MikhailI sit at the edge of the bed, elbows on my knees, fingers tangled in my hair.The clock ticks steadily in the background, each second dragging on like an eternity.Itโs been over an hour since I felt that faint flicker through the bond.Now? Nothing.The silence in the mate bond is no longer empty; it feels blocked, like a wall has been built between us. My wolf paces restlessly, claws scraping against the edges of my mind, snarling at the barrier we canโt break. It wasnโt like this before. Earlier, the bond was cold and lifeless, as if she had slipped away. But now... now itโs different.Now, it feels like sheโs there but out of reach, just beyond the edge of my grasp.I clench my fists, fighting the frustration surging through me. The urge to smash something, anything, grows with each passing second, but I canโt risk waking Rose. Sheโs still curled up beside Sophia, her little face peaceful for the first time since this nightmare began.Sophia.I shift closer to her, my hand
MikhailMerope bursts into the room, her movements quick and purposeful, with Alexei close on her heels. Instead of coming inside the room, he stands at the door and watches Sophia with a pained expression.Beneath the pain, I can sense his anger. His wolf flashes in his eyes, and he is angry that someone is hurting his Luna.Then his eyes connect with mine, and I see his gaze burning with the promise that he will be by my side when I fulfill my hunger for revenge.But right now, I can't think about that because right now I am nothing but a helpless mate who is unable to do anything for his mate.Merope eyes land on Sophia, and for a moment, her lips part in a soft gasp, pain flashing across her face. But itโs gone as quickly as it comes, replaced by a hard, calculating look.She takes a step closer, her gaze locked on Sophia as though sheโs deciphering some invisible code, piecing together fragments of a puzzle only she can see."Tell me, what is happening with her? And how can I hel
MikhailSophia is still unconscious in the room we left her in. It kills me to leave her, but I had no choice. If I stay in the same room as her, I will not be able to think straight. All my attention will be on her instead of trying to find a way. I need to think like an Alpha, not just as a mate. And for that, I need to think with a rational mind.My wolf snarls inside me, restless and enraged, but I force him back. Jake is seated on the arm of a couch, his arms crossed and his jaw tight, looking like heโs two seconds away from punching a hole through the wall. Caleb, on the other hand, is practically vibrating with energy. His hand grips the wooden armrest so tightly that Iโm surprised it hasnโt splintered.While Lucas is staring out into the dark as though heโs expecting answers to appear there. He doesnโt speak, but the tension in his shoulders tells me heโs just as agitated as the rest of us.They arrived an hour ago, and unlike me, they could feel Sophia trapped somewhere. T
Mikhail"When?" I ask through gritted teeth, barely managing to control my temper.My wolf growls inside me, echoing through my chest. Itโs like a low rumble, a warning. He wants to tear something apart, and that something is Gregor.He is the one behind all this.And I don't know how long I can stop myself from killing him because every breath he takes reminds me of not being able to protect Sophia from him.Alexei's hands ball into fists while annoyance radiates off him in waves."Tomorrow."My hands clench into fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms as I fight the urge to shift right then and there. My wolf surges forward, a deep growl rising in my chest. The rage is like wildfire, threatening to consume me, but I force it down. Caleb doesnโt bother with restraint. โSon of aโโ he starts, his voice tight and full of venom, his words dissolving into a muttered string of curses that would make anyone flinch. His fists are balled so tightly his knuckles are white, and the shee
MikhailAlexei, Caleb and Jake are out finding out anything about the council that might help us gaining an upper hand. If thereโs a weak link in their ranks, they will find it.I trust them to get results, but every second theyโre gone feels like a lifetime.Meanwhile, Iโm in the study with Atlas and Artemis, the tension between us thick as smoke. Weโre digging into every shred of information we can find about Gregorโhis allies, his weaknesses, his mistakes. Anything we can exploit.Atlas is scanning some old files, his eyes sharp as he flips through the pages. His usual calm is intact, but I can feel the controlled fury simmering beneath the surface. Every now and then, he mutters something about leverage or connections, his voice low and dangerous.I stare at the screen of my laptop, sifting through the reports in front of me. My wolf just wants to sink his teeth into the threat and end it. My muscles tighten with every minute we waste staring at words and scheming when action fee
Mikhail โNot every Alpha at the meeting is Gregorโs ally." Jake leans back, arms crossed, his jaw tight with irritation. "Thatโs about as good as it gets. Two council members are neutral at best. Not allies, but not enemies either." His tone is laced with frustration. โThe rest?โ Alexei adds, his tone as grim as his expression. โMost are firmly on Gregorโs side. And three of themโhell, theyโre from the Redwood Pack itself.โ I sit still, my hands folded on the table in front of me. My face doesnโt betray what Iโm feelingโnothing, not the simmering anger tightening my chest or the fire itching to explode in my veins. Of course, Gregor would stack the council with his own people. โThe majority of the council is still backing him. Even with the neutrals, weโre outnumbered.โ Caleb states, what we already know. My wolf paces inside me, restless and snarling, urging me to act, to destroy. But giving in to rage wonโt solve this. Gregor would love thatโme acting recklessly, proving e
MikhailIโm sitting on the porch steps, staring out at the dark treetops swaying in the distance. The stars above are faint, their light dim compared to the storm swirling in my chest. My fingers dig into the wood beneath me, the ache in my grip grounding me, barely.I canโt go back inside. Not yet. Not when Sophia is lying there, so still, so pale. The sight of her is a knife I canโt pull out, cutting deeper every time I imagine stepping into that room.I failed her. Again.The thought claws at my mind, and I clench my jaw to keep from growling at the empty night. Sheโs suffering, and Iโm out here waitingโuseless, powerless. This isnโt how a mate is supposed to be. I should have been faster. Stronger. Smarter. Something. Anything but this.The creak of the door behind me breaks through my spiral of self-loathing. I donโt have to look to know who it is neither I don't care who it is, because whoever they are, they are not Sophia.โMikhail?โ Artemis steps onto the porch, her footsteps
MikhailAfter Artemis has left, I spend some more time out here. But after talking to her, seeing her trust in me, the weight in my chest feels slightly lighter.Just slightly. The restlessness is still there, gnawing at me, but I know now it wonโt leave until Sophia is awake, looking at me, speaking to me. Until then, I just have to bear it. Learn to deal with it.With a deep breath, I push off the steps and head back inside. The door creaks faintly as I close it behind me, and the house feels oppressively quiet. Each step I take up the stairs feels heavier than the last, the ache in my chest threatening to drown me again.I reach our bedroom door and stop, my hand resting on the frame. The air in the room beyond feels heavier, like itโs holding its breath, waiting. My pulse quickens, and for a moment, I canโt move. I canโt bring myself to walk in, to see her like that againโso still, so quiet. Itโs like staring at a nightmare I canโt wake up from, and the thought alone has my han
AnastasiaThe world keeps spinning, people moving, voices rising, wind brushing through the treesโฆ but I feel like Iโm stuck in this weird kind of stillness. Like Iโve been dropped in the middle of a moment that doesnโt want to pass.Sophiaโs lips are moving, and I know sheโs talking to me, trying to reach me, but I donโt hear a single word. Nothing. Not her, not the others, not even Jakeโs wolfโฆ and I know heโs howling. I can see it in the way his body shakes, the way his mouth stretches open, raw and wild. But itโs all on mute. Like someone hit pause on the sound while everything else keeps playing.Thereโs this weird, heavy quietness inside me. One that screams louder than anything ever has. It drowns everything out. It presses down on my chest and wraps around my ribs and coils in my throat.I donโt see anything.I donโt hear anything.And the scariest part?I donโt feel anything.No anger.No grief.No heartbreak or rage or sadness.Just this empty, flat nothing.Like Iโve disapp
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.