Jade's POVI think I'm dead—yet pain coursed through my entire body. It wasn’t as intense as before, but it was still there, the dull ache a cruel reminder.“You can leave now.”I heard someone say. I was supposed to be dead, yet I still heard voices. Or were they just in my head? The response wasn’t clear, muffled like a whisper through water—faint, but real.The lights in the room were low, but even that soft glow irritated me at first. My vision was hazy, like I was looking through mist. Everything around me appeared ghostlike, as though I had slipped into a spirit realm.So that meant I had died, right?I thought so. I hoped so. I wanted it.But then, slowly, my vision began to clear—just enough to make out a familiar figure seated near me.I blinked once. Then twice. That’s when I realized the figure was Blaire.She couldn’t have followed me into the afterlife. No—unless, I hadn’t died after all. I was back.Back to this hellish life.“It’s about time you woke up. How was your na
Alpha Ragnar POV“Who are you working for?” Kairus questioned.The man, bound in cuffs on the ground, didn’t answer. He just kept his gaze on Kairus.“What is your plan here? Why did you gather?” Kairus asked again, and still, the man didn’t respond. From where I sat, I gripped my knee, annoyed.We studied them, predicted their movements, managed to ambush them, and captured this man—their leader. But even in his predicament, his pride hadn’t left him, which spoke volumes of both his character and his stupidity.“Don’t dare us,” Kairus said, but the man didn’t flinch. Observing the underlying frustration on Kairus’s face only made the corner of his lips curl up in a small smirk.Kairus was pissed. Without a word, his fist swung, landing a solid punch on the man's face, sending him falling to his side with a tooth dancing out. Kairus grabbed the man again, about to give him another merciless punch—“Enough,” I said, standing from where I sat. Kairus eased his breathing and stepped out
“I proposed non-violence, Lady Blaire. Wouldn’t you kindly hear us out?” the man asked. Blaire paused, her eyes shifting between me and him before she concluded.“Alright, say what you want. I advise you to choose your words with care,” Blaire warned.“My name is Borel, the leader of our group,” Borel began. “I would gladly give you this girl here if you accept our bargain.”“Which is?” Blaire asked, looking uninterested.“We would give the omega here to you—for a price,” Borel said, and Blaire looked totally dumbfounded. For some reason, I thought she’d burst out in laughter, but her expression became stern instead—the complete opposite.“You intend to sell what’s mine back to me? Are you crazy?” Blaire asked, and I started feeling that welling-up fear in me again.“The offer is not a joke, neither is it to anger you,” Borel clarified.“Oh really?” Blaire scoffed.“Yes. I decided it was best if we returned her to you and collected the reward from you instead,” Borel said.“What rewar
All I wanted was to be free. I didn’t think crossing the border would have been such a big deal. Denila’s description either had to be deceiving or severely understated.I find myself running from a pack of rogue wolves. I would have never thought rogues would be lingering at the borderline—thoughtless of an organized group of them.I ran faster than my two legs have ever carried me in my entire life, but compared to the four paws of each rogue parting the sand like water as they hit the ground, the distance was closing fast. Faster than I expected. One shot out from behind a tree and lunged to grab a piece of my clothing.“Kkhh,” I hissed, the bandage wrapping my hand gone, and the sudden motion of my arm was painful—but I didn’t stop running.I took a turn, and somehow, the environment looked exactly like Denila’s description. When I saw the rock incline, my heart—already beating rapidly from the run, sped up even more. But the relief was short-lived.When I reached the edge, I dug
Back at the pack’s mansion, Blaire passed through a secret route that led to a hidden room in the house.She moved with intent, knowing exactly where she was going. She arrived at a small clearing in the center. She waited, glancing around at the surroundings. As the moments passed, she grew impatient and said, “I know you’re here. We came for a meeting, not a game of hide and seek,” Blaire said dryly.The wind stirred, and the fallen leaves began to swirl in circles around a particular spot. The motion intensified, spiraling higher, until the whirlwind of leaves vanished. Rivana appeared from the cleared space, her cloak trailing smoke as if stitched from shadows.“Lady Blaire,” Rivana said in greeting, her voice steady.“Took you long enough,” Blaire muttered.“My apologies. My schedule has been anything but free lately,” Rivana replied, her fingers loosely gripping the edge of the item in her hand.Blaire scoffed. “Sorry for interrupting you from making potions or what ever dark ri
“Please keep your voice down,” I begged, but Denila just shook her head in disbelief, as if she were watching me get sentenced to something horrible.“Are you trying to escape?” Denila asked, this time with a stern expression.I didn’t even realize when a tear began to stream down my cheek, but I nodded silently. Denila looked at me—she didn’t say a word for a few seconds. Then, she just started walking away.“Denila, please,” I pleaded, fear gripping my chest. I thought she might go tell Blaire. After all, it looked like she had just come from her quarters.After taking a few steps, Denila turned, and I could read her expression clearly.“Follow me,” she instructed.I stood there dumbfounded. I didn’t know what to expect—whether it was the right choice or not—but there was no time to ask questions. I hurried after her, praying I hadn’t just made a terrible mistake.Denila led me through a route I had never taken before. The walls were colder here, the lights dimmer. I had no idea whe