Soon enough, night fell.Elena had declared she wouldn’t leave my side. Instead, she took me out into the open.Tonight was a full moon.One by one, they all began to transform—silver fur bursting through the skin, bones reshaping with wild grace. They howled at the moon in unison. Even Cayden joined them.But not me.The Moon Chosen doesn't need to howl.I watched in silence as the sound of their cries echoed into the dark. Then, just as suddenly, it ended. The wolves shifted back to their human forms. Laughter, food, and dancing followed.That’s when Cayden came to me, eyes dark with intent. I knew what he wanted.But Elena stepped between us, gripping his wrist.“No,” she said firmly. “He’s not leaving my side. Not after what happened. He was rigged, nearly killed. Stuff like that won't ever happen again. And besides”—she gave a tight smile—“tomorrow’s my last day with him. Let me steal him, just for tonight. Please.”Cayden looked at me. I nodded.So did Elena.Reluctantly, she le
“Who are you? What are you? And why are you always helping me?” I demanded, my voice echoing through the dark void. “Why now?”The cloaked figure tilted its head, slowly. “You are asking the wrong questions.”“What do you mean?” I snapped, frustrated. “Tell me what this is.”The figure’s voice dropped lower, ominous and steady. “You are in danger. That body you wear... it does not belong to you.”A chill slid down my spine.“And to keep it, you will have to make a great sacrifice.”I hesitated. “A sacrifice...?”“Yes. Many. But I’m here to assist you in doing what it takes to hold onto it.”“And why is that?” I asked sharply.“You will understand in time,” the figure replied. “Just consider me... a force you can call upon. A presence in the dark. One that helps you survive.”The silence was sharp.“The power inside you,” they continued, “must be used wisely. You and I will help each other. I need that power inside you to accomplish something... and you need me to blend into this world
Cayden and his goons were here.He’d brought the prophets. Three figures, eerie and ancient-looking, and seated himself at the center of the summoning circle like this was some kind of royal ritual.I stood there, clutching the strange mark Elena had found on my neck, fingers trembling. I’d prayed it was just some scar from the seagull attack. Something explainable. But now, I wasn’t so sure.The prophets moved quickly, forming a tight circle around me. Their robes swept the ground as they poured some silver powder onto the floor. I watched in frozen silence as the powder began to shimmer ash white and ghostly forming a glowing ring around me.They started chanting.Low and guttural at first. Then louder. Louder. My ears rang. My vision pulsed. The ash lit up with an unnatural glow, swirling with white light that climbed the air like smoke. My heart slammed against my chest.No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.They’re going to find out. They’ll know I’m not supposed to be here.
I'm exposed.My secret...my circuit, my curse...it’s finally out. No more pretending. No more illusions.But one thing is for sure.Even if they kill me, I’ll come back into this body. This is my cage now. No matter how they try to dispose of me, humiliate me, lock me away... I’ll still be here. Trapped.They think this is justice?When Philip and his goons tried to kill me that night, they proved the worst part. I can’t leave this body. Not unless they find the mirror where I buried it.But no.I’m not going down like this. I won’t give up. I can’t give up.I turned to Cayden. My voice trembled with something between fury and desperation.“You really believe her?”The prophet stepped forward again, cool and steady. “Alpha, soul-shifting cases have been reported before. The spell comes from a forbidden text one used by werewolves who’ve trained in shadow magic. They say it’s taught by a dark figure. One that visits in the dead of night.”Her words were a noose tightening around my nec
Cayden immediately rushed after me.“Darren! Darren”I stormed into my chamber and slammed the door in his face hard.But before I could lock it, he forced it open and grabbed my wrist.“Let me go!”“My love I'm sorry?” His voice was rough, desperate.“You let them embarrass me,” I spat. “You let them call me a monster, a thief. You stood there while they accused me of stealing my own body, Cayden.”He looked stunned, like he didn’t see it that way.“I thought you loved me. I thought you trusted me,” I hissed.“But no because I didn’t choose you, you turned on me. You made your pack treat me like an invader. You let your own people...your traitors kidnap me and stab me.”My voice cracked. “I could’ve died, Cayden.”“I..”“And what did you do in return?” My chest heaved. “You stood there and accused me. Accused me of being an imposter.”I started packing. I couldn’t stay another night here. Maybe I had a day left in this cursed deal, but that one day could be the one that revealed ever
My heart was breaking.No...shattering.Everything I had built, every little piece of control, every wall I raised, every plan I held onto—it was all crumbling, one by one, like sand slipping through my fingers.Then, mercifully, Elena entered.“My Lord,” she said softly but firmly, “they are outside waiting for you.”And somehow… those words gave me the strength I needed. Just enough to push Cayden away.“I’m sorry, Cayden,” I whispered, my voice quiet, almost broken.And he didn’t stop me.He just stood there, watching. Watching me pack my things. Watching me walk away from him. Watching my back as I left him behind.His fists clenched tight at his sides, knuckles white, body trembling but he didn’t follow. Not this time.When I stepped outside, the weight of a hundred stares fell on me. Betas. Elders. Pack members of Blue Moon, their expressions twisted with confusion, pity… maybe even contempt.But I held my head high.And then I saw him.Ryan.Waiting, composed, flanked by his gu
Well, disappointment hit us like a slap to the face.No one came to meet us. No Ryan. No delegation. Just a few guards who looked like they could buy and sell the Blue Moon estate with pocket change.But I must say-Riverdale was huge. Enormous. Blue Moon looked like a pampered toddler next to this place. The gates were towering, the estate stretched far beyond what I could see, and the wolves here... they were different. These weren’t battle-worn soldiers or sweet, starry-eyed villagers.These were aristocrats.Even the guards wore tailored coats, thick woven sashes, and cloaks embroidered with sigils I didn’t recognize. Their boots gleamed. Their hair was combed back in sleek styles. And the way they moved calm, slow, expensive.When we stepped down, two of them reached to help me out of the carriage gently, like I was something precious.Then they pushed Elena back.I turned fast, my voice cold. “She’s my maid. You treat her with the same respect you show me.”They paused. One of th
“Darren, Darren, please calm down!” Elena’s voice trembled as she rushed to my side. Her small hands gripped my wrist, trembling, trying to soothe the rage that poured from every inch of my body. “Please, it won’t be a big deal. Trust me, we’ll—”I turned to her, sharply. My voice cut through her plea like a blade.“Please,” I said, and for once, it wasn’t begging. It was warning. My eyes locked with hers, and I felt the burn behind my lashes. “You keep telling me it won’t be big. That it doesn’t matter. But how can you say that? This—this is supposed to be him proving his love for me.”I stood still, chest heaving, heart bleeding behind my ribs. “I was confused before, Elena. When they all bombarded me with their pretty words and possessive gazes, I didn’t know who to pick. I didn’t know who deserved to be picked. But I chose. I’m trying to choose. And now? If he wants to make this difficult—if he wants to keep playing these little child games—I’ll make the decision for him.”My voic
We got there.Of course we did. Because apparently, I do take midnight strolls to the borderline of a hostile pack just to meet a man who’s too emotionally constipated to walk fifty feet to my room. How romantic.The guards flanked me like I was some kind of diplomatic parcel, fragile and expensive. Elena trailed behind, whispering something about “don’t throw punches unless he deserves it.” Spoiler: he already does.We stopped at the base of a tall, obnoxiously aesthetic tower—because of course Ryan has a tower. Why not a throne and a moat while we’re at it?One of the guards cleared his throat. “Alpha Ryan will meet you shortly. He requests you wait on the rooftop.”Oh. The rooftop.Of course. Because having a conversation on solid, emotionally grounded earth would just be too simple. No let’s put the confused, moody transmigrator with rejection issues on a goddamn rooftop under the stars like a tragic heroine in a slow burn movie.“Rooftop"I turned to Elena, lips pressed into some
“Darren, Darren, please calm down!” Elena’s voice trembled as she rushed to my side. Her small hands gripped my wrist, trembling, trying to soothe the rage that poured from every inch of my body. “Please, it won’t be a big deal. Trust me, we’ll—”I turned to her, sharply. My voice cut through her plea like a blade.“Please,” I said, and for once, it wasn’t begging. It was warning. My eyes locked with hers, and I felt the burn behind my lashes. “You keep telling me it won’t be big. That it doesn’t matter. But how can you say that? This—this is supposed to be him proving his love for me.”I stood still, chest heaving, heart bleeding behind my ribs. “I was confused before, Elena. When they all bombarded me with their pretty words and possessive gazes, I didn’t know who to pick. I didn’t know who deserved to be picked. But I chose. I’m trying to choose. And now? If he wants to make this difficult—if he wants to keep playing these little child games—I’ll make the decision for him.”My voic
Well, disappointment hit us like a slap to the face.No one came to meet us. No Ryan. No delegation. Just a few guards who looked like they could buy and sell the Blue Moon estate with pocket change.But I must say-Riverdale was huge. Enormous. Blue Moon looked like a pampered toddler next to this place. The gates were towering, the estate stretched far beyond what I could see, and the wolves here... they were different. These weren’t battle-worn soldiers or sweet, starry-eyed villagers.These were aristocrats.Even the guards wore tailored coats, thick woven sashes, and cloaks embroidered with sigils I didn’t recognize. Their boots gleamed. Their hair was combed back in sleek styles. And the way they moved calm, slow, expensive.When we stepped down, two of them reached to help me out of the carriage gently, like I was something precious.Then they pushed Elena back.I turned fast, my voice cold. “She’s my maid. You treat her with the same respect you show me.”They paused. One of th
My heart was breaking.No...shattering.Everything I had built, every little piece of control, every wall I raised, every plan I held onto—it was all crumbling, one by one, like sand slipping through my fingers.Then, mercifully, Elena entered.“My Lord,” she said softly but firmly, “they are outside waiting for you.”And somehow… those words gave me the strength I needed. Just enough to push Cayden away.“I’m sorry, Cayden,” I whispered, my voice quiet, almost broken.And he didn’t stop me.He just stood there, watching. Watching me pack my things. Watching me walk away from him. Watching my back as I left him behind.His fists clenched tight at his sides, knuckles white, body trembling but he didn’t follow. Not this time.When I stepped outside, the weight of a hundred stares fell on me. Betas. Elders. Pack members of Blue Moon, their expressions twisted with confusion, pity… maybe even contempt.But I held my head high.And then I saw him.Ryan.Waiting, composed, flanked by his gu
Cayden immediately rushed after me.“Darren! Darren”I stormed into my chamber and slammed the door in his face hard.But before I could lock it, he forced it open and grabbed my wrist.“Let me go!”“My love I'm sorry?” His voice was rough, desperate.“You let them embarrass me,” I spat. “You let them call me a monster, a thief. You stood there while they accused me of stealing my own body, Cayden.”He looked stunned, like he didn’t see it that way.“I thought you loved me. I thought you trusted me,” I hissed.“But no because I didn’t choose you, you turned on me. You made your pack treat me like an invader. You let your own people...your traitors kidnap me and stab me.”My voice cracked. “I could’ve died, Cayden.”“I..”“And what did you do in return?” My chest heaved. “You stood there and accused me. Accused me of being an imposter.”I started packing. I couldn’t stay another night here. Maybe I had a day left in this cursed deal, but that one day could be the one that revealed ever
I'm exposed.My secret...my circuit, my curse...it’s finally out. No more pretending. No more illusions.But one thing is for sure.Even if they kill me, I’ll come back into this body. This is my cage now. No matter how they try to dispose of me, humiliate me, lock me away... I’ll still be here. Trapped.They think this is justice?When Philip and his goons tried to kill me that night, they proved the worst part. I can’t leave this body. Not unless they find the mirror where I buried it.But no.I’m not going down like this. I won’t give up. I can’t give up.I turned to Cayden. My voice trembled with something between fury and desperation.“You really believe her?”The prophet stepped forward again, cool and steady. “Alpha, soul-shifting cases have been reported before. The spell comes from a forbidden text one used by werewolves who’ve trained in shadow magic. They say it’s taught by a dark figure. One that visits in the dead of night.”Her words were a noose tightening around my nec
Cayden and his goons were here.He’d brought the prophets. Three figures, eerie and ancient-looking, and seated himself at the center of the summoning circle like this was some kind of royal ritual.I stood there, clutching the strange mark Elena had found on my neck, fingers trembling. I’d prayed it was just some scar from the seagull attack. Something explainable. But now, I wasn’t so sure.The prophets moved quickly, forming a tight circle around me. Their robes swept the ground as they poured some silver powder onto the floor. I watched in frozen silence as the powder began to shimmer ash white and ghostly forming a glowing ring around me.They started chanting.Low and guttural at first. Then louder. Louder. My ears rang. My vision pulsed. The ash lit up with an unnatural glow, swirling with white light that climbed the air like smoke. My heart slammed against my chest.No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening.They’re going to find out. They’ll know I’m not supposed to be here.
“Who are you? What are you? And why are you always helping me?” I demanded, my voice echoing through the dark void. “Why now?”The cloaked figure tilted its head, slowly. “You are asking the wrong questions.”“What do you mean?” I snapped, frustrated. “Tell me what this is.”The figure’s voice dropped lower, ominous and steady. “You are in danger. That body you wear... it does not belong to you.”A chill slid down my spine.“And to keep it, you will have to make a great sacrifice.”I hesitated. “A sacrifice...?”“Yes. Many. But I’m here to assist you in doing what it takes to hold onto it.”“And why is that?” I asked sharply.“You will understand in time,” the figure replied. “Just consider me... a force you can call upon. A presence in the dark. One that helps you survive.”The silence was sharp.“The power inside you,” they continued, “must be used wisely. You and I will help each other. I need that power inside you to accomplish something... and you need me to blend into this world
Soon enough, night fell.Elena had declared she wouldn’t leave my side. Instead, she took me out into the open.Tonight was a full moon.One by one, they all began to transform—silver fur bursting through the skin, bones reshaping with wild grace. They howled at the moon in unison. Even Cayden joined them.But not me.The Moon Chosen doesn't need to howl.I watched in silence as the sound of their cries echoed into the dark. Then, just as suddenly, it ended. The wolves shifted back to their human forms. Laughter, food, and dancing followed.That’s when Cayden came to me, eyes dark with intent. I knew what he wanted.But Elena stepped between us, gripping his wrist.“No,” she said firmly. “He’s not leaving my side. Not after what happened. He was rigged, nearly killed. Stuff like that won't ever happen again. And besides”—she gave a tight smile—“tomorrow’s my last day with him. Let me steal him, just for tonight. Please.”Cayden looked at me. I nodded.So did Elena.Reluctantly, she le