SophiaMy knees hit the ground beside her, and my hands tremble as I reach out. She lies there unconscious, her chest rising and falling just enough to let me know she’s alive.Tears threaten to spill as I look at her, beaten and broken.The pain etched into her body feels like it’s carved into my soul, too.I know this isn’t real—just memories. But knowing that doesn’t make it hurt any less.It doesn’t erase the fact that once upon a time, this wasn’t a memory. It was my reality. “I’m sorry,” I whisper, my voice breaking. My apology falls flat in the empty space, swallowed by the stillness of the room.Closing my eyes as tears slip free, hot and heavy. “You deserved better,” I choke out. “I should’ve been stronger. For both of us.”Her body doesn’t move, doesn’t react. Of course, it doesn’t. She’s just a reflection of who I was back then.I close my eyes for a moment, letting the cold from the floor seep into my knees. This place... this moment... it’s like the walls themselves reme
SophiaRussells came down here a few more times.Every time, it’s the same: he beats my wolf without a care, like it’s a routine, like she’s nothing but a punching bag to him and then leaves.It's like he is letting out his anger on her for beating him.But then he always got weird pleasure in torturing me, so he might be just beating me for fun because his Alpha has given him a free hand to beat me.Then the door creaks open again, and I brace myself, expecting Russell’s heavy steps. But this time, it’s not him. My eyebrows raise when I see it's Cynthia.She steps into the room quietly, her movements cautious, her body tense like she’s ready to bolt at any moment.This is the first time I’m seeing her without that smug, arrogant look she always has. Gone is the usual disgust she wore like a second skin whenever she looked at me. Instead, there’s something else in her eyes—sympathy. Hurt.It throws me off, and I stare, trying to process what I’m seeing. Cynthia doesn’t say a word, but
SophiaOnce Selena finishes eating, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand like she doesn’t care about the mess. There’s a twisted, sadistic smile on her face as she grins, looking more satisfied than anyone has a right to be. Her wounds are completely healed now, and there’s this weird glow to her skin, like she’s radiating strength.It makes my stomach churn. I can’t stand to look at her, but I can’t seem to look away either.I piece it together slowly, and the realization makes my blood boil. She’s feeding off the young blood, using it to power herself somehow. It’s disgusting, horrifying, and so wrong that it makes my chest ache with rage.The way she looks so pleased with herself, like she’s untouchable, makes me hate her even more.I don’t know how long I’ve been stuck in this memory, but it feels like forever.Selena stands there, basking in whatever power she’s stolen. Her grin is pure evil, and I can feel the hate building inside me like a fire. How could she do this?
SophiaSelena keeps stroking my hair, her fingers moving slow, almost tender, like she’s comforting me. But her eyes give her away. There’s no kindness there, only malice. It’s sharp and cold, the kind of look that causes a shiver to run down my spine.With her other hand, she dips her fingers into the blood pooling around me—my blood—and starts drawing on the floor. At first, I think it’s random, just messy streaks, but the longer I watch, the clearer it becomes that it’s anything but random. The lines twist and curve, forming jagged, alien symbols that I don’t recognize.She’s so precise, like every mark has some deep, dark purpose. Circles overlap in ways that feel too perfect or too intentional. Inside them, symbols appear that almost look like letters, but they’re from no language I’ve ever seen. The air around her gets heavier and darker with each stroke. It feels wrong and unnatural, like the symbols are alive, feeding off something they shouldn’t be.A strange, low sound comes
SophiaStaring at myself on the floor, broken and helpless. The sight of me like that twists something deep inside, but then I feel it—something behind me. A presence that sends a chill down my spine, raising goosebumps on my arms.“You’re smarter than I thought,” a familiar voice purrs right in my ear.Selena.Turning my head, I look at her. She smirks, her eyes gleaming with that same malice I’ve come to know too well. “Finally figured out my little secret, huh? Took you long enough.”Ignoring her, I shift my gaze back to myself.Every other emotion drains out of me, leaving just fury in its place. It rises like fire, burning hotter with every word she says.She laughs, the sound sharp and mocking, and then she steps closer, her hand reaching out. She runs her fingers through my hair, just like she did when I was lying there, vulnerable, beaten, barely conscious.I don’t flinch, don’t move. My eyes stay locked on the version of me on the ground, beaten and defeated. The anger inside
MikhailI’ve ordered Alexei to take Emily back to the packhouse. The poor kid is completely shaken up, clinging to Alexei like he is the only one she trusts at this moment.I don’t blame her. After everything she’s been through, I wouldn’t trust anyone else either, and honestly, Alexei looks just as protective of her as she is desperate for him.“Take her back,” I tell him again, my voice steady, even though I feel anything but calm inside. “She needs rest, and we need to make sure she’s safe.”Alexei hesitates, his arms still wrapped around Emily like he’s afraid she might crumble if he lets go. He looks at me, his jaw tight, and I can see the conflict in his eyes.I can tell he is torn between wanting to stay and fight along with me and the need to protect Emily."Go, it is an order of your Alpha." I relieve him from this inner conflict.Clenching his jaws, he looks at me and curtly nods his head.“I’ll take care of her,” he says, his voice low but firm, like he’s making a promise.
MikhailThe sounds of the fight surround me.Growls, snapping jaws, and the sickening crunch of bones echo as we cut through the Redwood wolves, leaving them behind in a mangled mess. We’re a blur of fur and fury, tearing through them with no hesitation. I barely register the fight anymore. Blood stains the ground, soaking into the dirt as my warriors and I move deeper into the pack.My claws are slick with it, my wolf howling with satisfaction as we tear through the Redwood wolves like they’re nothing more than obstacles in our path.They fight hard, but it doesn’t matter. None of it matters. Not the blood, not the screams, not even the bodies piling up around us.They’re all just obstacles in the way of what I really want. Selena.There’s no hesitation, no mercy. Anyone who comes at us dies, plain and simple.Everything in here reeks of death and fear, but there’s no sign of her.A wolf lunges at me, teeth bared, aiming for my throat. I sidestep and bring my claws down hard, ripping
LucasThe moment Sophia told me to step back into the shadows, I felt it—something shifted.I don’t know what she did, but whatever it was, it’s hiding me, keeping me out of sight.Sophia's back is straight, her shoulders squared, but I know her well enough to spot the tension running through her.That’s when she shows up.She doesn't walk or anything shifted... she just appears.One second, there’s nothing and the next, she’s standing there in front of Sophia.Even from where I’m standing, the smell hits me. It’s vile. Like rotting meat left out in the sun, mixed with something else I can’t even describe. My stomach turns, and I have to clench my jaw to keep from gagging.But it’s not just the smell. There’s something so wrong about her. Her movements and the way she stands all feel unnatural. Like the world itself is rejecting her presence. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew. She’s not just bad news. She’s walking evil, plain and simple.Her eyes are black and bottomless, like t
AnastasiaThe second I hear that howl, I don't even stop to think. My feet are already moving, carrying me outside like I’ve got no control over them. The pull in my chest only gets stronger with every step I take. It’s not pain exactly, but it’s 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 pack… and then I freeze.Jake's wolf.He’s massive, all muscle and wild fury, snarling and thrashing like a storm no one can contain. His fur bristles with rage, and his eyes... they’re 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. They’re failing miserably. He yanks and shakes, sending two guys flying like rag dolls. He’s wild. Uncontrolled.I spot Mikhail standing there, tense, and beside him is Alexei, barking orders. “Get more men! H
AnastasiaI blink up at the ceiling, confused as hell for a second. My brain feels like it’s 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.Where…?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. It’s like I’ve 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 I’d dug for the tracker, and stare at the skin. It’s 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 doesn’t even hear me.Nothing I say is getting through that crazy haze she’s trapped in. It’s like she’s 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. I’m 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 doesn’t even feel the pain. "He fucking can’t 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 something’s up even if they don’t 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 I’m 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 he’s crouched behind a fallen log. He nods hi
Jake“How do you know Anastasia?” I ask, trying hard to keep my voice level. I don’t want to scare him off if he’s got real information. But damn, it’s 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 it’s no big deal. “We are… or were… friends.” His voice drops a little at the end, more to himself than to any of us. “I’m saying were because I know once she sees me, she’ll probably try to kill me for abandoning her.”He gives a short, humorless laugh that doesn’t reach his eyes. I don't laugh with him. None of us do.“That’s not what you should be worried about,” he says, looking back up at me, his eyes sharp. “Your focus should be on Ana. I don’t trust a damn soul over there. They’re vultures, all of them. But Ana’s smart. Smarter than most. She’ll know what’s going on. I trust her to get herself out.”I 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 I’ve got, but it’s like he doesn’t care. He’s done waiting.He’s angry. And scared.And so am I.Sophia’s voice is somewhere nearby, soft but panicked. “Jake? What’s happening? Jake!”But I can’t answer. I can barely breathe.All I know is I feel her. Anastasia. Not just the bond tugging... this is something more.She’s hurting.And that pain? It’s 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 it’s no use. Everything around me turns into a blur. I’m dimly aware of the sounds around me, but they’re distant, like I’m submerged underwater. My mind is racing, but it’s too focused on one thin
JakeThere’s this heat sitting right under my skin, like fire trying to crawl out of my bones. It’s been there since I woke up, simmering just below the surface. I keep telling myself it’s nothing, that I’m overthinking it, but I know better.Something’s wrong.I can’t explain it, not in a way that makes sense. It’s like my instincts are pulling at me, dragging my thoughts to one place. Or rather… one person.Anastasia.I close my eyes and try to focus on the reports in front of me, but it’s useless. All I can see is her face. The way she looked when she left.... not angry, not cold, just… hurt.I didn’t want her to leave. Not like that.I wanted more time. Just a little more. I would’ve 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.
Anastasia“I don’t think this plan will work.”Ethan leans forward in his chair, arms crossed, wearing that annoyed look like everything’s just wasting his time.Pete just finished laying out the whole plan — my plan — and I can already feel the tension rising.“We’re not weak,” Ethan adds, like he’s trying to remind everyone of something they never forgot. “We don’t need to waste time spying on mutts. We should just attack, wipe them out, and take their Luna. Simple.”He shrugs like he just solved everything in two seconds. Like it’s 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, who’s been quiet the whole time, finally speaks up.“One of the biggest mistakes any hunter can make is to underestimate their enemy,” he says, his eyes locked on Ethan like he’s done babysitting his ego. “What do you think they are, helples