SophiaThe air is sharp with the bite of morning as I stretch my limbs, the first traces of light spilling through the trees. My skin tingles, and I feel the familiar pull deep in my bonesโmy wolf, restless and eager to be free. Sheโs there, waiting, urging me to give her the control that she wants.I give in.With a sharp exhale, I shift, the bones in my body cracking and realigning, my senses flooding with the sharp clarity of the wolf's world. The air smells richer, the sounds crisper. Every rustle in the leaves, every twitch in the branches, is amplified in a way that feels like everything is coaxing me to let every thought go and focus on this moment.I take off, running through the forest, the ground soft beneath my paws, the wind a steady rush in my fur. My wolf howls with joy, pushing us faster and farther, losing ourselves in the freedom of the run; from a distance, I can hear Mikhail's chuckle as if he is sharing my wolf's joy.The restlessness thatโs been gnawing at me begi
SophiaAfter breakfast, I decided to visit Elder Merope with the hope that she could help me find answers. Since I had never visited her before, I asked for her address from Mikhail.Initially, Mikhail was not happy that I wanted to visit her place because she lives a little away from the main pack and near the pack's territory, but when I assured him that I would inform him instantly if I found anything unusual then, he agreed to let me go without him.As I make my way down the trail, the scent of pine and damp earth wraps around me. A few pack members pass by, offering respectful nods and smiles.One of the older she-wolves waves at me."Good Morning, Luna." She bows her head and smiles at me."Morning." Smiling at her, I walk to her."Would you like to try some of my freshly baked cookies?" She looks at me, hopefully."Of course, I can smell your cookies from quite far away." Momentarily, closing my eyes, I inhale and smile at her. "They smell delicious."She beams at me, eyes crin
Sophia"Sophia." Elder Merope looks at me warmly, "I am sure there was some reason why you came here to visit me today." There is a knowing glint in her gaze."Yes." Sighing, I run my hand through my hair and nod my head. "Something doesn't feel right." She silently gaze at me for a few moments, before she gestures for me to follow her to the back of the room where a wide window overlooks a small, flourishing garden. The space is filled with pots of all sizes, some spilling over with herbs and flowers that I don't recognize, their leaves brushing against one another in a soft rustle. Sunlight streams through the glass, painting everything in golden hues."These plants are special," Merope explains as she picks up a small watering can and hands it to me. "They require care and attention, but they give back much more than they take."I take the can, feeling the cool metal in my palm, and move to the nearest potโa cluster of deep purple blooms that seem to shimmer when the light catches
SophiaAbruptly, there is a knock on the door, sharp and insistent.Before I can even blink, the door swings open, and there he isโMikhail. His tall figure fills the doorway, eyes locked on me with that familiar intensity that makes my pulse race.Mikhail strides in, eyes blazing with urgency. My heart lurches at the sight of him, and the tension that gripped my body eases in an instant."Sophia," he says, his voice low, almost a growl. "Are you okay?" He doesnโt wait for me to answer, his eyes scanning me like he can see right through to whateverโs going on inside me.I don't need to speak, though. He can feel it. I know he can. His wolf is connected to me, just as mine is connected to him, and right now, Iโm a storm of emotions thrashing inside. He can feel that, too. The worry, the anxiety, the anger swirling inside me like a tornado, too strong to be ignored."Your emotions," he continues, stepping closer, his gaze tightening, "theyโreโฆ theyโre driving my wolf crazy with worry. It
SophiaThe nagging feeling is still there, but it is not as intense as before. When I considered what I could lose instead of gain if anything went wrong, the decision wasn't that difficult for me.Despite all the threats and dangers surrounding us, I am living my dream. And to ruin to find out something that I will eventually find out one day would be foolish of me. And how would I know that I would find out the truth one day? No matter how much anyone tries, the truth always makes itself known."Still thinking about everything?" Mikhail rubs his thumbs over my knuckles and lightly tugs my hand to get my attention."Yeah." Nodding my head, I pull all my hair to my side."Where are we going?" I ask, finally noticing that this isn't the path that I took from home to Elder Merope's place."Finally, you noticed." Mikhail smirks and teases me, "And here I was, getting worried about how clueless my mate was, that anyone could kidnap her, and she wouldn't even be suspicious.""I am with you
Sophia I shift slightly, propping myself up on one elbow so I can look at him. He still looks lost in his thoughts, but knowing him, I know he is alert and ready to take down any threat if it appears.His guards are never down... even while sleeping, there is alertness about him. It's like his mind is up and working even when his body is resting.The gentle sway of leaves above us fills the silence, but a question forms on my lips, one I hadnโt thought to ask until now.โMikhail,โ I begin, my voice low but steady, โtell me about yourself."He blinks as if heโs not quite sure he heard me correctly.Then, with a slow, deliberate movement, he turns to face me fully. A mischievous smile curves at the corners of his lips, one I know all too wellโone Iโve seen a thousand times, used to distract, to shift focus, to keep things light. But this time, it doesnโt work.I stay quiet, my expression unchanged as I wait for him to acknowledge the question that still lingers in the air between us.H
SophiaโI had just gone through my first shift. Since our healing strengthened when we found our wolves, everyone thought that maybe after my first shift, I would gain my sight or it would improve. But things weren't simple; even in my wolf form, I was blind. Not as blind as I were in my human form, but still blind." He absentmindedly continues to play with the lock of my hair as if it is the thing that's holding him to the present. "My wolf was wild, and lack of vision made him almost feral. My father's training turned even harsher because he had to help my wolf reign his energy. Even now, a part of him is still feral."A small pout forms on my lips because I don't think his wolf is feral. He has that wild energy that surrounds him, but it makes him lethal and powerful. He is magnificent.Mine. A word echoes in my mind as my wolf agrees with me."In front of you, he behaves like a lovestruck crazy beast, but he is still feral." He softly chuckles and taps my lips with his finger as
Sophia Mikhail pulls me into his arms, his grip firm yet tender, as though heโs trying to anchor himself to the present and shake off the ghosts of his past. His breath brushes against my neck, warm and steady, and I can feel his body relaxing in my embrace. Wrapping my arms tightly around him, I hold him close. My fingers find their way to his hair, threading through the soft strands as I kiss his cheek. I can feel his emotions, raw and unguarded. Thereโs a strange lightness in him now, as if the burden heโs carried for so long has finally begun to ease. Itโs subtle, but I know him well enough to see it, to feel it. With everything that we sharedโour past, our experiences, our feelingsโthe bond between us felt stronger and more real. Closing my eyes, I take a steady breath and let the familiar warmth of my power flow through me. I send it through the connection that ties us together. I can feel his pain, his hurt... his struggles, and I want to erase them and fill every corner
AnastasiaThe second I hear that howl, I don't even stop to think. My feet are already moving, carrying me outside like Iโve got no control over them. The pull in my chest only gets stronger with every step I take. Itโs not pain exactly, but itโs this deep ache, like a part of me is missing and screaming to be whole again.I follow the sound around the side of the house, past the trees, until I reach the outskirts of the packโฆ and then I freeze.Jake's wolf.Heโs massive, all muscle and wild fury, snarling and thrashing like a storm no one can contain. His fur bristles with rage, and his eyes... theyโre completely taken over by something feral. And what the hell... chains? Actual metal chains are wrapped around him, digging into his fur as a bunch of people try to hold him down. Theyโre failing miserably. He yanks and shakes, sending two guys flying like rag dolls. Heโs wild. Uncontrolled.I spot Mikhail standing there, tense, and beside him is Alexei, barking orders. โGet more men! H
AnastasiaI blink up at the ceiling, confused as hell for a second. My brain feels like itโs swimming through thick fog, trying to latch onto something that makes sense. The sheets under me are soft, smell faintly like lavender and old memories, and the light slipping through the curtains is warm, too warm for how cold I remember feeling.Whereโฆ?I turn my head and it all clicks into place.This room.Same pale blue curtains swaying a little from the breeze sneaking through the window. Same wooden dresser with the chipped paint. Same soft hum of nothingness outside, the kind of quiet you only get out here. Itโs like Iโve time-traveled. Like someone hit rewind and dropped me right back into the past.I sit up slowly, my muscles sore but not screaming anymore. That alone messes with my head. I lift my arm, the one where Iโd dug for the tracker, and stare at the skin. Itโs healed. Like really healed. Smooth, with just the faintest pink mark. No blood. No torn flesh. No proof of how bad t
JakeBefore I can even blink, Anastasia throws the knife across the room and, to my horror, she digs her hand right into the wound she just made. Blood gushes out, running down her arm and dripping onto the floor. She bites her lip so hard trying not to scream that her teeth tear through the skin, blood mixing with the sweat on her face."What the hell are you doing, Anastasia?" I rasp out, my heart slamming against my ribs. I grab her wrists, trying to stop her from tearing herself apart, but she fights me like she doesnโt even hear me.Nothing I say is getting through that crazy haze sheโs trapped in. Itโs like sheโs somewhere else, lost in her own mind, and I have no clue how to pull her out of it. Watching her hurt herself like this is ripping me apart. Iโm scared outta my damn mind."I have to find it," she grits out between her teeth, her voice rough and broken. She keeps digging into her own flesh surprisingly it looks like she doesnโt even feel the pain. "He fucking canโt cont
JakeI carry Anastasia toward the cells, not loosening my hold even a little. I can hear Sophia and Mikhail following close behind, their footsteps quick but not rushed. They know somethingโs up even if they donโt have all the pieces yet.When we get to the old brick building, Mikhail steps around me and tells the guard to open the door. The guy fumbles with the keys for a second before the lock clicks and swings open.The place smells like metal and damp stone, but I hardly notice. All I see is her. All I feel is her heartbeat against my chest.Anastasia stirs a little and tugs at my shirt weakly.She shifts a little in my arms. "Put me down," she whispers, her voice soft but firm.My wolf snarling in protest. Every part of me wants to keep her close, safe, where nothing can get to her. Letting her go feels wrong, like Iโm cutting off a piece of myself. But I can't let my own fears and emotions get in her way, undermining the strength and power she carries.So, even though it goes ag
JakeI skid to a stop near the border, my heart slamming against my ribs so hard it feels like it might shatter. Mikhail and the rest of the patrol are crouched low, hidden behind trees and thick bushes. For a second, I don't get it. Why the hell are we hiding? Anastasia could be right there, so close I can almost taste her in the air.My wolf fights me hard, clawing at the inside of my chest, roaring at me to move, to tear through anything standing between me and her. But my human side digs in, just barely keeping control. I suck in a ragged breath and crouch low, reminding myself that rushing in without thinking could cost Anastasia her life.I notice the black hummer rolling down the old dirt road just outside the border. The windows are tinted so dark I can't see a damn thing inside. Every part of me wants to charge in and flip the damn thing over, but I grind my teeth and stay low."That's them..." Irwin says in a low voice from where heโs crouched behind a fallen log. He nods hi
JakeโHow do you know Anastasia?โ I ask, trying hard to keep my voice level. I donโt want to scare him off if heโs got real information. But damn, itโs tough when every second I can feel her pain twisting inside me like a knife.He leans on that broken branch a little, then shrugs like itโs no big deal. โWe areโฆ or wereโฆ friends.โ His voice drops a little at the end, more to himself than to any of us. โIโm saying were because I know once she sees me, sheโll probably try to kill me for abandoning her.โHe gives a short, humorless laugh that doesnโt reach his eyes. I don't laugh with him. None of us do.โThatโs not what you should be worried about,โ he says, looking back up at me, his eyes sharp. โYour focus should be on Ana. I donโt trust a damn soul over there. Theyโre vultures, all of them. But Anaโs smart. Smarter than most. Sheโll know whatโs going on. I trust her to get herself out.โI am still skeptical whether to trust a word coming out of his mouth, especially when I heard he a
JakeMy body shakes as my wolf pushes harder, breaking through the thin line between us. My skin stretches, bones shift, and I fight the change with everything Iโve got, but itโs like he doesnโt care. Heโs done waiting.Heโs angry. And scared.And so am I.Sophiaโs voice is somewhere nearby, soft but panicked. โJake? Whatโs happening? Jake!โBut I canโt answer. I can barely breathe.All I know is I feel her. Anastasia. Not just the bond tugging... this is something more.Sheโs hurting.And that pain? Itโs mine now, too.I slam a fist into the dirt and snarl, trying to get control back, trying not to lose it completely.Pain flares in my body like a wildfire, and I can hardly breathe. My vision goes all hazy, like I'm looking through a foggy window. I blink hard, trying to clear my head, but itโs no use. Everything around me turns into a blur. Iโm dimly aware of the sounds around me, but theyโre distant, like Iโm submerged underwater. My mind is racing, but itโs too focused on one thin
JakeThereโs this heat sitting right under my skin, like fire trying to crawl out of my bones. Itโs been there since I woke up, simmering just below the surface. I keep telling myself itโs nothing, that Iโm overthinking it, but I know better.Somethingโs wrong.I canโt explain it, not in a way that makes sense. Itโs like my instincts are pulling at me, dragging my thoughts to one place. Or ratherโฆ one person.Anastasia.I close my eyes and try to focus on the reports in front of me, but itโs useless. All I can see is her face. The way she looked when she left.... not angry, not cold, justโฆ hurt.I didnโt want her to leave. Not like that.I wanted more time. Just a little more. I wouldโve stolen her from the world if I could, even if it was selfish. But after that talk she had with Sophia, I saw it in her eyes... she was hurting.From Sophia's words, she might have gotten the impression that Sophia is against our bond, which is untrue. However, Sophia is slightly disappointed with me.
AnastasiaโI donโt think this plan will work.โEthan leans forward in his chair, arms crossed, wearing that annoyed look like everythingโs just wasting his time.Pete just finished laying out the whole plan โ my plan โ and I can already feel the tension rising.โWeโre not weak,โ Ethan adds, like heโs trying to remind everyone of something they never forgot. โWe donโt need to waste time spying on mutts. We should just attack, wipe them out, and take their Luna. Simple.โHe shrugs like he just solved everything in two seconds. Like itโs just that easy.I can't stop myself from rolling my eyes, as I shake my head.Since everything is taking a three-sixty turn, all the high-ranking hunters are also part of this meeting, even Edwin and his group.Edwin, whoโs been quiet the whole time, finally speaks up.โOne of the biggest mistakes any hunter can make is to underestimate their enemy,โ he says, his eyes locked on Ethan like heโs done babysitting his ego. โWhat do you think they are, helples