MikhailThe cave is like a pitch-black void that seems to swallow the faint light from outside. The darkness doesn’t faze me, though.It can try to intimidate me all it wants, but I am not someone who is going to be scared.The air shifts as if something unseen stirs, carrying a faint metallic scent that prickles at my senses.I stand at the mouth of the cave, and the energy inside brushes against me. It’s intense, almost tangible, swirling just beyond the entrance like a warning.My wolf is restless, pacing just beneath the surface, not from unease but from readiness. He knows, just like I do, that this place isn’t ordinary. It’s soaked in Selena’s magic, her dark influence tainting the air. It presses against me like a challenge, daring me to turn back.But I don’t turn back. I don’t hesitate. I’ve faced worse than this, walked through fire and blood to protect what matters.This darkness might be strong enough to crush someone else, but not me.My mark hums steadily against my ches
MikhailMy wolf howls inside me, a fierce, guttural sound that cuts through the haze of pain. It’s like he’s trying to fight the agony with every ounce of strength he’s got. I feel him, clawing and pushing, refusing to let me give in.My whole body feels like it’s being ripped apart, every nerve on fire, but I grit my teeth and force myself to stay calm. The pain is brutal and relentless, but it’s not the first time I’ve faced something that’s tried to break me.I know I’m stronger than this. I’ve faced worse. I’ve clawed my way out of hell before, and this? This won’t break me.My hands curl into fists, nails digging into my palms as I focus on the burn inside me.The light pulses again, sending a fresh wave of pain through me, but I push back with everything I’ve got. My wolf’s rage fuels me, his defiance merging with mine. We’re in this together, and there’s no way we’re backing down.My legs feel like lead, but I keep moving. My wolf roars inside me, pushing me to keep going. I
MikhailI lean against the jagged wall of the cave, my body screaming in protest. Every breath feels like dragging shards of glass through my lungs. Then it hits me.Sophia.She told me to burn Selena’s body. That has to be the way to end this.I push against the wall, forcing myself to stand. My broken leg buckles, and pain shoots up my spine, but I grit my teeth and hold on. The wall is rough under my fingers, a small mercy to keep me upright.I glance around the cave, searching for anything—anything—that could help me set her body on fire. My eyes dart to the ground, the corners, the shadows. There’s nothing. Not a single thing I can use.Frustration boils in my chest, mixing with the pain. My fists clench, and I let out a furious growl that echoes through the cavern. The sound is raw, animalistic, but it’s not enough to release the rage building inside me.Then, out of nowhere, my mark starts to burn. The heat is sudden, sharp, and impossible to ignore. I clutch my shoulder, gaspi
MikhailThe sky, once a grim shade of ash, now seems softer, like the first hint of dawn. Even the trees, twisted and lifeless before, seem to stand straighter, as if freed from some invisible weight.But none of it settles the storm in my chest. My steps are heavy, my body restless, like it knows something I don’t. I look around, taking in the transformed landscape, but it all feels hollow. I should feel victorious like I’ve won. But instead, there’s this nagging emptiness, a void I can’t shake.I try to reach out to her again, to Sophia, but there’s nothing. Not even the faintest whisper of her presence. It’s like trying to grab smoke. My chest tightens, panic creeping in. I’ve always been able to feel her in some way, even when the magic was blocking our bond... but now there is nothing... nothing but a void.Did something happen to Sophia? The thought slams into me like a blow to the chest.My breath catches, and a wave of worry surges through me, drowning out everything else. My
MikhailI don’t even feel the ground when my knees hit it. It’s like my body gives out, but I’m too numb to notice.My vision blurs, and the world around me feels distant, like I’m trapped in some kind of nightmare I can’t wake up from. The weight in my chest is crushing, suffocating, like it’s trying to bury me alive.I try to take a breath, but it’s like my lungs refuse to work. Panic creeps in, sharp and cold, and I don’t know what’s wrong with me. My hands tremble as I press them against the ground, trying to steady myself, but nothing works.I can’t breathe. I can’t think.All I can feel is this unbearable emptiness swallowing me whole.I land next to her,My hands won’t stop shaking as I reach for her."Sophia!"The scream tears out of me, raw and broken, like it’s been ripped straight from my soul. It echoes around us, cutting through the silence like a blade, and for a moment, it feels like the whole world holds its breath.My fingers brush against her skin, cold and lifeless,
Mikhail The sight before me is horrifyingly familiar. Not long ago, I saw something just like this. A body, floating in the air, limbs limp and head tilted back. It looked unnatural, wrong, like some twisted force was holding it up as a sick display. But that time, it was Selena. A monster. A creature of pure evil that I had to destroy, no matter the cost. Now... now it’s Sophia. My Sophia. She isn’t a monster. She isn’t evil. She’s the light I never deserved, the reason I keep fighting, the anchor that’s held me steady through everything. My heart twists painfully in my chest as I stare at her, suspended in the air like she’s caught in some invisible grip. Her head tilts back, her arms hang lifelessly, and her hair flows like it’s caught in a wind only she can feel. What the hell is happening to her? I feel numb, my mind racing for answers I don’t have —just this crushing helplessness. My eyes dart around frantically, searching for someone, anyone, who knows what to do. A
MikhailSophia’s hand lifts slowly, her fingers trembling for just a second as if she is recalling how to move them.Her body shifts, tilting forward in a way that seems unnatural like she’s being guided by something unseen. Then, with a grace that sends a shiver down my spine, her feet touch the ground.She stands.There’s something so different about her, something off. She looks like Sophia, but the way she holds herself, the way her presence feels—it’s like she’s someone else entirely.Like it’s her... but at the same time, she is not. I need something to hold on to... to comfort me, and unintentionally, I feel myself reaching out to our mate bond. Instantly, a wave of relief rushes through me, spreading warmth in my chest as I feel it—the bond. It flickers to life, like a spark reigniting a flame that I thought was dying.It’s there. I can feel it pulling at me, familiar and steady, like it always has been. The connection that ties us together that grounds me, that makes her
MikhailColdness settles deep in my chest as the silence stretches after her words. I lock away every emotion clawing at me, burying them under a layer of ice. My eyes stay on her face, maybe searching for the glimpse of Sophia that I know.But I find none.Have I really lost her? No, it can't be because a part of me refuses to believe this, even when everything screams that she is gone.“I’ll take you to Gregor.” My voice is flat, my tone sharp as I curtly nod.“What the hell are you saying?” Caleb’s voice cuts through the tension like a whip, his outrage spilling into the air. “You’re gonna take her to that bastard? Are you out of your mind?”Out of the corner of my eye, I see Caleb step forward, his hands balled into fists, but I don’t move. I keep my gaze on Sophia.A small smirk lifts the corner of her lips as she raises an eyebrow like she’s enjoying the chaos her words have created. It’s not a smile I recognize. It’s taunting and cold.“Yes,” I say firmly, ignoring the way Cale
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