MikhailI can still clearly remember the intoxicating smell of my mate, the soft, tender touch of her hands, and her voice, which was more peaceful than the sound of calming waves at night.At the same time, the intensity of her hate and the pain of betrayal in her voice when she found the truth still haunts me every time I close my eyes.How could I ruin someone so pure and so precious?Maybe my physical blindness wasn't my real curse, but my inability to see what was right in front of me. My arrogance and stubbornness blinded me to the truth that Sophia was my perfect match, the one who could complete me."I have hurt her in the worst way possible. I betrayed her trust and crushed her heart with my own hands because of my arrogance and selfishness. It was not the hunters that took her away from me, but it was me who made her leave me... But look, even while hating me, she gave me everything." A bitter, rueful smile curves my lips as I turn to face Russo, "She freed me from the curse
SophiaClosing my eyes, I take a deep breath, and then again, I try to imagine myself speaking. Opening my mouth, I force my vocal cords to work while trying to make a sound... but all I get is to manage a grunting sound.Sweating starts to form on my forehead as the sun beats down on my skin... but the exhaustion that I am feeling is from pushing myself hard to speak.Last night, Rose told me she wants me to talk normally like everyone... she doesn't want me to talk to her in her head.I don't know how to explain to her that I try so hard to be a normal mom for her, but I can't.Looking up, I wipe my fingers beneath my eyes and clear the tears that escape my eyes.My emotions are all over the place, and it has something to do with Mikhail.Seeing him again was a reality check for me because, for all these years, I thought his presence wouldn't affect me, but I was wrong.He still affects me.And I don't know what to do about it; his presence rattled me from inside, stirring those emo
Sophia We've been sparring for too long, and I can see the fatigue in his movements, the way his breath comes in short, labored bursts. He's growing impatient, ready to end this fight. I can see it in the way his eyes dart toward me, the frustration evident in his furrowed brow.Up until now, I’ve only been dodging his attacks, testing his endurance, and letting him wear himself out. But now, I feel the familiar coil of strength in my muscles, the readiness to strike back. It’s time to switch from defense to offense.With a calculated step, I move forward.My body and movements, controlled with the training that has strengthened me and made me quick at my feet.My opponent’s eyes widen in surprise as he realizes the change in my stance, but it's too late for him to react. I feint to the left, drawing his attention, and then I strike with precision—a quick, sharp blow to his side that makes him stumble back.Bryan grunts, recovering quickly, but I don't give him a chance to regain his
SophiaEvery time I use my powers, I give away a part of myself. And yet, I can't stop. Not when I know I can help, when I know I can make a difference, no matter the cost.But the cost is getting harder to bear.My blessing is a curse as well, and there is no way to break this curse.A sharp pain slices through my chest, and I gasp, clutching Lucas's tightly in mine.He holds my hand tighter, his face a mask of determination. "You need to rest," he says, his voice cracking slightly at the end. "You're going to be okay."Caleb slips his arms under my legs and back and picks me up. He carries me back home while Lucas is still holding my hand. Jake is already inside the house, checking up on Rose before he nods at Caleb to take me inside.I can't let Rose see me in this condition. So I asked Jake to make sure she is not around.Gently, Caleb lowers me in the bed and sits beside me. His face seems like it is made of stone as he stares blankly ahead.Each of them is protective in their own
SophiaTonight, something feels different.I shift slightly, trying to shake off the feeling, but it only grows stronger, more insistent.I am caught in that place between waking and sleeping when I feel it—a presence. I feel someone running their hand over my face, the feather-light touch tracing the contours of my face and then running their finger along with my lips.But then, suddenly, the feeling is gone.My eyes fly open, heart pounding in my chest. I strain my senses, listening for any sound, any movement, but there is nothing. Just silence. I try to convince myself it's my imagination, a trick of my mind, but I know better because I can feel him. I can still feel someone's touch on my skin... a touch which feels so familiar.A scent that I can recognize anywhere is wafting through the room along with the breeze.I know the feel of eyes watching me, the weight of someone's gaze in the darkness.Slowly, I turn my head, scanning the room. At first, I see nothing, just the familia
MikhailMy mind... my heart... everything is telling me she is Sophia. Because there is no other reason, why I would have such strong feelings for some shewolf whom I have just met. It doesn't make sense.I know sneaking into her room in the middle of the night is wrong. But at this moment, no right or wrong is important. I will deal with the consequences later because, right now, I need to find the truth.Quietly, I sneak into her room in the darkness of the night. The chaos inside me settles down just by the glimpse of her peaceful sleeping face. I feel mesmerized just by the sight of her, because even if I want can't descirbe her beauty in words. And I am not just talking about physical beauty, her beauty radiates from inside. I've been standing here for what feels like an eternity, watching her sleep. The moonlight filters through the open window, casting soft shadows on her face. She looks so peaceful, so innocent.But I can't just stand here and watch her all night. I need ans
MikhailShe keeps looking at me, and behind her blank gaze, there are so many emotions that she is trying to hide.Moments pass as we continue to stare at each other... both dealing with the war of emotions that is raging inside us.Her lips part like she wants to say something... but no words come out of her mouth. My heart wrenches when I see her struggling to speak, but then a helpless look passes over her face when she can't.What happened to her? What caused her to lose her voice?Another question added to an already pile of unanswered questions.Her face tells that she is struggling and trying to get hold of herself.I want to reach out to her... hold her... comfort her, and tell her that trust me once again and I promise that I will make everything alright.I don't know how I am going to do it, but what I know is that I will not let her struggle anymore.Suddenly, she looks at me.Her gaze is ablaze with fire as a low, ferocious growl erupts from her.My eyes widen in shock, be
SophiaAgain, he is doing it, again.How effortlessly lies roll out of his mouth... that even after being betrayed by him, he has sown the seed of doubt in my heart.I started doubting my decision to keep Rose away from him because I felt he would take her away from me. Alphas are protective and possessive about their blood, and even if he would not have loved her, he would have wanted her to be within his pack.Just like what my father did.Just like what he did when he claimed me and kept me in his pack because his wolf needed his mate. No, I can't trust him. My wolf has retreated back but is still on edge because, just like his, I also have an Alpha wolf. She is feeling protective of her pup, and currently, Mikhail is a threat in her eyes.I take a few steps back so that I am standing at a safe distance from him. Swallowing, I take a deep breath before I glance at him again."Leave..." My voice sounds raspy, and my throat hurts as I manage to speak this word.I can barely recogni
Jake"I don't know how to mourn losing something I didn't even know I had."Her voice is soft, but it hits like a punch straight to my chest. I can still hear it, playing on a loop in my head, like her words got stitched into my bones. And no matter what I do, I can’t escape them.I thought I was hurting. I thought the ache I’ve been carrying since the moment I shifted, since I felt that thread snap inside me, was the worst thing I'd ever feel. But hearing her say that, hearing the hollow emptiness in her voice… I realize my pain doesn’t even come close to what she’s feeling.When I shifted, I knew something was wrong. It wasn't like anything I’d felt before. It was like something inside me had broken and just... vanished. The moment they started growing inside her, my wolf unintentionally felt them, not clearly, not in full. Way before even I could have sensed them.Those little sparks of life connecting with mine, with my wolf.And then they were just… gone.My wolf wasn’t just tryi
AnastasiaThe world keeps spinning, people moving, voices rising, wind brushing through the trees… but I feel like I’m stuck in this weird kind of stillness. Like I’ve been dropped in the middle of a moment that doesn’t want to pass.Sophia’s lips are moving, and I know she’s talking to me, trying to reach me, but I don’t hear a single word. Nothing. Not her, not the others, not even Jake’s wolf… and I know he’s howling. I can see it in the way his body shakes, the way his mouth stretches open, raw and wild. But it’s all on mute. Like someone hit pause on the sound while everything else keeps playing.There’s this weird, heavy quietness inside me. One that screams louder than anything ever has. It drowns everything out. It presses down on my chest and wraps around my ribs and coils in my throat.I don’t see anything.I don’t hear anything.And the scariest part?I don’t feel anything.No anger.No grief.No heartbreak or rage or sadness.Just this empty, flat nothing.Like I’ve disapp
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