Sage POV I had lost count of how many days I’d been locked in this damned cell. The stone walls reeked of silver and dampness, a painful reminder that I was no longer Alpha… or at least, no longer seen as one.The curse twisted inside me like a living thing. My limbs were still beast-like, grotesque—fur clinging to patches of skin, claws that wouldn’t retract, eyes that glowed even in darkness. I could barely shift back to human form for longer than a few minutes. And those minutes? Agonizing.I slammed my shoulder into the door again. Nothing happened. The silver-lined bars didn’t even rattle. My snarl echoed through the corridor, but the guards didn’t flinch anymore. They got used to it. They just muttered amongst themselves and stood stone-still, refusing to meet my eyes.“I am still your Alpha!” I growled, my voice cracked and layered with the beast's snarl beneath it. “You swore loyalty to me!”There was silence.Only the slow drip of water from the ceiling answered me. One of t
Malrick’s POV The scent of fear hung in the council room like smoke. Not thick enough to suffocate though, but it felt like I was feeding off it like fuel.Elder Myra sat at the far end of the stone table, fingers steepled under her chin. The others had taken their usual places, faces lined with exhaustion. No one wanted to be the first to speak. Good. I preferred it that way.I rose from my chair and slowly walked to the center of the room. Every step was careful, it was silent and it echoed just enough to remind them I wasn’t merely a beta filling in for an absent Alpha. I was the only one willing to lead in a crisis.“I know what you’re all thinking,” I said, voice low but sure. “You’re asking yourselves—what if we’re wrong about him? What if Sage can be saved?”They didn’t respond. But their silence was loud.I kept going. “Let’s say you’re right. Let’s say the curse is temporary. Can we risk the safety of the pack on a maybe?”Still nothing. A few heads turned away. One of the y
Malrick’s POV The moment I stepped out of Sage's cell, I didn’t hesitate. I didn’t breathe. I didn’t allow the chill that crept into my spine to settle. I marched straight down the corridor and summoned the guards.“Wake the council,” I barked. “Tell them I’ve called an emergency session. Now.”They didn’t question me. They obeyed. I had cultivated that fear well.Within the hour, the council chamber was alight with torches and whispers. Elders filed in wearing hastily donned robes, some were still bleary-eyed from being roused in the dead of night. The storm outside echoed the turmoil I had been feeding them for days.Elder Myra took her seat last. Her sharp gaze found mine immediately. “This better be worth our time, Malrick.”I stood at the head of the table, postured tall. “It is. Sage is slipping. Fast. I’ve just come from his cell.”Murmurs rose.“He spoke,” I said. “Clearly. Coldly. But not as our Alpha. As something else.”Myra narrowed her eyes. “Are you saying the curse is
Sage POV The torchlight flickered as footsteps echoed down the narrow corridor leading to my cell. I didn’t lift my head at first. It was probably just another round of guards coming to gawk at the cursed Alpha in a cage. But the steps were light and cautious."Psst," a voice whispered. "Alpha. Get up."My eyes snapped open. A young guard stood at the bars, hood pulled low over his face. His hands trembled, but his voice held something I hadn't heard in days.Loyalty."What did you just call me?""Alpha," he repeated, firmer this time. He glanced over his shoulder before pulling a set of keys from beneath his cloak. "I don’t have long. The council thinks I’m on watch duty at the west gate."I rose slowly, the chains around my wrists clinked. "You realize what you’re doing could get you executed.""So would stay quiet while Malrick destroys everything you built."The lock clicked, and the cell door creaked open. I didn’t hesitate. As soon as I stepped out, I caught the guard by the sh
Bella’s POV The moon was high. Silver light rippled across the lake, and I could feel it in my bones—that tug, deep and ancient, growing stronger by the second. I stood at the edge of the forest, my arms wrapped tightly around myself as if I could somehow hold the restlessness inside.June’s hand brushed my shoulder. “You don’t have to go through this alone.”I turned to look at her. Her eyes were soft, steady. “I know. But I’m starting to think that maybe I do.”She frowned. “What are you talking about?”Harper stood a few feet behind her, arms crossed, her silhouette sharp in the moonlight. “She means she’s tired of running. Aren’t you?”I didn’t answer right away. My mind was a tangle of old fears and new truths. Malrick. The blood rites I never asked for. The rogue in the woods. Everything was catching up to me.“I can’t keep hiding like this,” I finally said. “If they want me that bad, they’ll find me anyway.”June stepped closer. “Then let them come. We’ll fight.”“You don’t ev
Bella’s POV After walking for hours, I finally arrived at a small town. The town looked like something out of a painting—quiet, still, and wrapped in morning fog. I hadn’t even known its name when I arrived, only that it was off the main highway and surrounded by mountains thick with trees. The kind of place you could disappear in.Perfect.I used a name that wasn’t mine—Leah Ward. I lied that I was just passing through, maybe staying a few weeks. No one asked too many questions, not here. I could breathe again, kind of.I looked around and I spotted a cafe. The café was small and warm, tucked between a bookstore and an old barber shop. I saw the sign—Wolf Pine Café—and something in me stilled. I almost turned away, but my stomach growled louder than my instincts. I stepped inside.The bell above the door jingled.A man behind the counter glanced up. Dark hair. Slate-gray eyes. His jaw ticked when he saw me, like he was trying not to react too quickly. He looked me over, not in the w
Bella’s POV I jolted awake, heart racing, sweat slicked my back. The garage was still. My leg ached, but the bleeding had stopped. The dream clung to me, the whisper of my father’s voice echoed in my mind.I sat up slowly, pulling the thin blanket around my shoulders.And that’s when I heard it.Liam’s voice. Low. Steady. From just outside the door.He was on the phone.“She’s here,” he said. “I’m sure of it.”There was silence and then, softer: “No. She hasn’t said anything yet. But I’ll keep watching.”My heart dropped. He wasn’t just a café owner. And I wasn’t just a runaway anymore.I didn’t say a word about the call, nor did I flinch. I didn’t ask questions either.When Liam stepped back inside and saw me wide awake, I let my eyes drift shut again, pretending to sleep. He didn’t say anything. He just watched me for a moment before turning off the light and walking away.I laid there till morning, heart pounded so loud I was sure he’d hear it through the walls.But if he suspecte
Bella’s POV “Say it,” I snapped. “You think I’m that wolf?”His silence was all the answer I needed.“You’ve been watching me like I’m a threat.”“No,” he said finally. “Like you’re a target.”I narrowed my eyes. “That supposed to make me feel better?”He stepped closer, and I instinctively took a step back.“I didn’t know for sure at first,” he said. “But the way you fought that rogue… the way you healed. Something’s different about you.”“You don’t know anything about me.”“I know your scent changed the moment you crossed into this town. I know there’s power humming under your skin that most wolves don’t carry. And I know others are looking for you.”My chest tightened. “Who?”He didn’t answer.I turned sharply. “We’re done here.”“You need to be careful,” he said. “If they find you first—”“I said we’re done.”I shifted before he could say another word, bones snapping, fur bursting through skin as I let the wolf take over. My wolf didn’t hesitate. She bolted through the trees, hea
Sage POVThe snow is deep tonight, it clung to my fur like frostbite waiting to happen. I move low to the ground, my body slink between trees that creak with cold. Every breath foghed the air. I haven’t shifted back in months—not since the dungeon. Not since Malrick.My beast form keot me safer out here. More muscle, better speed. The downside? I’m losing pieces of myself. Human thoughts came in fragments now—disjointed, buried beneath the instincts that snarl louder with each passing day.A branch snaps up ahead causing me to freeze, every muscle locked tight. My ears twitch. A low rumble builds in my chest, a warning to the night. I heard another snap, it was softer this time. Just wind or something watching?I sank back into the shadows. The patrols have been thicker lately. Malrick’s voice—his commands—they ride the wind like old songs I can’t stop hearing. I don’t know how many men he’s sent. Five? Ten? More? Doesn’t matter. I stay out of sight. Always watching. Always moving. Th
Bella’s POV The morning after I got my first A, I woke up to the smell of cinnamon and burnt toast.“Who let Liam near the stove again?” I called from the stairs.“I resent that,” Liam’s voice echoed up. “I’ll have you know this is a controlled culinary experiment.”“Controlled by what? Gremlins?” June giggled.I walked into the kitchen, rubbing sleep from my eyes. June was perched on the counter in mismatched socks, waving a spatula like a conductor’s baton. Liam stood proudly beside a skillet full of what looked like... slightly-charred pancakes shaped like wolves.“Are those ears or legs?” I asked, squinting.“Both,” he said without hesitation.“Harper, you’re seeing this, right?”She entered from the hallway in her oversized cardigan, her eyes were still soft with sleep. “I’ve learned not to question Liam’s methods before coffee,” she said, reaching for the pot.June held up a plate. “These are for you. Nurse Bella needs fuel.”“They’re actually really good,” Liam added quickly.
Bella’s POV The sky was ash when I found her again—June, leaning against the porch railing, a wool blanket wrapped tight around her shoulders. She didn’t look up when I stepped outside, just sipped from her mug like the world hadn’t tried to break her.“You’re gonna freeze out here,” I said, nudging her lightly.“I like the cold,” she replied.I didn’t have a response for that, so I just stood beside her and let the silence settle between us. Sometimes that was better than pushing. And lately, silence didn’t feel so heavy.Inside, Harper’s laughter drifted from the kitchen. She and Liam were cleaning up after dinner, arguing over who forgot to defrost the chicken. It felt normal. Safe. Like the council hadn’t carved messages into our door or hunted us through ancient forests.But even in that peace, a small ember inside me kept burning—restless, searching, quietly desperate for something more.I didn’t tell them right away.Weeks passed since we decided to stay. Weeks of healing, adj
Bella’s POV We left the house to a hotel to spend a few days and not raise any suspicion. The air in Ålesund felt different the moment we returned. The ferry ride back had been quiet—too quiet. June barely spoke, and Harper’s silence was thick with tension. Even Liam, usually steady, kept glancing over his shoulder like something was breathing down his neck.Now, standing on our front porch again, everything felt wrong.The snow hadn’t fallen naturally. It clung to the trees in odd clumps, too heavy, too still. The ravens had returned in droves, black feathers scattering across the drive like a warning. One perched on the porch railing, staring straight at June until she shooed it away with a flicker of energy that crackled in the air.“Don’t,” Harper said, voice sharp. “They're watching.”“They?” I asked.“Not just the Council. Something older. Something waking up.”Inside, the house was just as we left it, but colder. I could smell unfamiliar scents mixed into our own—cologne, swea
Bella’s POV The pendant flared white-hot. The ground beneath her feet cracked. Trees bent back like something had exhaled violently. Birds scattered from the branches, screaming into the sky.Liam lunged forward, grabbing her shoulders. “June! You have to control it!”“I don’t know how!” she screamed.Wind howled. Real wind. Not the kind from storms, but something summoned—something born.Harper raised her hands, murmuring an incantation. Runes lit beneath her fingers in sharp blue flickers. “Bella, keep her steady!”I rushed forward and grabbed June’s hand. She was trembling violently, her breath coming in gasps.“I don’t want this,” she cried.“But it’s already yours,” I said. “Let it in. Or it will tear you apart.”The pendant cracked down the middle, releasing a pulse of energy that knocked all of us back. I landed hard in the snow. When I sat up, June was on her knees, her chest was heaving—but calm. For now.The snow around her had formed a perfect ring of frost, etched with ru
Bella’s POV The days following the attack were a blur of healing and conversations about the way forward. Harper on her hand, immersed herself in ancient texts, her fingers stained with ink and herbs. One evening, I approached her as she traced a rune onto the floor with a mixture of ash and blood."Harper," I began cautiously, "you're pushing yourself too hard."She didn't look up. "We need stronger protections. The Council won't stop, and neither will what's coming.""What's coming?" I pressed.She finally met my gaze, her eyes momentarily flickering silver. "There are older things than the Council, Bella. Things that have been dormant for centuries."A chill ran down my spine. "And you're waking them?"She returned to her work. "Better to wake them on our terms than theirs."Liam and I stood watch outside, the snow crunching beneath our boots. "She's changed," I murmured.Liam nodded. "Magic that deep always leaves a mark. She's treading dangerous ground.""Can we trust her?
Bella’s POV We didn’t speak much on the way home. The lantern lights faded behind us, replaced by the hush of falling snow and the quiet thrum of adrenaline. My wrist still pulsed from where Kalen had touched me, like the cold had rooted itself beneath the skin. I kept rubbing it, trying to forget how close I’d come to unraveling.Back at the house, Liam was already waiting at home, pacing by the window. He had left earlier to check if the house was safe before we got home. “He was there,” I said.He didn’t need to ask who.“He got too close,” Harper muttered, locking the door behind us. “Too fast.”June dropped her coat, cheeks flushed. “We’re running out of time, aren’t we?”Harper didn’t answer right away. Instead, she crossed to the fireplace and knelt down, pulling away the base of the stone hearth. I heard the click before I saw the opening—a hidden compartment built into the wall, older than the house itself.She drew out something long and wrapped in thick, cracked leather.
Bella’s POV I swallowed. “Harper told you?”“No.” He glanced at me then, his expression was unreadable. “I felt it. Your energy flared through the wards like a damn flare gun.”“I didn’t use powers. It was just—” I paused. “Instinct.”“Exactly.” He faced me fully now, stepping closer. “Your wolf’s too close to the surface.”I scoffed and dropped my bag by the kitchen table. “You say that like it’s a bad thing.”“It is when people start to notice.” His voice was low. “That doctor of yours—Haldren? He’s already talking about it. Calling you some kind of miracle worker. Word spreads, Bella. Fast.”I sat down slowly. The wood beneath me felt cold, grounding. “What do you want me to do? Let someone die next time?”“I want you to control it,” he snapped. “There’s a reason we train to separate instinct from action.”Silence stretched between us. I broke it first. “I’m not just a wolf, Liam. I’m not just a nurse either. I’m… in between. And no one taught me how to be that.”He rubbed his fac
Bella’s POV The morning after the rite, I woke before the sun rose. Everything felt wrong.The wind outside wasn’t louder—but I could hear it now, like a low whisper curled through the house. My heart thudded faster than usual. Every sound—June’s sleepy breathing upstairs, Harper’s footsteps in the kitchen, Liam locking the front door—hit me like thunder.I pressed a hand to my chest, breathing deep. Harper handed me a cup of coffee as I entered the kitchen, her eyes were already on me. “You’re hearing more now, aren’t you?”I nodded slowly. “Footsteps, breathing. Even the streetlamp outside—I can hear it buzz.”“Your instincts are awakening.” She stirred her tea, eyes dark. “They’ll either sharpen or overwhelm you.”I didn’t want to be overwhelmed. Especially not at work. At the hospital, I kept my head down. I tried to focus on charts, patients, and ward rounds. But it was hard. I could hear heartbeats behind closed doors. I knew when someone was lying—even when they didn’t know it