Sophia The sun dips lower in the sky, casting a warm, golden light across the field as Rose clings to Mikhailโs neck. She is talking his ears off, but he doesn't seem to mind at all. In fact, he is soaking in all the attention that he is getting from her. Mikhail gently sets her down, but she stays close, her fingers clutching the edge of his shirt. Her eyes are wide, curious, as she gazes up at him with a seriousness that makes her look like a copy of him. I can see Mikhail is trying to fight of the smile that is threatening to appear on his face because she looks so adorable with her serious expression. "Dada," she says, her voice small but determined. Mikhail crouches down, bringing himself to her level. โYes, Rose?โ โI... I want to see it.โ Her words come out in a rush, her tiny brow furrowing in concentration. โSee what, pup?โ Mikhail blinks, clearly not understanding. โDada,โ Rose suddenly murmurs, her voice sleepy as she climbs in my lap and rests against me. โCan I s
SophiaThe coldness that washes over me as Mikhail looks at me with a predator's gaze is like ice water over my skin. All the warmth, all the comfort that fills my heart when heโs nearโgone. In that moment, heโs no longer the man I love, the father of my child. Heโs a stranger, a threat. And that look in his eyesโthe wild, untamed hungerโitโs like Iโve never known him at all.My breath hitches, my muscles locking in place. His growl deepens, a sound so raw and primal it sends a shiver down my spine. My heart races, but I refuse to back down. I refuse to let fear control me.I harden my gaze, every tear that had gathered moments ago drying up as something darker takes over inside me. I lock eyes with him, feeling the shift in the air, the tension, the instinct to survive. A growl rumbles from my chest, low and fierce, something I havenโt felt in years.โI donโt want to hurt you,โ I growl back, my voice steady but laced with a warning. โBut I wonโt hesitate if you push me.โHis wolfโs l
SophiaI wake up gasping, the sensation of drowning in cold water making my body jolt violently. My heart is pounding, my breath uneven as I struggle to gather my bearings. It feels like someone has poured ice water over me, the chill sinking into my bones.Disoriented, I blink rapidly, trying to make sense of my surroundings. Thatโs when I notice him.Mikhail.The first thing I see is Mikhail's worried gaze, his eyes filled with fear and uncertainty as he cradles me in his arms. One arm is wrapped around my back, supporting me gently as though I might break if he holds me too tightly. In his other hand, I notice he's holding an empty water bottle, drops of water sliding down his fingers."You're awake," he breathes, relief flooding his voice as his grip on me tightens for just a moment, as though he's afraid I might slip away again. His thumb brushes against my cheek, sending a spark of warmth through the icy numbness still clinging to my skin."Sophia, are you okay?"My mind is stil
MikhailI feel the exhaustion in every muscle as I finally make it back to Sophiaโs house in the afternoon. My body is aching, heavy with fatigue, and as I shift back into human form, the toll of the last week hits me hard. For days now, Iโve been making this routineโrunning back to my pack at night, taking care of the duties that canโt wait, and then returning to Sophia and Rose.Being an Alpha isnโt something I can put on hold, even if my heart is here, with Sophia and Rose.I walk over to the car parked behind the thick trees, hidden away from everyone's eyes, my skin prickling with the leftover remnants of the shift. Digging out a fresh pair of clothes from the backseat, I catch my reflection in the windowโdark circles under my eyes, the exhaustion clear in every line of my face. I can feel the strain of sleepless nights settling deeper into my bones. Itโs getting harder to ignore. The pack needs me, and I canโt afford to neglect my responsibilities, but I donโt want to force Sop
MikhailI sit in my office, fingers drumming on the polished wood of my desk, eyes scanning over yet another report.Useless.Itโs all useless.Every lead I've followed on the rogue attack has come up empty, and it's wearing my patience thin. I flip through the files, searching for somethingโanythingโthat could point me in the right direction, but every scrap of information is either dead ends or vague rumors that wonโt get us anywhere.My jaw tightens, frustration coursing through me as I toss the file aside. Every instinct in me is screaming to find them, to tear them apart for daring to come near my family. But I canโt do that without knowing who they are and where theyโre hiding.The latest breaches at the border, all from the Redwood Pack, are piling on the pressure. Gregor has already been warnedโseveral timesโbut he seems to be ignoring every one of them. A low growl escapes my throat as I clench my fists, anger simmering just beneath the surface.Tensions between the packs ha
Sophia Sometimes I struggle to put into words what Mikhail and I share. Once, our relationship had a nameโa bond, a title that was supposed to define us. Yet back then, it felt hollow, as if it meant nothing. Now, though, when itโs everything, when it consumes my thoughts, I donโt even know what to call it.Weโre bound in ways that donโt need a label, but without one, I feel lost sometimes. Is it love? Is it fate? Or is it something far deeper, something primal that goes beyond words? Iโve never known a connection like this before, and it frightens me just as much as it comforts me.When Mikhail broke me, I was afraid to allow myself to trust anyone, especially him. But now trusting him seems as easy as breathing. No doubt or fear lingers in my heart anymore... the only thing fear that I have is losing him when I have truly found him again. I love what we have in this moment. But deep down, I know it canโt last forever. He can't keep juggling between me and his responsbility towards
Mikhail Sophia glares at me, her eyes blazing with anger. I can practically see smoke coming off her ears. Damn, I have never seen her this much angry before. And is it crazy that I find it hot? But I will keep that thought to myself because I don't think she will appreciate it. Not at least at this moment. However, at the same time, my patience is worn thin, and fury courses through my veins, hot and unrelenting. This isnโt just about us anymore... itโs about her safety. She keeps glaring like sheโs daring me to challenge her, but I canโt let her win this fight. Not when their lives are at risk. Finally, she storms off, her footsteps heavy as she leaves me standing there. I turn my attention back to Jake, Caleb, and Lucas. Jakeโs brows are furrowed slightly, the subtle crease between them indicating heโs deep in thought. Caleb and Lucas, on the other hand, have this strange mix of expressions on their faces. Amusement. Fear. Like they find the interaction between me a
Sophia The moon hangs high in the sky, full and luminous, bathing everything in silver light. The pull is even stronger out here, like a magnet drawing me toward him. Through the trees, over the grass, my heart pounding in time with my steps. The pull is unbearable now, and my wolf moving forward, faster, faster. Toward him. I break through the clearing, and there he is. Heโs on edge, pacing, his eyes wild and searching. The moment he sees me, our eyes lock, and the intensity of his gaze hit me like a wave. Itโs raw, untamedโfull of the emotions weโve both been trying to contain. And I realize... there is no fighting this. There never was. He is mine... mine second chance. Second chance at life... and second chance at happiness. I move toward him slowly, my wolf finally calming in his presence, knowing that this is where we belong... this is where our search ends. The pull that I fought so hard against now feels like a lifeline, a connection I canโt survive without. I nuzzle
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