AlexeiThe border to Adolphus territory comes fast, but I don’t slow down. I don’t even care if I get attacked for crossing lines I’m not supposed to. I’m almost through when a guard tries to block my path, stepping right into my way with a snarl.Big mistake.I slam into him, my teeth flashing as I shove him down. I’m not trying to maim, but I’m not being careful either. He hits the dirt hard, yelping under my weight, and my jaw opens over his throat.I almost rip it out.A deep, sharp growl slices through the trees behind me. Loud. Commanding. Not mine.Dexter.I freeze, my chest heaving. My claws still dig into the dirt near the guard’s face, but I don’t move.Dexter doesn’t need to say anything. That growl is enough.I bolt forward again, leaving the guard scrambling behind me.I don’t stop. Not when more wolves stare as I crash past. Not when shocked faces turn my way like they’re seeing a threat. Maybe I am. I don’t care.My paws pound the packhouse steps two at a time. I slam m
AlexeiIt’s been more than a week since the Full Moon ball, but I still can’t shake it.That night plays in my head more often than I like to admit. Often, I find myself thinking about her.Irene.The second she walked into that ballroom, I noticed her. There was something about her presence that felt... still. Like she carried calm with her, even in a room packed with wolves buzzing with tension and ego. It felt like breathing in fresh air after being stuck too long in a crowded room. That kind of ease. That kind of pull.But that’s not the part that sticks with me most.What keeps coming back is her silence. Her pain. The way her eyes looked when she stood in front of that grave, like they were trying to hold pieces of her that kept slipping through the cracks. Her fingers digging into the dirt like if she held on tight enough, he might come back. Like love could undo death.She never even got a chance to feel that mate bond the way most do... no excitement, no happiness, no sense o
AlexeiOther people might think I’m reacting like this because of a mate bond. And honestly, if I were watching this from the outside, I’d probably think the same. Chasing after a girl whose name I don’t even know? Yeah, it looks like that. But deep down, I know it’s not that.Still… it’s not nothing either.I don’t know what this is. A pull? A connection? Some thread tugging at me that I can’t see but sure as hell can feel? My wolf wouldn’t react like this for just anyone. He’s wild, yes, but never without reason. This isn’t some impulsive thing. This feels more like... instinct. Like we’re supposed to be there.If I had to put it into words, and words don’t usually do this kind of feeling justice, it’s this feeling... I feel like I need to be there. Not want. Not hope. Need. Like something about her silence, that haunted look in her eyes, has latched onto a part of me I didn’t know was even open.Lifting my head, I catch the sound of paws beside mine. I glance over.It’s Mikhail.He
AlexeiThe wind slaps against my face as I cut through the trees, my paws tearing up the dirt. Branches whip past, the cold air stings, but I barely notice. My muscles are burning in the way I like. It’s the kind of pain that usually drowns everything else out.Usually.But not tonight.I run faster. Harder. Like I can outrun the weight sitting on my chest. Like I can leave it behind if I just push a little more.But it stays.Right there.Heavy and dull.The moon’s glowing above, full and bright, drenching the forest in that pale silver light. This should feel like freedom. It always does. Just me, my wolf, the trees, the wind, nothing else.But tonight, something's different. Off.And then her name just... slips in.Stella.That name still has the power to claw my heart out of my chest.Before I know it, my wolf veers off the trail. Not where the rest of the pack is headed. Not into the heart of the forest. He’s pulling us somewhere else.The forest slightly thins out, and it takes
Alexei The ballroom gets too loud all of a sudden. Or maybe it’s not the sound. Maybe it’s the way my wolf keeps pacing inside me, claws out, teeth bared, like he’s seconds away from snapping. I don’t wait. I slip past the other guests, through one of the open side doors and into the cool night. The air hits me like a splash of cold water. I drag in a breath and let it fill my lungs, slow and deep. Better. But not enough. I move a little further, past the edge of the courtyard, into the shadows where I don’t feel eyes on me. Where I don’t have to pretend like I’m fine. Because I’m not. My wolf is restless. Not just jittery, not just excited from the moon. It’s deeper than that. Rawer. Like something’s missing and he can’t bear it anymore. Like if I don’t shift and run, he’ll tear his way out just to breathe. I press my palm to my chest. He wants his mate. He wants Stella. And the worst part? So do I. I press my eyes shut. It’s stupid. It’s been a while. I should’ve learned
AlexeiAs if she feels my gaze, she suddenly looks up... right at me.It’s not slow or shy. It’s instant. Like she knew exactly where to look.Our eyes meet for just a breath, maybe two. She blinks, once. Then I see it, her eyes narrow a little. Not angry. Not confused either. More like… she’s trying to figure who I am.Klaus is saying something to her, standing close, clearly talking about something serious, but before he notices where her attention has gone, she turns away from me and looks back at him.Just like that, it’s over.A split-second stare between two strangers in a room full of wolves.It should feel awkward. Should make me look away in embarrassment for getting caught staring like a clueless teen. But it doesn’t. I don’t feel awkward. I don’t feel weird. I don’t even look away.I just feel… intrigued.That one look didn’t answer anything, it only pulled me deeper into the question. Who the hell is she? Why did that brief eye contact feel more solid than half the convers