AnastasiaDadโs voice turns quiet, like heโs pulling a memory from a place he doesnโt 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. Itโs not that hard."The hunters were training with weapons," he continues, his jaw tightening. "And thenโฆ a gunshot went off. It wasnโt meant to happen. It was an accident. But the bulletโ" 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 sheโs 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 werenโt stable. You were so small, too small to survive something like that. A grown man canโt 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 lifeโฆ"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 Iโm 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 werenโt 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 couldnโt 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
AnastasiaPeople might say Dad was the leader, that he could have stopped this. But I know better. Things donโt work that way. You can only guide those who want to be led, and you canโt stop anyone when their heart is already lost to corruption.I get it now.I know what Dad did and why he did it, and I truly respect him for that.I look at Dad, really look at him, and I see him differently. All this time, I thought he was just holding me back, trying to control me. But that wasnโt it at all. He wasnโt just keeping me away from the hunters... he was trying to protect me from what they had become. From the blind rage disguised as justice. From the power-hungry choices that had nothing to do with what was right.He wanted to keep me from being part of the same injustice that tore people apart. He wanted to keep our people safe because he had enough of watching them die for no reason other than what they were taught to believe.He never walked away out of fear. He walked away because he
AnastasiaMy whole life flips over in just a few days. Everything I thought I knew, everything I believed inโit all crumbles like it was never real to begin with.A few days ago, I was just a hunter, doing what hunters do. Tracking, fighting, killing. I never questioned it. Never wondered if there was more to the story. Wolves were monsters, plain and simple. Thatโs what I was taught, what I lived by.Now? Now, I find out Iโm a mate to one. And not just any wolfโa powerful one, someone who looks at me like I belong with him like I was never meant to be anything else.And if that wasnโt enough, I have their blood in me.I donโt know how to make sense of it. The life I lived before, the beliefs I held so tightly, feel like a lie. I spent years hunting them, thinking I was doing something right. But it turns out that even though my intentions were wrong, my thinking about everything was wrong.I run my hands through my hair, letting out a breath that does nothing to ease the frustration
Anastasia Dad gives me a few moments to pull myself together. Neither of us is good at handling emotions, and he knows I need space before we keep going. He exhales, rubbing a hand over his chin, then finally speaks."You asked me how I know Alpha Jake. Well, Iโve known him for a few years now. Always found him to be a gentleman," he says. "The levelheaded Alpha, but their lifestyle is different. He and his groupโthereโs no hierarchy among them. Something Iโve never heard of in the werewolf world. But I never asked much about it, because even though theyโre good, I donโt want us to mingle or get involved more than we are."I freeze at that. If things with Jake ever turn into something real, then he is going to be more than just involved. But considering how uncertain everything is right now, I should probably keep that thought to myself.I let his words settle before speaking. "I knew you two had some kind of alliance, but I didnโt know the details."He nods, crossing his arm
AnastasiaThe last couple of days have been... interesting. A lot of revelations and a lot more questions, and now my life feels like one big, tangled mess of curiosity. But at least one problem is off my listโfinding Irvin.Dad has taken that responsibility off my hands. He said heโll find out where Irvin is, and when Dad takes on something, he gets it done. No doubt about that.With that handled, I can focus on other things. Like why the hell Pete and his little gang of bootlickers have called this sudden meeting. Something tells me itโs about me.If they think they can push me out of my position, theyโve got another thing coming.They want a fight? Fine. Iโll show them exactly who theyโre messing with.The hunter base looms ahead, a fortress of metal and stone tucked away where no one dares to question it.I step inside, my shoulders hunched just enough to sell the act. Mourning the death of my so-called best friend Ralph has become second nature by now. A few deep sighs, a distant
AnastasiaI press my lips together, swallowing as if Iโm fighting off emotions, then glance up like Iโm searching for strength from above. Swiping my fingers under my eyes, I clear away any lingering moisture. "I just hope everyone accepts me and doesnโt try to push me out of the group."I want to scoff. Like hell, they can throw me out. But I need to know where I stand and how much sway I have.Edwin puffs out his chest, his voice firm. "No one can make you leave. This is your world. Your people. This is where you rightfully belong. This base has the blood of your ancestors in its foundation, and you have every right to be here." He nods at me, conviction in his eyes. "You are one of us, Ana, and we all welcome you."I let a small, hesitant smile slip through, playing my part to perfection. But then I lower my voice, biting my lip like Iโm still unsure. "Thank you for saying that, but I donโt know if everyone feels the same way."One of the other hunters, a man whose name I donโt know
AnastasiaI glance around the hall, taking in the way everyone has already settled in their seats. Every chair is taken. Not a single spot left open. A silent message, clear as day.I donโt belong.The low murmur of voices reaches my ears. Edwin and a few others whisper among themselves, their words too soft for me to catch, but the sharp edge in their tones says enough. They donโt like what Pete and his people are doing. Good. That means Iโm not the only one seeing through this little game.Lifting my chin, I turn my head toward the platform. Pete watches me, his expression unreadable except for the small nod he gives. A smirk tugs at the corner of his lips like heโs waiting to see how Iโll react.I see you, Pete. I see exactly what youโre trying to do.If he wants to play petty, he should know I wrote the rulebook.Without breaking eye contact, I walk forward. The whispers grow softer, the weight of dozens of eyes pressing in from all sides, but I donโt hesitate. When I reach the fr
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.
AnastasiaโI donโt think this plan will work.โEthan leans forward in his chair, arms crossed, wearing that annoyed look like everythingโs just wasting his time.Pete just finished laying out the whole plan โ my plan โ and I can already feel the tension rising.โWeโre not weak,โ Ethan adds, like heโs trying to remind everyone of something they never forgot. โWe donโt need to waste time spying on mutts. We should just attack, wipe them out, and take their Luna. Simple.โHe shrugs like he just solved everything in two seconds. Like itโs 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, whoโs been quiet the whole time, finally speaks up.โOne of the biggest mistakes any hunter can make is to underestimate their enemy,โ he says, his eyes locked on Ethan like heโs done babysitting his ego. โWhat do you think they are, helples