AnastasiaI walk back, trying to push the sting of Jake’s words out of my chest. The sun hangs low, casting long shadows across the clearing.Suddenly, every hair on the back of my neck rises. My heart kicks up, instincts snapping into place before I even realize it. The weight in my chest fades, replaced by something sharper. I stop mid-step, heart slowing as every other thought fades into the background. My pulse beats in my ears. My hunter side kicks in... sharp, instinctive, pushing everything else down.I scan around, eyes flicking over every tree, every shadow, but there’s nothing looks out of place, but that doesn’t mean anything. I know better than to ignore a feeling like this. My body stays tense, every muscle waiting, listening. The woods press in around me, quiet in a way that makes my skin crawl.Birds still chirp, leaves rustle. To anyone else, it would seem normal.But I know better.I’ve learned to trust what I feel, even when there’s no proof. I force myself to move,
AnastasiaSwallowing the pain clawing at my chest, I force it down where it can’t distract me. This isn’t the time to think about all this, I need to stop Ralph before he does something he can’t take back."Ralph, put the dagger away," I say, louder this time. "Leave the girl... you don't want to do this. You came her for me, then let's just go from here."My hands are curl into fists, my voice firm, but when I take a step forward, he moves back.Damn it.A growl rips through the air, sharp and chilling enough to freeze hell itself. Turning around, I witness another growl errupting through Sophia.She doesn’t look like the woman I met.. the one who took care of me... the one whom I have shared laughter with. There’s something terrifying in her eyes, something primal. Her entire presence darkens, and before I can even process what’s happening, she catches Ralph’s blade. With her bare hand.Smoke curls up from her palm where the silver sears her skin, but she doesn’t flinch. Doesn’t eve
JakeEvery step I take away from her, I feel like I am leaving a piece of myself behind. It is like something is pulling at me, keeping me from walking away completely. That is what the mate bond does. It ties you to someone in a way nothing else can. No matter how much I want to shut it off, no matter how much I want to pretend it does not exist, I feel the absence of her like a dull ache inside me.But then I see it again. Ralph’s hand holding the dagger against Rose’s throat.The image burns in my mind, refuses to leave. And all I can think about is how none of this would have happened if it weren’t for Anastasia. If I had not let my own selfishness cloud my judgment. If I had not wanted to keep her close to me, wanted to believe that we could somehow make this work. I should have told Sophia. I should have told them all who Anastasia really was. But I did not. My wolf is restless, pacing inside me. He is hurt, angry, betrayed. But more than anything, he is desperate. Desperate to
AnastasiaThe ride back is silent. The guy who is definitely a wolf doesn't say a word, and I’m grateful for it. My head is a mess, and I wouldn’t even know what to say if he tried to talk. Too much has happened, too much to process. The weight of it sits heavy on my chest, making it hard to breathe.When we reach my place, he stops, gives me a short nod, and leaves. No questions, no small talk. Just gone. I stand there for a moment, staring at nothing, then finally step inside.I sink onto the couch, rubbing my temples. Ralph’s face flashes in my mind, the way he looked at me—like I was a stranger, like I was worse than that. I had never seen that kind of hatred in his eyes before. It was like the guy I thought I knew had vanished, replaced by someone I couldn’t recognize.I think back to what he was about to do. Not in my worst nightmares could I ever imagine hurting a child, no matter who they belong to. And yet, he stood there, ready to take Rose’s life without hesitation, without
AnastasiaBy the time I get there, the funeral is already packed. Hunters stand in neat rows, their faces grim, their expressions unreadable. The air feels thick, heavy with something more than just grief.Chief stands near the altar, his posture stiff, his hands clasped behind his back. Beside him is the casket, shut tight. I don’t need to see inside to know why. There wouldn’t be a body, just what’s left of Ralph, broken and torn apart.Chief's eyes find mine from across the space. His face doesn’t show much, but his gaze says everything. There’s anger there, buried under layers of control.Other hunters follow his gaze, their eyes flickering toward me. I meet their looks head-on, keeping my expression carefully composed. Sad, respectful. That’s what they expect. And if I want to stay in this, if I want to figure out what’s really going on, I need them to believe I’m still on Chief’s side.Mom and Dad are here too, along with others from our group. Their presence isn’t just about pa
AnastasiaI search his face, trying to understand everything he isn’t saying. But I can't figure it out. His expression gives nothing away, only that same warmth mixed with something deeper. Something I don’t know how to name.Then he smiles, small but real, and gestures for me to follow him. "Your mom and I need to talk to you."Those words have never felt as daunting as they do now. My stomach tightens, my mind racing with possibilities. Whatever this is, it’s serious.But then Dad drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close like he used to when I was little. And just like that, the weight on my chest eases. Whatever this talk is about, as long as I have him, I know I’ll be okay.When we walk into the room, Mom is sitting on the bed, her glasses perched on her nose as she reads one of her favorite novels. The warm light from the bedside lamp casts a soft glow around her. She looks up, her eyes meeting mine, and a gentle smile spreads across her face.She closes the book and
AnastasiaDad’s voice turns quiet, like he’s pulling a memory from a place he doesn’t visit often."You were just two years old," he starts, his eyes far away. "Even though we warned you not to go near the training area, you tricked your mom and the nanny and rushed in anyway."I blink, trying to imagine myself as a toddler already causing chaos. It’s not that hard."The hunters were training with weapons," he continues, his jaw tightening. "And then… a gunshot went off. It wasn’t meant to happen. It was an accident. But the bullet—" He swallows, his hands clasping together. "It hit you. Right near your heart."Mom grips my hand so tight it almost hurts. Her eyes are shining, like she’s back in that moment, helpless and terrified."I rushed you to the hospital," Dad says, his voice rough. "They removed the bullet, but even after that, you weren’t stable. You were so small, too small to survive something like that. A grown man can’t always survive a gunshot, so how could a two-year-old
AnastasiaMy mind races to catch up with the truth... the truth that still seems unreal.I stare at Dad, my voice barely above a whisper. "I was brought back to life…"His expression softens, something deep and unspoken in his eyes. Mom sniffles quietly beside him, her fingers twisting in the fabric of her sleeve."Anastasia," I say slowly, testing the name on my tongue like I’m hearing it for the first time. It feels different now. Heavier. More real.Mom wipes her tears, shifting her gaze from Dad to me. Her lips tremble before she finally speaks. "That's why your dad changed your name. You weren’t just our miracle, you were a miracle."Dad nods, his voice thick with emotion. "You were meant to be gone, but you came back. We couldn’t keep calling you by your old name, not after what happened. You deserved a name that meant something... that meant you."I swallow hard, my chest tightening. Everything I thought I knew about myself rearranges in my head like a puzzle forming a picture I
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