LOGINAiden's POVI let out a sigh as I stretch my legs out in front of me and watch Jasmine, Yara, Emily, and Felixâs new mate, Kirsten, play volleyball in the pool. I take a swig of my beer. This is the first time weâve really let loose since everything happened. With the state of the kingdom, there hasnât been much downtime, but our fathers suggested we need to try and bond more with Felix and his new mate, so here we are.I watch Kirsten squeal as she celebrates her score and frown slightly.None of us have warmed to her.I know she wasnât here when everything went down, but she just seems too... happy all the time. She isnât concerned that Tobias has been lost forever, or that Zahra...No.Sheâs entirely too happy to find that sheâs going to be Luna Queen, and far too ready to lord it over everyone. Sheâs careful not to show that side to anyone too important, but the girls have all seen her being a completely entitled brat in front of the castle staff.And itâs a real worry.We cannot
Edwardo's POVWe step out of the cabin, the cool wind whipping around us as we head over to the small fenced-off area out the back. Itâs sheltered, and I guess where equipment and RTVs are stored when the cabin is occupied.Thor is lying on his side, his feet still hobbled together in case he somehow fights off the sedation. I cannot afford for him to either go on a feral rampage and kill someone, or run back into the wilderness.Zahra lets out a small strangled noise as she sees him and hurries over. She crouches down and folds her arms around his neck and shoulders.âHow long?â she asks, her voice muffled by his fur.I know what sheâs asking.âHe disappeared a week after you were taken,â I say, my voice sounding weak.Her head snaps up, her eyes shining with tears. âHow long ago was that?â Her voice is a hoarse whisper.Her face is set with horror. She knows. She knows the odds.âFive and a half months,â I say, my voice gentle.Her eyes shutter.Tears stream down her face as she bur
Edwardo's POVWe bind Thor with hobbles and hoist him up by his feet from a large branch. Then eight of the warriors lift him and begin to carry him back to the cabin.I canât fucking believe we found him. Here, of all places.Although I guess it makes sense.Even feral, he found his way to his mate.I thought he was going to attack her just then. I fired on instinct. After everything, I couldnât stand to see Zahra hurt, but I also know Tobias would never recover if he injured her.I wish the team hadnât just found out who he was, but I can secure their discretion at the debrief later. No one knows Tobias has been missing or that heâs gone feral. Hopefully I can contain this within the team... and the prisoners.I scan them.Several are injured from the attack. Two are dead, but it could have been worse. Zahra, and Thor, I assume, did a heroic job of protecting them. I know a few of the girls were fighting when we arrived, but this could have ended very badly if we had decided to wait
Zahra's POVI hear a disturbance from behind me, and I see a blur of black barrelling out of the trees. The wolf is massive, blood coating his mouth and chest, his fur matted and filthy, his eyes rimmed with red. He looks like a crazed beast.âFeral, watch out,â Zanthe yells at me as we continue fighting.Fuck.A feral wolf.Iâve never seen one before, but Iâve heard stories. They are worse than rogues, because without their human they are utterly devoid of any compassion or sanity. Briefly, I feel sorry for this wolf. Given his size and colour, heâs clearly an Alpha, or maybe a powerful Beta. The only reason they tend to go feral is banishment or the loss of their mate.This poor soul.What happened to make him like this?No matter the reason though, this one, given its size and possibly training, will be extremely dangerous and wonât care who it kills. So far itâs helping us, taking out rogue after rogue. From its trajectory and the blood covering it, Iâd say itâs been picking off t
Zahra's POVThe trees are not as dense as they appeared from the ridge. There are several large clearings spread out, and we are passing through open areas frequently. Iâm following the scent of fresh water on the breeze. Weâre getting desperate now. The sun is high, and weâve been moving almost all day, with nothing to drink since yesterday morning. We canât go on much longer.Iâm trying to push our pace as much as possible, but they are struggling to keep up. Zanthe is struggling too, and every beat of Samuelsâ heart feels slower than the last. Iâm getting really worried. Heâs not spoken much today, and when weâve stopped to rest, heâs been very still.Iâve seen the worry in Sallyâs eyes when she checked him over, but thereâs nothing we can do except get him to a medic.âHow far out are you guys?â Henryâs voice comes through the link.âWeâre coming up the slope to the cabin now, but I canât see any smoke or anything. Are you inside?âI sigh, even as my heart clenches with excitement.
Zahra's POVBy the time the others arrive, Iâve got a large fire going, Iâve skinned and gutted the stag with Zantheâs claws, and Iâve started cutting up the meat to make into a stew. I have some large flat stones heating in the fire, and I plan to fry some meat on those too.When they reach me, the exhaustion on their faces is almost universally masked by the relief of knowing help is on its way. My pack all head straight to me and hug me tight as Samuels climbs down off Genevieveâs back. He smiles exhaustedly at me as he limps over, but before he reaches me, his eyes go blank as he receives his own link, and I see his whole-body sag with relief.Somehow, seeing him make contact with the Task Force makes it real, and tears fill my eyes, and my knees give out. I sink to the ground, my pack around me, and I cry. They cry, and Iâm fairly sure more of the girls join us.After we all finish crying, we set up camp and start cooking, the large pot bubbling in the fire. The meat is mixed wit
Max's POVâOk!â I say out loud, only realising after a second that Iâve spoken.âOk, what?â comes a groggy voice from behind me.Shit. Iâd forgotten Xander was still here. I turn to face him.âSorry, I didnât mean to wake you. Medus is just going on about something.âHe smiles faintly. âItâs ok. Iâ
Zahra's POVâWeâre running the ten-kilometre orange track today,â Thompson calls out. I have no idea what that is, but if itâs anything like the trails at Night Howlers, itâll be clearly marked with orange paint at intervals.âKeep up,â he says, stepping into position.Then, without warning, he tak
Zahra's POVThis afternoon weâre working in our groups again, focusing on trying to meld with our wolves. Those of us who can already do a combined physical shift are split into two smaller groups of twelve and taken outside onto the training field.Weâre seated in two circles within sight of each o
Zahra's POVHenry joins us a few minutes later.âHi, ladies,â he says, his deep voice rumbling slightly as he drops down on the lounger beside me. When he stands to take off his shirt, I canât help but look.Iâve seen Henry shirtless plenty of times around the pool at the academy. Heâs strong, like







