I can't tell you how much I love when you guys make those guesses! It’s like a little moment of magic when our minds click together. So, one guess was totally on point… but as for the others? Well, you'll have to keep reading to find out if they were right too! 😏 After all, they say great minds think alike… so let's see if we're all on the same wavelength!
SophiaMikhail’s hand slips into mine, his grip warm and steady. He squeezes lightly, and that simple touch says everything. I am not alone in this. He is here, right beside me, and he is not going anywhere.I take a breath, letting the moment settle deep inside me. I am not afraid. I won’t let him down, and I won’t let this pack down either.That is what I have learned... to focus on what I can control and leave the rest to fate.Shifting my gaze from the pack, I glance at Mikhail. There’s something in his eyes that pulls me in, something deep and unshakable. Love. Pride. Maybe even reverence. I can’t name it exactly, but whatever it is, it has me locked in place, drawn to him in a way that feels like gravity itself.Without a second thought, I interlace our fingers and tug him closer. My free hand finds the side of his face, my palm meeting the rough scrape of his stubble. The contrast between the sharpness and the warmth of his skin sends a shiver down my spine. He tenses under my t
Sophia Elder Merope places her hand gently over my arms causing me to look away from Mikhail."You both have bonded as Alpha and Luna among your pack," she looks between me and Mikhail, "Now, only the final ritual remains."I look at her questioningly.I have already bonded with the pack. What more could be needed?Merope offers me a small, knowing smile. "This tradition has been practiced in our pack for generations. It holds great significance because it creates a link between the Luna and her pack… without the Alpha."I blink, the meaning settling in slowly. A bond without Mikhail? I glance at him, but he doesn’t seem surprised. He already knows.My brows pull together in confusion a link between Luna and her pack without Alpha, it is something unheard of.Sensing my confusion she continues explaining. "This bond is to ensure that if something ever happens to the Alpha, the pack will not be left broken. They will not feel abandoned because their Luna will still be with them. And i
Tonight is the kind of night that feels untouched by sorrow, where happiness shines in every face, unburdened and free.He stands at the edges of it all, not quite a part of it, but not apart from it either. Watching. Taking it in.Tonight, Sophia finally became the Luna.His eyes find her, and his lips curve into a soft smile as he watches her. She glows beneath the moonlight, laughter bubbling from her lips as she spins Rose in the air, their joy mirroring each other’s. She has come so far and endured so much, and now, finally, she has everything she has ever fought for. And yet, what frustrates him is how she still doubts herself.She doesn’t see it... the way people look at her, drawn in by something unnameable yet undeniable. There is a quiet strength in her, a fire that refuses to die, and an instinct to protect that rivals even the fiercest warriors. From the moment he met her, he felt it, too. There is this strange sense of ease that she carries with herself like you could unb
The first thing he registers upon waking is the quiet.No, not the silence because nature never allows that... but the kind of quiet that settles deep... that is constant and familiar.The rustling of leaves, the soft stir of the wind, the distant sounds of life beginning to wake. Everything as it should be.His senses pick up on everything, long before his feet touch the ground.It’s instinct. Survival. Something that doesn't seem out of ordinary to him becase it is his second nature to assess, to calculate, to prepare. By the time he’s out of bed, he’s already piecing things together—last night’s events, today’s responsibilities, the things left unsaid.. the tasks that needs his attention. Everything.Mornings are the only time he has to himself, before responsiblities catches him, before people start looking to him for answers. He takes his time, moving through the routine that is more habit than thought.His mornings are not rushed, but never lingering either. A shower, the steam
Anastasia's POVThere are two ways to live in this world. Our world. You either step up and be brave, choose to be the predator, or you cower, bow your head, and live as prey.I choose the first. Always have.Hunting is more than just instinct. It’s the rush in my veins, the fire in my chest when I move, when I chase, when I strike. My body doesn’t hesitate. It knows what to do before my mind even catches up. Every step, every breath, every heartbeat... it all leads to one thing.The kill.That’s not something you can fake. You can’t learn it, not from a book, not from someone else. It’s something that’s just... there. Deep inside. Like a second heartbeat, pulsing through me.And it’s real damn hard to fight against something that’s carved into your bones, something that’s built into every fiber of your being. Only if my father would understand.Don’t get me wrong, I love my father. Always have, always will. He’s done everything he could for me, tried to raise me with care, to protect
Anastasia**A few months later**Every step feels heavier than the last.My legs shake, my muscles scream, and the deep gash on my side throbs like a warning I refuse to listen to. I press a hand against it, feeling the warm, sticky blood that won’t stop.My breath comes in short gasps, and my vision blurs for a second before snapping back into focus.Keep moving. Just a little more.Stopping isn't an option.I press my hand against my side, feeling the warm, sticky blood seeping through my fingers.Damn it.Where the hell are the others?My heartbeat pounds in my ears, drowning out the rustling of the trees around me. They wouldn’t have left me. No way. Something must have happened. Maybe they got separated. Maybe they’re still fighting. Maybe they’re dead.No. No, I can't think like that.I suck in a sharp breath, trying to ignore the way my vision blurs at the edges. They wouldn’t abandon me. They couldn’t abandon me.That’s what’s ingrained in us. Never leave your own.One for all
JakeI don’t like this. Not one bit.Rogues creeping closer. Hunters sniffing around. Trouble coming at us from every damn direction.It used to be quieter. Sure, we had threats, but nothing like this. Now, almost every week, we find signs of rogues too close to our borders... scents that don’t belong, paw prints where they shouldn’t be, carcasses left behind like warnings.It’s not just a few wanderers anymore. They’re moving in groups, testing the edges of our land, and none of us are taking it lightly.But the rogues aren’t the only problem.The hunters are here too.We’ve found traces of them in the neutral land, tracks, old camps, abandoned traps. We don’t know if they came because of the rogues or if they were already here, but it doesn’t matter. Hunters are never good news.I don’t like not knowing why they’re this close. If they’re just tracking rogues, fine. We don’t need to cross paths. But if they’re here for something else, if they’re watching us… that’s a whole different p
AnastasiaDarkness clings to me, dense and heavy, but it starts to slip away little by little. My body feels light, like I am floating in water, but when I try to move, a dull ache spreads through me. My fingers twitch first, then my toes. My head feels too heavy to lift, but I force my eyes open.The room around me is dimly lit, unfamiliar. The air smells clean, carrying hints of pine and something faintly smoky. I blink a few times, my vision adjusting to the soft glow of a lamp on the nightstand. The bed beneath me is warm, the blankets tucked around me like I belong here. But I don’t.Panic grips my chest, snapping me into full awareness. I push myself up, ignoring the way my muscles protest.Patting my waist and then my thigh, where I strap my second dagger, I look for my weapons. But there is nothing.My heartbeat pounds against my ribs as I swing my legs over the edge of the bed. My boots are gone too. I search the room, my gaze darting to the furniture.A dresser, a small tabl
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