to the castle?"My breath caught for a second. I shrugged, trying to sound casual. "Yeah... but it’s fine now.""Hope you weren’t injured," he asked, concern flickering in his eyes as he looked at me.I shook my head. "No, I’m fine."We kept walking, the air quiet between us, until my eyes caught something on his
OLENAI blinked, stunned. No words could capture the jolt that slammed into my chest when I heard what she said.Did I imagine it?The wolf’s silver eyes shimmered like moonlight on metal. Then, inch by inch, its body started fading.“No, wait—” I stepped forward, heart pounding, reaching out as if I could hold onto it, keep it here with me. But the moment slipped through my fingers. It was gone. Just like that.A storm of feelings crashed through me—loss, confusion and awe all tumbling over each other too fast to catch.Then it hit.Something invisible pierced through my chest like a rush of wind, seizing my lungs, pulling my head back. My eyes rolled shut on their own as if my body no longer belonged to me."You’re no longer alone," Medea said gently, tapping my shoulder. "Your wolf will guide you now. Congratulations, you're finally whole."My lips curled into a shaky smile. Before I knew what I was doing, I grabbed Mdea’s hand, my fingers curling tight.Still smiling, I wrapped my
OLENA The next morning, I stood still in front of a wide tree, its bark dark and cracked like old stone, hidden deep in the forest. My fingers brushed over the soft fabric of the white gown clinging to my frame. Medea had sewn it herself, or so she said. She stood beside me, arms crossed, eyes locked on the same tree.“Do it again,” she said.I sighed, my shoulders sinking as I looked at her, then back at the tree. Heat rose to my cheeks. I dropped my hands to my sides, curled my fingers into fists, and drew in a slow breath through my nose.I closed my eyes. The wind rustled the leaves above us. A bird cried out in the distance. My chest rose and fell as I tried to feel something or anything stir inside me.Medea said I had power. That it was buried deep and waiting. I had no idea how to reach it, how to call it forward, but she promised to teach me. So we stood here, in the middle of the woods, trying again.Still nothing. I opened my eyes and stared at the tree, empty-handed, empt