MasukAMIRARune’s stare pinned me in place as I struggled to come up with an answer. The suspicion in his eyes wasn’t just anger but betrayal, and I couldn’t bear to look at him any longer, so I directed my gaze to the ground instead.“You are overthinking, Rune.” I laughed, but it came out strained. “That’s not what happened… I didn’t… How could I…”The words came out strangled as I felt the lie try to form on my tongue but fail. I had always thought Rune was never the smart one in our circle. He always got things late, and you had to tell him a gossip or joke over fifty times before he got it, but clearly that had changed in the six years that I disappeared.But that realisation didn’t change anything. I couldn’t tell Rune about my powers when Soren didn’t know anything yet. It felt wrong for someone to find out before my mate.I wasn’t just scared of everyone finding out before Soren; I was scared of their judgment. They hadn’t received Soren well and were still scared of him. What woul
AMIRAI stood at the window of the twins’ bedroom, arms wrapped tight around myself, staring at the empty road that led away from the compound. I had been here since I came back from Ruelle, and after picking up the kids from Leonora.They wanted to stay with her longer, but she looked drained. I wanted her to rest before taking them back.Elias tugged at my sleeve, and I turned to kneel in front of him. “What is it, baby? Are you hungry?”He shook his head. “When is Daddy coming back, Mummy?” he asked in a small voice. This was the fourth time they were asking for him in less than an hour.I forced a smile. I couldn’t show them how scared I was because that would, in turn, make them scared. “Soon, baby. Daddy is making sure that the bad guys won’t come here."Ezra pressed his face into my chest. “But he said he would be back soon. "It's been hours, Mummy."I pulled them both into my arms. “He will be back. Your daddy has to make sure we remain safe forever. That’s what Alphas do."El
SORENI didn’t expect Curtis Pack to be so difficult to get to. The run, which had felt powerful, had started to look like something other than freedom.As my paws pounded the earth with the wind tearing past my ears and every instinct screaming at me to hunt, kill and protect the ones I loved more than my life, something like invisible chains kept dragging me back.Unease clawed under my fur like insects, and every mile we covered tightened the knot of unease in my stomach.Maybe it was because the further I got away from the pack, the more my bond with Amira stretched thinner until I could barely feel her, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to feel her anymore by the time we crossed into Curtis’s territory.I couldn’t help but picture the expression on her face when I left. She didn’t like it that I was leaving, and despite wanting to stop me, she didn’t. I knew it hurt her to see me go, but I couldn’t continue to let them leave in fear that Curtis would target one of us next.I shoved t
AMIRAI waited until Soren had gone before I turned to Leonora. “Leonora, please, can you watch over the twins for me?”Leonora immediately sensed the panic in my eyes. She gripped my hands and leaned forward to whisper. “What is it, Ami? Is something going to happen to him?” She asked, her eyes glancing towards the borders where Soren had just disappeared from, and I could see the contemplation to run after him in her eyes.“Nothing. I’m just worried and want to seek out Ruelle.” She exhaled in relief but nodded in understanding. “Please let me know if she sees anything.”I nodded. “I promise.” I turned to the twins. “Ezra. Elias. I need you to stay with Grandma and keep her company, okay? Don’t make her worried, okay?”“Will Daddy be okay?” Ezra asked with a small voice, and I hugged their tiny frames to my chest.“Of course, he will. Your daddy is strong. He will be back like he promised,” I told them, hoping my voice didn’t carry the fear and anxiety that was eating me up on the i
AUTHORCurtis sat laid back on his throne, legs crossed, one elbow propped on the armrest, and his fingers drummed lazily while humming a sad song. A traditional folktale about a foolish man who entered the enemy’s territory without a plan because he was confident he had the power to kill the enemies.A dark one in human form with hollow cheeks and glassy eyes blanked with forced obedience that Curtis had burnt into his soul slipped through the large doors and dropped to his knees before Curtis.Curtis continued humming, paying no mind to the weakling. The man hesitated, but he knew he had to relay the information.“My king,” he rasped, voice raw from the lack of proper use of his voice. “The blood alpha has declared war upon us, and he marches with his full army towards us. They will reach our borders by tomorrow.”Curtis's drumming stilled, along with the song he had been humming. A slow, delighted smile curled across his lips, revealing yellow teeth that unnerved all the soldiers p
SOREN“Soren, for goddess’s sake. Calm the fuck down. You are going to get us all killed if you do this,” Koa thundered behind me, his voice raw with fear as he tried to keep up with my pace.I didn’t slow down to wait for him to catch up to me because I didn’t want that to happen. My boots crunched on the floor beneath, each step an echo of the rage I felt.I kept walking, vision red with determination. My pack warriors were already waiting in the courtyard for my order. Hundreds of them eager to take revenge for the alpha that was unjustly taken from them.Koa caught up despite me wanting him not to, falling into step with me. “You aren’t thinking straight.” He pressed, panting as we walked in sync, “Curtis has been baiting us for years, and you’ve always ignored him. Let’s do the same now. We are not ready to go to war with this man. We need a real plan. This is a suicide mission,” he ranted.I spared him a glance before I focused ahead. “I’ve thought enough,” I said with a low voi







