LOGINANNELISE POVIt had been over twenty four hours. I couldn’t eat nor sleep.I stood outside most of the night like a fool, wrapped in a robe that did nothing against the cold, staring at the gate like he would just appear if I waited long enough. My phone never left my hand. I called him like I had never called anyone before. I couldn’t stop calling Isolde for updates every thirty minutes… Same answer every time, Dashiell wasn’t picking up.It made my panic worse.By morning, my chest felt tight and hollow at the same time. I went inside for a few minutes, then came back out again. I couldn’t sit still. I couldn’t think straight.Something was wrong, I could feel it.The sound of a car pulling into the driveway snapped my head up so fast it made me dizzy.I rushed down the steps before it even came to a complete stop. My heart pounding so loud I could barely hear anything else.It was Dashiell’s car. The door opened and Cassius stepped out.Relief hit me first, so strong it almost knoc
CASSIUS VALE POVI left before the sun came up. Anne was still asleep, her body curled into mine like a fetus in a womb where it belonged, her warm breath soft against my chest. My hand hovered over her hair and my fingers brushed through her soft strands as I heaved a deep sigh.This wasn’t planned, It was too soon.My wolf had been restless all night, clawing at my insides like it was trying to get out before time, I had no control over it this time, no matter how hard I tried to keep myself in check. I knew that feeling too well. I had tried to ignore it, tried to hold on for a few more days to spend time with Anne, but the way my bones ached and my blood burned was warning enough.If I stayed, I would hurt her, and I couldn’t risk that, especially when she was carrying my child.I got out of bed carefully, making sure not to wake her up, she shifted sleepily and reached for me, my jaw tightened, but I quietly stepped away.I would usually drop a note for her, but this time, I had
ANNELISE POVMy hand subconsciously rested on my still flat stomach, my fingers drawing slow circles over the soft fabric of my dress as I watched him. Cassius stood up from his chair, I could feel the burden that conversation had on him, I was familiar with that feeling. He moved to the window.He didn’t spare me even a little glance, it felt more like he wanted me to leave so that he could freely express the heaviness he must be enduring in his chest.He stood by the thick layered glass ceiling to floor window, staring out blankly at the serene landscape of the neighborhood.I couldn’t get the image out of my head. A little boy sitting outside in the dark in a place I assume is undeveloped and forest-like, waiting for parents that gave him hope of their return, but never actually planned to come back. Hungry, scared, surrounded by strangers who didn’t care if he cried or was cold. A child who stayed awake because sleep felt like menace.My chest ached with pity, it was inhumane… How
CASSIUS VALE POV28 years ago…“Where are we going? My legs hurt, can we sit here and rest?” My little voice cried as mom held my hand.“You’re a big boy now, stop acting weak. We will soon get to our destination.” Mom said as she pulled me along with her. I turned back to see Dad walking behind us with a few bags.“Dad, are we leaving Ravenwood?” I asked as my Dad ruffled my hair playfully.“Smart boy, yes, kind of, just for a few days.” He replied as I nodded and kept walking in mom’s fast pace.Soon we got to a place with werewolf guards standing around and a house that looked quite old.We approached the men, it seemed like they knew my Dad, they exchanged greetings and Dad took one of them to the side while mom stood with me, playing with my hair.“Mom I’m hungry, when are we going to rest and eat?” I asked but mom rather gave me a soft tap on my shoulder.Dad signaled mom to come and she pulled me along with her, as we approached the guards had their eyes on me, they looked big
CASSIUS VALE POVMy office was silent except for the soft ticking of the grandfather clock by the wall and the faint scratching of my pen against paper.Reports stacked neatly on my desk, each one demanding attention.Vespera’s absence had created a gap I could not ignore.The pack needed a leader they could rely on, and until she decided to reappear, that responsibility fell fully on me.I leaned back slightly, exhaling as I closed the file in front of me and reached for my phone.Jin answered on the second ring.“Alpha.” His voice was calm, professional as always.“Give me an update.”There was a brief pause, the sound of papers shifting on his end before he spoke again.“The pack is stable. I have reinforced patrol rotations and instructed the guards to double night watch. No one has questioned Beta Vespera’s absence yet. I made sure her usual duties were quietly reassigned so it does not raise suspicion.”Panic spreads faster than fire in a pack like Ravenwood.“They are not to kn
VESPERA POVThe blade slid through the leather cleanly, a quiet, satisfying slice that split the training dummy from shoulder to waist. I exhaled slowly, lowering my arm. I raised the blade again and struck, harder this time, the impact echoing faintly through the empty hall.I didn’t miss, but the anger still sat in my chest like a burning coal that refused to die.Alpha Cassius Vale…I clenched my jaw, tightening my grip on the blade handle until my knuckles turned pale.Many years, I stood beside him. I knew his moods, his silences, his violence. I knew the exact tone his voice dropped to when he was about to destroy something. I knew the way his eyes darkened when someone tested his patience.I knew him.And yet, somehow, a fragile little human walked into his life and took everything.I let out a bitter scoff and drove the blade straight into the dummy’s chest.A fucking human…He used to speak about them with such cold indifference, like they were beneath notice, like they were
ANNELISE POVA month had passed so quickly now it was December, and Paris looked like Santa had thrown up on every single street in the most expensive way possible.Everywhere was red, green, gold, glitter, lights, fake snow, giant Christmas trees, wreaths, bows, and enough holiday music to make a
ANNELISE POVI stood still in the middle of the art room, my fingers still resting on the edge of the easel as I stared at everything around me. The room was too intentional, too thoughtful, too me. The soft cream walls, the natural light pouring in from the tall windows, the organized shelves wait
The way he had heard her sob in his car and didn’t make a move to console her, the way he had zoomed off after she left the car and not ran after her, knelt on the floor begging. Annelise was hurt, but mostly perplexed by his actions.This wasn’t the meet cute she had imagined in-between her rage t
Annelise was done dressing up for school and stood in front of the mirror checking out her reflection, it was a shadowed one as usual, she tried playing a fake smile she intended to wear for the rest of the day to avoid Beau Beauchamp's worrisome questions. She had thought to stay back and spend th







