OrionI sit at the long wooden table in Arkyn’s study, my phone balanced on speaker in front of me. The room is quiet except for the low hum of Legion’s breathing and the occasional shuffle of Arkyn’s chair beside me. The tension in the air is thick as we wait for Nero and Aeron to join the call. My leg won’t stop bouncing under the table, and I grit my teeth, trying to calm down, but I’m still too rattled from everything with Zane. I shove the thoughts aside for now. This call is too important to get distracted.The phone crackles, and I hear the familiar voice of my older brother, Nero, come through. “Orion, Arkyn, you there?”“Yeah, we’re here,” I say, my voice a little rougher than I’d like. Arkyn nods silently next to me, his sharp gaze flicking between the phone and the door, always alert, always ready.“Good. Aeron’s with me,” Nero continues, and I can hear a faint rustle as Aeron presumably shifts closer to the phone on their end. “Let’s get started.”“Aeron,” I say, leaning
OrionThat night, my phone buzzes, pulling me out of the quiet that settled in after my call with Nero and Aeron. I don’t recognize the number, but something in my gut tells me to answer.“Yeah?” I growl, my voice low, not in the mood for whatever this is.“Orion.”The voice on the other end is shaky, barely recognizable. But I know it’s him. Zane.I freeze, my grip on the phone tightening. “What the fuck do you want?”There’s a pause, and I can hear Zane breathing heavily on the other end. “I need to see you,” he says, his voice almost cracking. “I need to tell you something.”I laugh bitterly, already prepared to hang up. “Yeah, I don’t think so.”“Please.” His voice breaks this time, raw and desperate. “I can’t go on like this. You need to know the truth, Orion.”My finger hovers over the end call button, but something stops me. There’s something different in his voice. It’s not cocky or smug like it usually is. He sounds… broken.“What truth?” I snap, hating how much he still gets
ZaneOrion’s arms pull me into an embrace, and I lose it all over again. I can’t stop the shaking, the sobs that wrack my body as I bury my face against his chest. I don’t deserve this. I don’t deserve him, not after everything I’ve done. But right now, feeling his arms around me, I can’t hold back the flood of emotions anymore.“I’m so sorry,” I whisper through the tears. “I’m so fucking sorry. I never wanted this... I never wanted to hurt you.”Orion stays quiet, his hand gripping the back of my neck, grounding me in a way I haven’t felt in years. I cling to him, afraid that if I let go, he’ll disappear, and I’ll wake up to find this was all some cruel dream.“I still love you,” I choke out. “I always have. I know it doesn’t change anything—Gods, I know that—but it’s true. Even after everything I did.”Orion pulls back, just enough to look at me. His hands are on my face now, cupping my jaw, and I can’t believe this is happening. He shouldn’t be looking at me like that. Not after e
OrionI stand outside the pack house, my phone in hand, staring at the screen. I’ve been pacing for ten minutes, trying to figure out how to even start this conversation. Telling Nero that Zane’s alive was one thing. That was a shock, but it was something we could deal with. But now? Now I’ve got to tell him the rest—the truth about what Zane did and why. Nero needs to know. But fuck if I know how he’s going to take it.With a deep breath, I finally hit the call button. The phone rings twice before I hear his familiar voice on the other end, clipped and direct as always.“Orion. You back at the pack house?”“Yeah,” I say, my voice rough. “I’m outside. Needed some air.”There’s a pause, and I can almost hear Nero’s brain working on the other end. He’s always been the one who sees through the bullshit, always knows when something’s off.“What’s going on?” he asks, and I can tell by his tone he’s already expecting something big. “This about Zane?”I let out a breath I didn’t realize I wa
OrionThe war room is colder than usual this morning, the tension in the air thick and almost suffocating. I stand by the door, watching as Legion glares across the table at Zane, fists clenched so tight his knuckles are white. It’s only a matter of time before he snaps.Zane, on the other hand, looks like shit. He’s pale, dark circles under his eyes, but he holds himself together, standing near the far wall, arms crossed, gaze locked on the floor. He’s bracing himself, and I can feel the weight of everything we’re about to deal with pressing down on all of us.Arkyn enters the room, his presence commanding as always, and the tension spikes. Legion shifts in his seat, and the second Zane lifts his eyes, it’s over. Legion explodes out of his chair, charging across the room, fist already cocked back.“You son of a—”“Legion!” Arkyn’s voice cuts through the room, sharp and full of authority.Legion’s fist stops inches from Zane’s face. Zane doesn’t flinch, doesn’t even try to defend hims
ZaneI’m standing in the middle of it, watching it happen like it’s some twisted movie playing out in front of me. I can’t move, can’t intervene. I’m just here, a bystander to my own life, stuck in a nightmare I can’t escape.I see myself behind the bar, wiping down glasses, trying to pretend like the life I was living wasn’t a complete mess. It’s always strange, watching it from this angle, like I’m not even a part of it. Just a ghost.That was when I first saw him—Orion.He walked in like he owned the place, his muscled frame filling the doorway. He had this powerful presence, a kind of raw energy that made everyone in the room look at him twice. But when his eyes landed on me, something clicked. It was like the whole world shifted, and I felt it—the mate bond, snapping into place like a lock clicking shut.There’s this heat, this pull that draws me toward him, and I know—know—that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for my whole life. This is my mate. The one person who’s meant f
ZaneI wake up with a jolt, my chest heaving as the remnants of that damn nightmare cling to me. The room is dim, unfamiliar, but the scent of pack is everywhere—Arkyn’s packhouse, no doubt. My body feels like I’ve been hit by a truck, and my head pounds with the aftermath of whatever the hell happened to me last night.My mind is still scrambled, the memory of Orion’s face twisted in pain flashing through my mind like a broken record. That dream… it was too real. Too close to everything I’ve tried to bury.The door creaks open, and I tense immediately, my instincts kicking in before I even realize it’s him.Orion steps into the room, his expression shifting from guarded to surprised when he sees I’m awake. “Zane,” he says, his voice softer than I expect. “Didn’t think you’d be up this soon.”I sit up slowly, my muscles protesting every movement, but I don’t take my eyes off him. There’s something in the way he looks at me; like he’s relieved but also unsure, like he’s still trying to
OrionI’m pacing in Arkyn’s war room, trying to shake off the conversation I just had with Zane. The witches have tied him up in more ways than one, and we can’t afford to lose any more ground.Arkyn stands near the window, his broad shoulders tense as he watches me. His silence speaks volumes, but I know he’s waiting for me to give him the full rundown on what the witch said.I stop pacing, turning to face him. “Zane’s got a failsafe on him—a magical lock, I guess you’d call it. He can’t talk about the witches’ final plans unless he’s speaking directly to them.”Arkyn’s eyes narrow, but he doesn’t look surprised. “Figures those witches would have a backup plan. They’re not stupid. They wouldn’t let Zane go free without some sort of leash.”“Yeah, but this means we’re stuck,” I say, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “He’s already given us a lot of intel, but we need more. The witches will know if he tries to give us the rest.”Arkyn’s gaze sharpens, and he turns toward th
OrionNero’s office has the kind of quiet tension you can feel in your bones, the kind that comes after months of chasing shadows and uprooting every twisted part of that ring. Osiris and I are settled across from him, listening intently as he wraps up the conference call with Arkyn and Creed. My brother’s voice is steady as he discusses the last few details. It’s taken months to dismantle, but here we are, finally piecing everything back together.“Look,” Creed’s voice crackles over the line, blunt as ever, “everyone’s been dealt with. But Legacy’s name hasn’t come up in any interrogation or confession, not even once. He’s protected. Everyone’s too fucking scared to name him.”Nero sighs, fingers rubbing at his temples. “He’s the one wild card. Every single person higher up has been captured, but Legacy? Silence. And we all know silence from someone that powerful isn’t accidental.”“Leave Legacy to me,” Arkyn’s voice cuts in, dark and simmering with barely contained fury. “He’s still
OrionThe cool earth beneath us grounds me as I lay there, my arm draped over Zane, feeling the steady rise and fall of his chest. His scent—apples and something inherently him—fills the air around us, mingling with the sharp, raw scent of our freshly marked bond. The ache of his mark on my nape throbs in time with my heartbeat, a constant reminder that he’s real, that he’s here.I trail my fingers down his arm, feeling the warmth of his skin, the familiar shape of him that I thought I’d lost forever. Everything about this feels surreal, like I’ve stepped into a dream I can’t bear to wake from.“We should probably… head back,” I murmur, though the thought of leaving this spot, leaving him even for a second, feels impossible. But there’s a part of me that knows we can’t hide here forever, that we owe it to my family, to everyone who believed Zane was gone, to know the truth. “They’ll want to know what happened.”Zane chuckles, a low, familiar sound that makes something tighten in my c
OrionI hold him, my arms wrapped so tightly around him I’m half-worried I’ll break him. But I can’t let go. My mind’s struggling to process this, and I keep expecting to blink and find the empty forest around me, cold and alone again. But he’s here, solid and warm in my arms, and his scent fills the air—apples, fresh and grounding, just like it always was. Just like home.“Ri,” he murmurs, his hand moving to rest against my chest, fingers splayed over my heart like he’s memorizing the feel of me. “You look like you’re seeing a ghost.”“Maybe I am,” I admit, my voice low, rough. “I don’t know if I’m going to wake up any second and realize this is all just… wishful thinking.”I pull back slightly, my eyes searching his face, taking in every detail, every line and scar I’d memorized so long ago. My fingers tremble as they brush over his jaw, his cheek, his lips, as if I’m trying to convince myself this isn’t some twisted trick. “You’re… you’re really here,” I murmur, my voice catching
ZaneMy eyes flutter open, and I find myself surrounded by mirrors, an endless maze of reflections that stretch in every direction. I blink, disoriented, confusion settling in as I try to make sense of where I am. The last thing I remember is Orion’s hand tightening around my neck, the darkness closing in as everything faded away. So why am I here? Why am I … still here?A soft voice, melodic and soothing, echoes behind me. “Welcome, Zane.”I turn slowly, my eyes widening as I see her. She’s walking toward me, an ethereal glow surrounding her, golden light radiating from every step. Her long, flowing blonde hair cascades over her shoulders, and a beautiful gown drapes around her in waves, moving as if it’s part of the light itself. Her eyes are a shade of gold that feels ancient, otherworldly, yet warm. A black teardrop pendant hangs from her neck, glinting softly in the glow that envelops her.My heart skips a beat as realization dawns, and my knees buckle, pulling me to the floor.
OrionThe path to Natasha’s hideout is a blur, every step a pulse of barely controlled rage. The air hums with the charge of dark magic, a twisted energy that beckons me, taunting me. My hands tremble with the beast’s fury, simmering just beneath my skin, but I haven’t let it loose yet. Not fully. There’s a strange clarity to my anger—a focus that makes every sense sharper, every movement precise.The moment I reach the edge of the hideout, I don’t stop to think. I kick down the door, wood splintering under the force of my boot, and I step inside, feeling every ounce of anger, every piece of heartbreak, flood through me like a dam breaking. The witches turn, eyes wide with shock, but I don’t give them a chance to scream.The first one goes down without a sound, my hand gripping her neck as I lift her off the ground. She thrashes, her mouth opening in a silent plea, but I don’t hesitate. I twist, the snap echoing through the room, and drop her to the floor like the insignificant piece
OrionI’m trapped, locked inside my own body as I watch my fists swing, my legs move, every calculated hit landing with ruthless precision. But it’s not me—not really. I can’t stop it. Can’t control it. All I can do is watch from somewhere deep inside, helpless as I fight against the people I swore to protect.Nero’s face twists in pain as my fist connects with his ribs. Osiris tries to grab me from the side, but I counter, landing a brutal blow to his shoulder, hearing the sickening crunch. They’re all holding back—I can feel it in their strikes, in the way they hesitate just before their fists meet flesh. They’re trying to save me, trying to fight me without hurting me. But I don’t feel that same mercy. Whoever is controlling my body… they’re enjoying this.Two Alphas should have me on my knees by now, but Natasha planned this perfectly. She knew they wouldn’t give it everything; she counted on it. And the part of me that’s still here, watching, feels every bit of the twisted ple
ZaneThe past three days have been a hell I can barely stomach. I’ve been confined to Nero’s territory, shackled by suspicion, and only allowed out of the locked room to help strategize. And I am trying—I’m trying everything I can think of. But it’s never enough. No matter what I say or how much I beg them to let me help, they’re always watching me, waiting for some slip that proves them right.Today, it’s worse. Nero had used his Alpha Sight on me, sifting through memories and thoughts, and I didn’t fight him. I let him dig, let him see everything, hoping he’d find something that could give us an edge. But there was nothing—nothing useful, anyway. Just more dead ends.Nova’s been working nonstop, her face growing more exhausted with each passing hour, trying spell after spell, looking for anything that could point us to Orion’s location. The tension is mounting, everyone on edge, barely able to look at each other without a fight breaking out.I’m pacing the war room, barely hearing
ZaneThe sound of heavy footsteps echoes in the hallway outside my locked room, and I know it’s Nero before he even steps inside. There’s a weight to his presence, a dark edge that fills the space long before he even opens the door. When the lock clicks and the door swings open, he’s standing there, arms crossed, his expression a storm of anger and something I can’t quite read.He doesn’t say anything at first, just stares at me, and I feel the hostility radiating off him like heat. He’s still angry—hell, probably furious—and I know exactly why. This isn’t just about what’s happening now. It’s about everything I did to Orion, every lie, every betrayal.“Start talking,” he finally says, his voice low and controlled, but I can tell it’s taking every ounce of his restraint not to rip into me right here and now.I take a breath, trying to steady myself, and meet his gaze. There’s no use in holding anything back now. It’s time for him to know the truth—the whole, brutal truth.“She’s goin
ZaneThe jet touches down with a low rumble, and I can already feel the tension in the air as we approach Nero’s territory. This is Leonetti land, and stepping onto it feels like walking into the lion’s den. I know the reception I’m about to get isn’t going to be friendly.As soon as the door opens and I step out, the familiar scent of pine and earth fills my senses. But that sense of home is quickly overshadowed by the heavy tension that hangs in the air like a storm waiting to break. Nero is already waiting for us at the landing site, and the second he lays eyes on me, his expression darkens.Before I can react, he’s moving toward me, his eyes blazing with fury. Every muscle in his body is tensed, ready to tear me apart, and for a second, I wonder if I’ll even survive the next few minutes.“Zane!” he snarls, his voice echoing across the open space. “You’ve got some fucking nerve showing your face here.”I don’t move. I can’t. I’ve expected this, and part of me knows I deserve it. Bu