MATED TO BLOODHOUND

Jayden was stifled for what seemed like eternity…He stood there nestling my lifeless flesh in his arms, blood soaking through his shirt. My blood — the blood of his mate, and that of his son.His only son.A mixture that made his jaw clench and release as the room blurred at intervals.Voices.Echoes.The scent of betrayal and cringe lies… of silver, burnt fur, and rust.And then… silence.“Zoe…” His voice cracked as he gently brushed a blood-matted curl from my cheek.“Please…” he begged. But I was gone.They’d killed me.And his son.Jayden’s knees hit the floor with a thud, the walls of the once-hallowed Hall of Wisdom closing in around us — the place where justice was supposed to be served had failed us.Sara — who was holding Jayden’s arm minutes ago now inched backward, her lips somewhat trembling. Perhaps she had realized that he now knew the truth. Wolfsbane could only mask it for so long…“You LIED TO ME!” Jayden erupted like thunder. His wolf surged forward, claws ripping o

The Crescent meeting had taken an awfully long time. I had been sitting in a waiting room for so long. The moonlight shimmered on the window railing when I lost track of time and dozed off.“Zoe?” I felt a tap on my shoulder.“Yes?” I purred.“Wake up.”Lifting my gaze, I saw Maggie’s grim face and stoic poise. I sprang up, adjusting myself.“You may enter now.” She gestured at the wood-brown door in front of me.“Thank you.” I forced out a smile, but she wasn’t having it. I proceeded into the office nonetheless, ignoring her as she slammed the door after me.“My girl!” Courtney’s brimming smile was the first thing that greeted me. Her warm aura was all I needed to forget the hours of waiting. She sat at the end of a long mahogany table, legs crossed.“Good evening,” I hollered.“Evening to you too, my love. Please, sit.”I obliged.“So, I found you asleep in the anteroom and didn’t want to wake you.”“Apologies, Courtney, I—I didn’t mean to.”“No need for apologies. I know the meetin

My room was a small heaven, but rather depressing. After about two hours of unpacking, bathing, and settling in, I decided to step out.Taking a deep breath—relieved to finally be rid of Sara, for now—I changed into something casual: baggy blue jeans and a pink sweater, with my hair tied into a ponytail.I knew exactly where to go and what was to follow.The cafeteria.My heart was beating erratically when I got there. I just sat, waiting. I didn’t know how exactly it was going to happen since some things had changed from the past timelines. For example, I was never supposed to have a room to myself in this school. But now I did, courtesy of my deepened connection with Courtney.Tampering with the future was a chain reaction. I knew this, but couldn’t help it. I just kept wondering what else I had altered by my actions or inactions.“A smoothie, please?” I said to a girl walking up to me with a tray in her hand. I could tell she was a junior on duty.“Alright.” She stepped away with n