ROSANNE Last night, after much persuasion, the old man—Leonard—eventually gave us the wolfsbane for Anita's treatment. Axel had stayed with her throughout the night to make sure she was okay, since the wolfsbane could be quite harmful as well. I hadn't seen Leonard today, but I was sure he'd be carefully thinking of other ways to drag me back to the Bloodmoon pack. “Axel, are you there?“ I knocked on a wooden door, patiently waiting outside with a small bowl of warm soup. Yvonne and I woke up quite early to prepare this delicacy for Anita, just so she'd feel a little strengthened. It took a few minutes before Axel opened up the door, looking in a brighter mood. “Hey,” he smiled. My lips curled up, “she's awake?“ His eyes trailed over the small bowl of soup I held. He reached and collected it. “Thanks Rosanne.“ He sighed, holding it carefully. “She's not awake, but her wounds are healed. She should be awake soon.“ “Okay.“ I wrapped my warm hands around myself, taking a step back
ROSANNEI didn’t move, none of us did. The air was thick with the weight of Leonard’s confession.“You are the reason I’m living like this!” he spat again, his voice shaky but loud, almost like he needed us to hear it—needed to hurt Axel with those words.Axel stood still, eyes fixed on Leonard. I saw his jaw clench, his hand curl into a fist. But he said nothing.It was too much.My heart ached for him, but I couldn't say anything either.Yvonne's hand still held the dagger near Leonard’s face, but now her expression had changed. The anger was still there, but something else slipped in—confusion maybe. “You’re blaming him,” she said slowly, lowering the blade just a little, “for something he had no control over?”Leonard looked away.There was silence again. Then a soft voice broke through the tension. It was weak, barely above a whisper. “…Rosanne?”I turned sharply, my breath caught in my throat. Anita.She was standing at the top of the stairs, one hand gripping the wooden rail
ROSANNESince there were two rooms in the abandoned house, Yvonne and I shared a room, while Axel and Anita took the other. Last night, we'd spent the whole time cleaning up the whole place—the underground layer, the basement and the rooms. Strangely, I found out about a small library just a few meters away from the basement. Who placed a library next to a basement? I'd been awake for the last hour, but I just sat there, on the bed, watching the large trees keeping the house a bit hidden. It was still quite early, still dawn, it was why Yvonne slept quietly next to me, but I couldn't bring myself to lay back on that bed. Not when Mikhail appeared in my dreams. Not when he threatened to bring me back no matter what. It felt so real, like he was carefully watching me, waiting for the time I'd slip and expose myself. It was a nightmare, the most terrifying I'd ever had. My mind travelled to the day I had the wedding, our wedding, how perfect he looked with the heart of a demon. M
Chapter 71ROSANNEThe scent of roasted meat and firewood lingered in the air, soft rays of morning light seeping through the lacy curtains we'd washed last night. It wasn’t much, but it felt… peaceful. Too peaceful, almost. The kind of peace that makes your stomach tighten because you know it won’t last long.I sat on one side of the small wooden table with Yvonne beside me. Anita hadn’t joined us yet, probably still curled under a blanket she found comfortable. Axel sat across from me, half-smiling like he always did when things were calm. A loaf of bread sat between us, torn into uneven pieces, and the meat tasted like heaven compared to the crap we’d been eating in the woods.“I can’t believe you actually went to the market,” Yvonne said, chewing thoughtfully. “That’s got to be the fastest trip in history.”Axel smirked, licking a bit of grease from his thumb. “Didn’t go to the market.”We both paused.“What?” I asked, brows furrowed.“It was still dark, the pack market wasn’t
CHAPTER 72 MIKHAILThe silence in the hall was maddening.It wasn’t peaceful, it wasn't calming. It was slowly killing me, slowly driving me insane—more like the walls were closing in on me, the silence creeping into my bones. It felt like I could hear her voice in it, like her laugh was somewhere in the still air and I could almost taste her. But she wasn’t here.Rosanne.“You’re losing yourself,” Hudson muttered from the other end of the room.I turned, slowly. “Have they returned?”“No.”Of course they hadn’t.Only one of the scouts I sent to the borders had returned, but I'd heard nothing from the three spies I sent to the nearby rogue territories. From a source, I figured out that Anita and the girl she escaped with were rouges. It was why I kept checking through rouge territories, and if those scouts didn’t return soon, I’d burn those fucking forests to the ground myself.Rosanne was out there, somewhere, with that damn pack warrior and his mate. “Bring him in,” I said col
ROSANNEBy dawn, Anita suddenly started burning up. Axel had barged into our room to get our attention.While Yvonne and I checked her out, we realized her breathing was shallow, and her pulse? It felt weak. “She has a fever.” Yvonne whispered slowly, her palm resting on Anita's temple. “She just needs to rest, it's nothing serious.” “What if it's the wolfsbane?” Axel asked, his lips pressed together in a tight line. “What if the wolfsbane in her system did this to her?” “Then—”“She needs some herbs.” Axel’s voice rang out. He was leaning on the slightly cracked wall, his brows furrowed with worry. “Tyland herbs, right?”Axel nodded. “I'll go get it, it shouldn't be far off.” Yvonne looked up, her expression tired but. “They’re checking out women now. The patrols are getting smarter, they’re sniffing out pregnant females, checking faces. If you step out of here, you might risk more than your own life. You might risk hers too.” She nodded toward the bed, where Anita shifted sli
MIKHAILThe hall was filled with Alpha after Alpha. Some stood with arms crossed, waiting to hear what I had to say. Others shifted uncomfortably, their eyes flickering with fear. None of them dared speak first.I stood before them, hands clenched at my sides, rage boiling just beneath the surface."She is a traitor," I said, my voice sharp like broken glass. "Rosanne. My mate. My wife."Murmurs stirred among them."She ran from me," I continued. "She took my child with her. And any of you who dare to shelter her will suffer the wrath of the crown."I threw the bounty file down on the long table, the signature of me, the Lycan King pressed scrambled boldly. "Find her, bring her back. Alive."The words tasted like poison.Somewhere inside, I hoped she would be dragged in, bloodied and breathing, just so I could see her again. I wanted to shake her. I wanted to hold her. I wanted to demand why she left me—and maybe, if she cried enough, I'd even forgive her.But none of that mattered he
ROSANNE “I'm glad you're much stronger now.” Reaching for Anita's hands, I gave it a light squeeze. Her lips bloomed into a small smile. Anita's face was still a little pale. She looked frail, unhealthy, but she'd stepped down from the stairs alone. She'd eaten breakfast and lunch without puking her guts out. “I heard you saved my life.” “I just got the herbs you needed.” “You risked your life and your baby's.”“That's what friends do for each other, isn't it?” “Sisters.” Anita's smile widened. “Friends might not go to that extent, but sisters would do it a thousand times for each other.” No argument, she was right. It'd just been a few days since I last stepped out of this abandoned, shaky house. Axel had told me the patrols became even more strict, and people were more eager to find me. Soon, they'd be knocking on that damned door to get me out. Yvonne stepped out of the kitchen, wiping a sheen of sweat from her forehead. Wearing a brown apron we'd found in this house, s
ANITAA year had passed, but the journey was unending. Watching Rosanne grow into the woman she was now filled me with pride. Gone was the scared girl, who lived a manipulated life, but standing now, strong with a fierce aura surrounding her was a different person; grown, better and most importantly a mother.Watching her with her kids filled me with longing. Axel and I have barely talked about our future, we were mates, but the constant running and fighting hadn’t given us a chance to decide our path.The door creaked open, the room was instantly filled with the strong smell of cedar wood, “How was the meeting?” I asked.Axel sighed, tired lines forming on his forehead, he wouldn’t say it, but he was stressed. Teaching the warriors how to fight, and being Rosanne’s guard. It was taking a toll on him. But I knew Axel, he enjoyed every moment of it.“Reading through files of people is a kind of torture I never knew existed,” he mumbled, his lips brushing against my neck as he spoke.My
HUDSON“Don’t touch me!” Jade screamed, her eyes shut as she cried.It has been like this, constant nightmares right from the first night I had brought her here. I had made the mistake of rushing to her the first time, trying to hold her back from harming herself, but the minute she felt my touch, her screams became louder, her claws drawn as she fought to free herself from my hold.The truth had cut deeper than the whipping I had received— I was her terror, the one thing she feared more than death.My wolf was restlessly, howling in pain as we watched our mate scream, unable to reach out to her to hold her. Be her protector. The one thing we had been designed to do, and we had failed.“I can’t,” I rasped, my chest tightening as I stared at the scene before me.“You can’t leave, she needs you,” Blair said, her voice filled with pity as she stared at Jade.It was nice, their blossoming friendship made me feel somewhat fine. She wasn’t alone, she had Blair, the quirky witch.“How is my
MIKHAILIt’s been a year and ten months, the world had spun through moons and suns, but still there was no sign of Rosanne. The bitter taste of defeat cloaked me, no one knew a thing. It was like she had vanished.The tail had gone cold, colder than the lonely path to Hades. Knox screamed louder, his pleas echoing through the walls, “I have told you everything that I know, please,” he cried, his voice muffled from how swollen his lips were.“Tell me again!” I snarled, the silver blade cutting through his back.This was the pattern. Torturing Knox until he was at the brink of death, and just before he crosses over, I stop; giving him the best medical help he can ever have.“Lycan King,” a guard called out, his eyes fixed to the ground as he avoided my gaze.“What!” I barked out.I had one rule, no one interrupted my section with Knox, if the kingdom was burning, and they were to keep it standing till I came out.“His heartbeat is dropping,” he said, his tone quivering.I growled, Kno
ROSANNEONE YEAR LATERThe fresh smell of pines and citrus danced in the cold morning breeze. The sweet melody of birds singing in the trees echoed around.Gone was the burning smell of wood and blood; everything smelled fresher— warmer. “Morning, Alpha Rosanne,” some kids greeted, running through the cornfield, obviously playing a game.Alpha Rosanne. The name that had stopped sounding after a few months. It had been tough, leading a group of broken souls, all lost but hopeful. It wasn’t an easy road, there were moments of breakdowns, fights, and pain. But we had gotten stronger— a family.It had been tough, months spent in fear, wondering when Mikhail would show up. Breaking down the fences we had made, demanding for his breeder and heirs.Some months were dark, the constant battle with myself, breaking the invisible chains that had caged my mind.I doubted myself, spent nights crying, praying for the goddess to have mercy on us, keeping us safe from Mikhail.“I knew I would find
MIKHAILI stared at my phone, trying to decipher the text, Landon had sent, “Will be staying longer than expected, something came up,” The words made no sense, “Xavier, have you heard a word from Landon since he travelled to the human world?” I asked.“Xavier!” I growled, throwing a book in his direction.“Would it kill you to use your words?” he hissed, his hand rubbing the part the book had made contact with.“If you had paid attention, rather than stay fixated on that device, maybe you would have seen it coming,” I snapped.I was angry, not at him but at the way things had been in the past few days. Knox couldn’t be tortured until he had fully recovered, and until then I had to sit on my hands waiting for something— a sign to drop from the sky pointing to where Rosanne could be.“You need to get laid,” Xavier grumbled.I growled, the sound snapping him into shape, “You will lead the next war,” I threatened walking out of the room.I was lenient on him, letting him enjoy the privil
HUDSONThe silence never disturbed me, and neither did the angry glares that my men sent my way. Killing one of our own was abominable, a law I would happily break a thousand times over.My eyes flickered to the enchantress in my arms, a soft smile coiled across my lips as I watched her furrow her face deeper into my body.The action filled with me with a fussy feeling, I was excited, and even though she was passed out in my arms, I liked it. It calmed my wolf and took away the rage I had felt earlier.And in that minute it dawned on me, that I was weak, a broken soul, waiting for her to fix me. Change me. I wasn’t going to fight her—never! Not when she is everything that I have always longed for— prayed for.A gentle breeze blew, and my lungs exploded with her scent, reminding me of the colour that had been added to my grey world.My body tensed, we were just by our border. I would be reporting to Mikhail, and for the first time ever, I felt doubt.What was going to be his cause of a
HUDSONWolves circled her, their fangs bared as they tried to scare her.I had jumped down the minute after she did, but I was too late, my men had already had her cornered. They were toying with her, waiting for her to move, then they would attack, tear her piece by piece until she was nothing but bones, a reminder of who she was.“Stand down!” I barked, my wolf surging forward. But my words were on deaf ears, Mikhail’s order stood firm, commanding their will.Her green eyes met mine, and instantly I was filled with a new order—protect.I lunged, landing right in the middle, blocking her from their vicious eyes, “Stay behind me,” I growled.She nodded, her heart beating loudly in her chest, the sound reverberating through my body. Her touch was soft against my back, a buzzing feeling surrounded the spot where she touched.“No one harms her,” I sneered, my claws drawn.For her, I would go to the end of the world—killing the men I called my family if need be.“Get out of our way beta H
HUDSONBACK AT THE GOLDEN RISE PACK…“Kill!” the single command that broke through my control, snapping my beast, filling us with the thirst for blood.The sound of their screams excited me. I was carnage bathed in the blood of my enemies. This was absolutely my scene.The warrior beneath me shuddered, blood gushing out of his open stomach. I grinned, my claws digging deeper into him as I pulled out his intestines, enjoying the way his face contorted in pain before the life drained out of his eyes. My eyes glowed red, filled with malice, as I savoured my kill. “They couldn’t even defend their home,” I hissed, crossing over his body as I moved towards the door he had been protecting.I was on a mission, “No one lives!” Mikhail’s voice echoed through my mind, drowning me.Knox has been foolish to go after Mikhail’s breeder. His thirst for power had sentenced his people to death.I pushed the door open, ducking just in time as an arrow whizzed towards me, its tip aiming for my head.“Yo
ROSANNEWe moved in silence, each man understood the severity of our quietness. The darkness and the trees were perfect covers, hiding us from anything that might have been hovering around.Aiden cooed, his lips moving against my chest looking for my nipple. These were moments that I should be enjoying, smiling as I fed my children, but I couldn’t. We were here in a forest running from an unseen but scary danger. Trying to be alive. We were nomads. Lost souls wandering around without a place to call home.My eyes looked around the group of people that were with us, their faces stricken with pain and determination, all looking for a better life, a new hope.We all wanted the same thing, a place we could call home. A place we could believe in.The ground rumbled, the forest coming to life. Birds moved through the trees out of fright. And from the silence, a growl echoed, deep, primal, hurt.“Lycan king,” Axel muttered, his eyes looking back to where we had come from.My heartbeat spiked