LOGINCHAPTER TWENTY-ONE~FREYA ASHWOOD~I tried to shake off the impact of Theo’s words. For now, at least.We were herded to the training grounds group after group. It was our turn.Theo gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze, though his own face stayed tight with worry. Together, we followed the rest of the students out toward the back of the academy campus, where manicured lawns gave way to massive, dirt-ringed combat fields.The wind blew cold across the open space, whipping my hair across my face. I tugged at the hem of my skirt, feeling profoundly exposed. Around me, the new female students looked on edge too but their postures screamed wolf, ready to surface at the first threat. I had nothing but weak reflexes and hopes that I’d be able to take a hit pretty well.Equipment was already set up: wooden platforms, padded rings, obstacle courses. It made me wonder if the academy had foreseen this nightmare or thrown it together in hours after the kidnapping news broke.“Listen up!” The i
CHAPTER TWENTY~~FREYA~~The SUV rolled to a stop right in front of Gryphon’s iron gates, and the knot in my stomach tightened another notch. I hadn’t slept much last night. Every time I closed my eyes I saw Xavier’s bare chest in the kitchen, heard Quinn’s rough voice telling me I was his, felt the way my own stupid body had reacted to both of them even while my head screamed no. I’d turned down Xavier’s offer for help like it burned me. I’d told Quinn straight to his face that I would never be his. And yet the words still sounded like a lie I was trying to force myself to believe.Xavier hadn’t come with us this morning. He’d muttered something about handling his own ride and left the manor before we even stepped outside. Part of me was relieved. The other part kept wondering why.I stared out the window and my breath caught at the unexpected sight before me.GirlsEverywhere.A dozen of them—no, more—were walking through the front courtyard in the academy uniform, skirts flutteri
CHAPTER NINETEEN~~FREYA~~I slammed the math textbook shut with more force than necessary. The formulas might as well have been written in another language for all the sense they were making. I glanced at the clock, it was barely past eight. Seven straight hours locked in this room, and I had nothing to show for it except a pounding headache and eyes that felt like sandpaper.No maids had come by with dinner either. Not that I blamed them. After I sent back the last three trays untouched, they’d probably decided I wasn’t worth the effort. My stomach twisted painfully, reminding me I hadn’t eaten since the few bites of cafeteria vegetables at lunch. The lightheadedness was getting worse.I slipped out of my room and crept down the stairs as quietly as I could, ears straining for any sign of movement. The manor felt eerily empty; no maids, no guards in the halls. Good. The last thing I needed was more eyes on me tonight or finding Quinn lurking in the shadows. My breath hitched, recal
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ I forced the slightly chewed vegetables down my throat and finally risked a glance in their direction. My breath hitched. All three of them were staring straight at me. Their eyes felt like daggers pricking my skin. Xavier wasn’t eating. He just watched me with that same unreadable intensity, like he could see straight through my skull . Quinn’s jaw was clenched so tight I could see the muscle jumping, his fork stabbing into his meat like it had personally offended him. Even Ryker kept glancing over, his usual smirk completely gone. Theo cleared his throat. “You know… if they’re bothering you, I can—” “They’re not,” I cut in quickly. Too quickly. “It’s fine. They’re just… protective, I guess.” “Protective,” Theo repeated, clearly not buying it. He leaned back in his chair, studying me. “Freya, you can tell me if something’s wrong. I’m not scared of the Ashwood name like everyone else.” Before I could answer, a shadow fell over our table. Qu
CHAPTER 17~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~The class dragged on for exactly two hours, but we didn’t even get a proper break. One teacher left and another walked in like it was some kind of relay. By the third period, I was barely hanging on—tired, hungry, and still sore from my stupid escape attempt the night before.I snapped back to the present when I heard my name.“F… R… E… Y… A.”Every letter was dragged out by a short, pot bellied teacher, who had somehow appeared right next to my desk. The whole class turned to stare. Heat rushed up my neck and flooded my cheeks.“He’s been trying to get your attention for the last two minutes,” Theo whispered beside me.I swallowed hard and forced a small smile. “Mr. Windster,” I said, reading the name off the plaque on his chest.“Care to answer the question I asked two minutes ago?” His voice was sharp, his face already twisted in a scowl.“I… I got distracted for a second,” I mumbled.His eyebrow shot up. “Distracted by what?Thoughts about the murderou
~~FREYA~~I stood under the shower, allowing the cold seep into my skin.They had challenged Damien, yet again. “We stay and she stays” Quinn had said with a finality to his words.. “The Blackthorn pack will not wage a war. I can assure you”“You seem to be unnerved by the chaos you blindly caused!” Damien had spat with irritation. I hadn’t missed the pure loathe that crossed Damien features as his gaze landed on me. His eyes had screamed. “It’s your fault” before he stormed out.None of them had said a word to me that night. They had only assigned a maid to see me off to my room and placed more guards right in front of my room windows. When I peaked out this morning, two guards still paraded the spot.The idea of escaping had died.I couldn’t afford to, not anymore. I’d stay and see how the moon goddess decides my fate but one thing, I would never accept to be Luna to my brother. I will not be part of such incest. I scrubbed the dirt off my skin, mentally preparing myself for anoth
CHAPTER FIVE ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~| Beatrice was standing by the car, her arms crossed, her face a mask of pinched irritation. She didn't look like a mother losing a child, she looked like a landlord finally getting rid of a bad tenant. "You just have to make a fool of yourself every single time
CHAPTER FOUR ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ I don't remember the walk home. I only remember the sanctuary of my bed, the sheets pulled over my head as if they could hide me from the destiny clawing at my throat. Then, the world was ripped away. Beatrice’s hands landed on my shoulders, brutally jerking me awa
CHAPTER THREE ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ The Town Hall was finally in sight. Polished carriages and sleek SUVs lined the drive. I slipped through the service entrance, hoping to be invincible to the others. But as soon as I hit the industrial light of the kitchen, the head cook, Clara, stopped mid-shout.
CHAPTER TWO ~~FREYA ASHWOOD~~ I pulled the back door shut quietly and made my way in between alleyways to get to the banquet. The alleys were quiet, not a single person in sight. A gush of wind that blew past had me wrapping my arms around myself to ease the cold. “Find your mate. It’s your onl







