Elijah’s POV The moment I see her crumpled figure on the ground, everything inside me break. A sudden fear grips me, a fear that I've never known it existed in me. I run to her side. “Emily!” I drop to my knees, ignoring the sting of rocks biting into my flesh. Her body is limp, her bags scattered like forgotten leaves in the wind. Her head lolled to the side, eyes closed, her breathing shallow but present. Her body is trembling. “Stay with me, baby,” I whisper , pulling her into my arms. Her skin is cold, her scent faint and trembling. Whatever got to her, it isn't a normal predator. It isn’t a bear as we initially thought . It isn't a rogue wolf either. It is something else. Something with no scent, something fast, fast enough to commit these atrocities without being detected. Something with an agenda, but what? All the shifters I've heard about, all have scents, but this one hasn't. And it had the audacity to touch her. I hold her tighter, listening to the fra
Emily’s POV "I’ll take you back, hun, alright?" Elijah says softly, his hand tightening gently around mine. We’ve been dating ever since that night Raven and I went out to the club. That wild, impulsive night sparked something between him and me. Speaking of Raven … she’s been avoiding me lately, and I can’t help but notice. It’s like she’s deliberately keeping her distance. Something’s wrong, but she won’t say. "I'll be fine," I tell Elijah with a faint smile, trying to shake the weird thoughts off. "I’m a wolf, fierce, fiery, and stubborn. I’ll manage just fine." I say. "I can’t risk it, hun," he says, eyes narrowing in concern. "You just accepted to be my girlfriend. How could I possibly let you walk back alone, especially after all these bear sightings? Or whatever it is that’s out there… something’s not right." He mutters. He pulls me into his arms, wrapping them around me protectively. His scent is warm, earthy, comforting. But it’s almost too much sometimes. Like a
Caleb’s POV ~Morning~ The first thing I notice is the quiet. Not the kind that comes from peace, but the kind that settles in just before the storm. Then comes warmth. Soft, delicate, alive. She's still here. Raven. My eyes open slowly, and I turn my head to find her curled against me, her cheek resting just inches away from my chest, her breathing deep and even. She’s still asleep, completely unaware of the turmoil storming inside me. I should move. I should get up, put distance between us before I lose whatever grip I still have on my self-control. But I don’t. Instead, I watch her. Her face is relaxed, more innocent than I’ve ever seen it. There’s no trace of the weight she carries when she’s awake, no sign of the fear, the trauma, the mystery that always clings to her. Just a girl, peaceful and quiet. She’s beautiful. Not in the polished, painted way most she-wolves try to be, but in a raw, real way that slips past your defenses before you even notice.
Caleb’s POV She was right there, right within reach. My body craved her; every inch of me ached for her touch. But I couldn’t do it. I just couldn’t. Not because I didn’t want her, goddess knows I did, but because I didn’t want to hurt her. Something about this didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel… genuine. Yes, I wanted her. But did I want to keep her? Forever? That part, I still didn’t know. And the mate bond, it broke on its own. How? I’ve never heard of something like that before. A bond doesn’t just snap. Not without reason. Not without consequence. Maybe she just imagined it, I can't be happy about it. I was happy when I heard her saying that, I felt a hint of possibility that she could actually belong to me fully, but then I remembered that wanting to be with her was all my game from the beginning, there was nothing genuine about it. ‘We need you, Beta.’ Patrick, my Gamma, links me, pulling me out of my tangled thoughts. I throw on a shirt and quickly head to the tra
Beatrice's POV I'm really nervous. Why did they have to invite me to dinner with the Alpha of all people? I’ve done everything I can to avoid crossing paths with him ever since I lied to him. As I walk up the stairs to the dining room, the sharp pain returns deep in my chest. The same agonizing pain I always feel when Mason is with another woman. Damn Mason. I swear, he’ll pay for making me hurt like this. I grip the rail tightly, my knuckles white. My teeth clench as I try to push through it, but I feel like I’m going to pass out. Sweat trickles down my face, and something inside me shifts. My heart begins to contract tight, painful pulses that feel like it’s trying to force something out. It hurts so much. The pressure builds. I can't take it. “Make it stop, please,” I whisper aloud, but the pain only intensifies. My fingers slip, my balance gives out, and I tumble down the stairs. Shit ; I’m going to crash hard. Everything spins. I brace for the impact, squeeze my eyes shut, w
Caleb’s POV “Hey Beta Caleb, what a beautiful morning it is,” Raven calls out as she walks past me, her voice warm and casual. She moves with ease, grace, and strength, claiming her spot at the training ground like she’s always belonged. Her scent crashes into me like a tidal wave, sweet, soft, and innocent and my entire body stiffens in response. For a split second, I freeze. What the hell just happened? Wasn’t she upset with me last night, too angry to even look me in the eye? What changed overnight? She looks... free. Lighter. Like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders. She looks gorgeous absolutely breathtaking. Her wide, expressive eyes shimmer with a joy I haven’t seen in weeks. There’s a spark in her that draws me in like a moth to flame. I find myself biting my lip, trying to stay grounded, but it’s useless. My wolf stirs, agitated and restless, reacting to her presence just as strongly. He growls low inside me, and I know he feels it too. She’s different today. Radiant