Elena POVI woke up sharp. The sun was barely in the sky, but my eyes flung open like they'd been waiting all night. I didn't remember getting much sleep. And how could I? Ryan had gone on another raid call, and considering how the previous one went, I had cause to be worried. And just like that, my thoughts snapped to him. As it were throughout last night. I could only sit down here and hope he's alright. “Please be okay.”I whispered it into the pillow before sitting up. My hands shook a little as I reached for my robe. I didn’t bother brushing my hair. I didn't feel like it. I didn't feel like doing anything until I see Ryan. But maybe, taking a walk around, or talking to someone could clear my mind. I stepped out of my room, and then, the soft air of the morning hit me. The halls were quiet, servants just starting their day. I made my way down, to the long hallway that led to the kitchens and the dining hall.The smell of food hit me first. Fresh bread, something warm
Ryan's POV The gates creaked open and the wind hit me first… cool, sharp, cutting through the blood and sweat caked on my skin. Home.The others were behind me, dragging their tired bodies and bruises along. The warriors ahead of us called out, opening the way, and I walked forward with slow, deliberate steps. My body was screaming, my knuckles still stung, and I could still taste the iron of the last fight on my tongue. But my mind was elsewhere.I was scanning through the pack.Looking for her. Then… I saw her.Elena.She stood near the steps, the wind catching strands of her hair, her lips parted, eyes wide, like she’d stopped breathing altogether.And fuck.The rest of the world just disappeared.She looked at me like she wasn’t sure if I was real. Like she’d waited for this moment, held onto it through every ache and tear and silent prayer. My chest clenched. I didn’t know if it was the injuries or her—but it hurt. In the best kind of way.Our eyes locked. That bond sparked, pu
Elena POVI gave myself a moment in front of Ryan's door and then pushed it open. “Elena?”My name on his lips stopped me before I could take another step. I inhaled sharply and then stepped inside. “Hey,” he said, standing up at once. “You alright?”“I… yeah.” I closed the door gently behind me. “I needed to talk to you.”He motioned for me to sit, and I did. “What is it?” he asked, his brows folded.I gave myself a moment, letting the silence stretch.“I saw Aria today just before you arrive and we talked.”He nodded, waiting for me to finish. “She said…” My hands curled at my sides. “She said I might not be wolfless after all.”His breath hitched. Just a little. The smallest flicker of shock on his face.“She says she can feel it in me. The scent of a wolf. A powerful one. That maybe… the reason I haven’t shifted isn’t because I’m empty. But because I’m blocked.” I looked up, my eyes meeting his. “That something… maybe what happened to my mother… has locked it inside me.”He
Elena's POVThe sun cracked through the edge of the curtains, brightening the room. Warm, golden light spilled across the room. I lay there for a moment, staring at the ceiling. My heart beat a little quicker than usual.Today was different. Today meant something. For the first time in a while, I had something I really looked forward to. I threw off the sheets and sat up at once. I ran my fingers through my hair, then pressed them against my chest, right over my heart.Could I really do this? Could I really let out that wolf inside me after all these years? Aria believed I could, she was so confident, but I'm notShe said it was buried inside me, caged by pain I’d carried since I was a child. That the wolf wasn’t gone.. It just waiting.I got dressed quickly, barely containing my excitement. I had something to believe in, something that made me feel like maybe I belonged in this world of warriors, of wolves. I pulled my hair back into a loose ponytail, grabbed a flask of wate
Thorne's POV“Sir!” Alexander, my new Beta said, his voice firm. “Here are the warriors!” I faced a line of wariors. They stood like statues, shoulders squared, chests puffed, eyes forward… but I wasn’t impressed.I paced slowly in front of the line of warriors, the cold morning air biting at my skin. I kept my hands behind my back, my gaze sweeping through each and everyone one of their faces. “This,” I said, my tone very bitter, “is it?”No one dared speak.I turned sharply to face the man at the center, Alexander said he was their leader. A tall one, broad-shouldered, with a long scar running down the side of his face.He seemed larger and more stronger than the others. He took a step forward, his shoulders broad and straight. “Sir,” he started, “we’ve been stretched thin since…”“I didn’t ask for excuses,” I snapped, cutting him off. “I asked why this pack’s elite warriors look more like a disorganized group of orphans.”His mouth twitched. He was biting his tongue.“Spea
Elena POV The knock on my door came loudand fast.“Elena, up! We’ve got work to do!” I heard Aria’s loud voice. I groaned. “Why so early?” I mumbled, but I was already pulling the sheets off.I slid my legs into my slippers, dragged my feet to the door. By the time I opened the door, she was standing there with a determined. “Dress warm. We’re heading deeper into the woods.”What?! “Why..”“And bring anything of your mother's too.”She didn’t wait for a reply. She turned on her heel and was gone.Anything of my mother's? What was Aria up to? I got dressed quickly and marched downstairs. Aria was waiting at the usually usual place. The far end of the training fields. I met her and without much hesitation we walked into the forest. The forest was quieter than usual. Aria didn’t say much, and I didn’t ask questions. I could tell this was different from before. The Memory Run had cracked something open in me. And now, whatever we were doing today… it was about facing what came
Ryan's POVThe council room was dimly lit. The passage way was dead silent. We had to see the council members and inform them about Crystal. Trevor and I pushed through the doors, and the silence deepened. They must’ve seen it on our faces. The weary looks on our faces. Elder Jareth stood slowly, narrowing his eyes. “Alpha Ryan. What news do you bring at this hour?”I moved to the front of the table, Trevor a step behind. “We have confirmed intelligence,” I began. “Crystal… is no longer rogue.”A murmur rippled through the council.“She’s joined the Shadow Blood pack,” Trevor added, voice sharp. “And not just joined. She’s the fated mate of Thorne, son of Marvin and… their new Alpha.”Gasps escaped their lips .One of the elders, an elderly woman with silver hair tied back in braids, stood up. “Are you certain?”I nodded. “Our scouts saw it themselves. She’s there clear and open.”Elder Jareth stepped forward, face hard. “Then this isn’t just personal anymore. This is strategy.”
Zaphyr’s POVThe morning sun filtered through the windows of the White Snow pack house. I was seated in front of my oak desk, my head buried to the paper in front of me, going over the latest patrol reports. It had been a quiet morning, just the way I preferred it.To be honest, that's how it's been for a while now. Then the door flung open.“Zaphyr!” Lucy's loud voice rang out, too high-pitched. My head snapped up as she strode in, her eyes shining with excitement.“What is it?” I asked, instantly on guard. Good news and Lucy rarely came without strings attached.She walked quickly toward me, barely containing herself. “You won’t believe it. I just received word from… Crystal. She’s alive.”I stared at her. “What?”She nodded quickly, a smile spreading across her face. “She’s alive. And not just that… she’s with the Shadow Blood pack. With Alpha Thorne.”I froze. The name struck something deep in my chest. That familiar sting of rage returned almost instantly.I stood up slowly,
Thorne's POVI stood in the barracks, the smell of steel and sweat thick in the air. Kael, one of my most trusted warheads, waited before me with some important information. Kael beside being my most trusted warheads, was practically the only man I have ever trusted and he didn't let me down. He’d followed me from the beginning, even when I was just a pampered son of an Alpha. He gave a stiff nod. “Zephyr held his end of the deal, he gave us two two hundred warriors and twelve scouts. I didn’t answer right away. I stared past him at the stretch of men training in the yard,white snow warriors. Two hundred wasn't a bad number. It puts us at an advantage to Star Raiders, but i wasn't still not sure if it enough to put me at ease.Star Raiders posses the most skilled men of all packs, this number would be enough against any other pack but them.And their quality?” I finally asked.Kael scratched his chin. “Better than what I expected.But still from what I see they lack motivation. F
Ryan POVThe morning air was soft and chilly, just as I liked it. I stood in the clearing, already warmed up, watching as Elena jogged toward me. Her eyes were sharp, and focused. Something inside her had shifted these past few days, she was more determined. Maybe it was the direwolf in her, or maybe it was the Crystal effect. “Ready?” I asked, tossing her a wooden blade. It smacked into her palm, but she didn’t even flinch.“As I’ll ever be,” she replied, straightening her shoulders. “Good.” I took a step back and tapped the staff in my hand against the ground. “Today’s drill is called 'Guard and Break.' You’re going to defend against five strikes. Not dodge… block. I want you to hold your ground.”She nodded, tightening her stance. She wasn't even hesitating or over thinking. “Begin,” I said, and lunged towards her.I first targeted her lower region. She blocked with the tip of her blade, her knees bending with the pressure. I brought the next hit from the right, but she ca
Crystal POVI sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the small table across the room. My mind was far from here, it was just on her… Elena.The name rang in my head like continuously, my step sister. The girl I always thought would be nothing, just weak and powerless. And now she's... a dire wolf?I clenched my jaw tightly. I had trained for years first while I was here and then more at Star Raiders and then the time I was rogue I mastered my craft, honed every move, sharpened every instinct. I was stronger, faster and naturally gifted than any other female werewolf. But now all anyone could talk about was her. The miracle. The girl who was never meant to shift and suddenly turned into one of the rarest and most powerful breeds of wolves in existence.The door creaked open. I didn’t turn."I figured I’d find you brooding," Thorne said. His voice was calm, almost amused. "You’ve been quiet since we arrived."I finally looked up as he stepped inside, his large frame fillin
Elena’s POVThe morning came quickly, I could barely sleep last night. I couldn't wait any more, I was just ready to go out there and train. I didn't waste any more time, I quickly freshened up and dashed out of my room at once. It didn't waste time before I stood in the east field, surrounded by the mist of the early day. The air was cold, crisp, and sharp against my skin.I wrapped my arms around myself and exhaled slowly. The silence in the fields was almost suffocating. It felt like the peace before the storm. Then I heard footsteps coming. Ryan emerged from the mist, dressed in a black training shirt, sleeves pushed up to his elbows, expression unreadable. He looked sharp and focused. He had his game face on. What he said about no taking it easy on me was true. Today, he wasn't here to protect, instead he might be the one to put me in danger. “You’re early,” he said as he approached, his voice low and steady.“So are you.” I replied sharply. He smirked, just a little.
Zaphyr’s POVI sat at the head of the table, patiently waiting for their arrival. Just then the doors creaked open and then heavy boots echoed in the hall. I didn't need to turn to know who had arrived, it was them. That presence… it was unmistakable. The chill in the air thickened as they stepped in.I turned slowly, eyes landing on the daughter I hadn’t seen in months My step daughter, but the one who I always treated with a silver spoon.Crystal.She looked different than last time I saw her. She looked sharper and more dangerous, and for some reason she was oozing a certain power and presence and not just because of the man standing beside her. Him… Thorne, I assumed. The new Alpha of the Shadow Blood Pack.I didn’t greet them.“I see you’ve found your way home,” I said instead, voice like ice.Crystal raised her chin. “Only temporarily.”Her tone didn’t waver. There was no softness, no hesitation. That little girl who once begged for my attention, for my approval… she was g
Crystal’s POVThe cold wind stung my cheeks as our horses trotted toward the great iron gates of the White Snow Pack. I kept my chin high, eyes focused. It had been months since I stood on this snow-covered land.Months since I left this place with a joyous as ever and happy. I had Ryan, my mother's love and my step father's compassion, I thought I had it all. And now I was back, not as prodigal daughter, but as the weapon of another pack.Beside me, Thorne rode silently, his expression unreadable but his aura radiating power.From a distance, the guards spotted us arriving, they instantly raised their weapons in self defense.“State your pack!” one of them barked.“Shadow Blood,” Thorne answered flatly. And then, I knew the answer that was coming next. The reaction was immediate. They stepped forward at once, pulling out their blades, ready to fight. “Turn around,” the same guard said. “This territory is closed to your kind.”Thorne’s eyes narrowed. He didn't waste any time to
Elena’s POVI knocked gently on Ryan's door, but there was no answer. And then I knocked again, still no answer. The silence inside his room felt oddly empty, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Or maybe I was just over thinking? Maybe he was out, busy with something important.Yes, that must be why. I didn’t mind too much, I had all the time in the world to find him. The thought of being near him, especially after everything that had happened last night, made me feel whole.I turned down the hallway, making my way to the war room. Maybe he was there, there were always matters to discuss, and as the Alpha, Ryan was there almost all the time.When I reached the door to the war room, I hesitated for a moment. It was slightly opened, and I could hear voices inside.One of them was unmistakable was Ryan’s. The other voice was Trevor’s. They spoke, their tone serious. This had to be important. I leaned in to listen closely. “...Elena is not ready, Trevor. She
Ryan POVI stayed by the porch a few minutes longer, letting everything all sink in. Even though my body was tired, my mind just kept replaying every moment of Elena’s shift, from the look in her eyes to her figure, the dire wolf, the rarest werewolf species of all.She had no idea how rare and how powerful she was.I finally forced myself to move, stepping off the porch and then walking toward the war room. I had told Trevor to wait for me in the war room. I also figured Aria would already be there too. Knowing her well, she would never missed anything important as this, and sure enough, when I pushed the door open, she and Trevor were seated around the long oak table.They both looked up immediately.“She did it,” I said simply, my voice laced with a tinge of pride.And why not? My fated mate is now a dire wolf. Aria’s face broke into a smile. “I knew she would,” she said, rising from her seat and coming over to me. “How is she?”"Exhausted," I said, running a hand through my ha
Ryan POV The night air was crisp and fresh. The moon hung low above us. I stood there in the fields, staring at Elena, feeling my heart hammering inside my chest harder with every second.She looked terrified.I didn’t blame her. This was it.. the Anchor Bond. The final step of all her days of hardwork. This was her shot at finally shifting.And I was supposed to be her anchor.I walked closer to her, slow and careful, I didn't want to put her on edge. Her eyes found mine, wide and glassy.“Are you sure about this?” she whispered, her voice already trembling.I didn't answer immediately, just kept my eyes on hers. “I’m sure,” I said. “I won’t leave you, Elena. Not now. Not ever.”Her face flushed with warmth at my words, and then she nodded, tightening her face. I stepped closer, enough that she could feel me without me even touching her.“Close your eyes.”She obeyed.“Breathe with me.”We fell into rhythm, her breaths shaky but matching mine. I could smell her warm scent, she