Se connecterThe first time Haven saw Vance after the livestream, she thought she was hallucinating. It was late afternoon. Haven had been moving quickly, head lowered, hoping to avoid the whispers that now followed her everywhere. Then she turned a corner and stopped.Vance stood at the end of the corridor. Alive, whole and watching her.For a moment, her mind refused to process it. Her breath caught mid-inhale, chest tightening so abruptly it bordered on pain.He should have been dead. The thought flashed across her face before she could conceal it.Vance noticed but he smiled. He knew “Haven,” he said calmly, his voice almost conversational. “You look surprised.”She forced her spine straight, forced blood back into her pale cheeks.“I…I heard you were recovering…after you…fainted” she replied carefully.“Recovering? Fainted?” He took a slow step forward. “Is that what you call it?”Her pulse quickened. He stopped just close enough for his presence to feel deliberate.“But anyway. I’ve alwa
The livestream ended briefly afterwards. The masked man lowered the device that had broadcast Haven’s unraveling to the world. The flood of comments froze mid-scroll. The connection dissolved into black.Inside the dim warehouse where the interrogation had taken place, silence followed like a heavy curtain dropping after a performance.Haven’s breathing filled the space. Her wrists were still bound, her shoulders trembling from the aftershocks of forced confession. The overhead light buzzed faintly against concrete walls.The masked man stood still for a moment longer. Then, slowly, he reached up and removed his mask. “I didn’t use real gasoline,” he said, gesturing toward the canister that had sat ominously near her chair during the stream. “You were never going to burn.”Haven stared at him, tears streaking her face.“You’re insane,” she whispered hoarsely.“No,” he replied evenly. He stepped back, giving her air, though she did not notice the gesture as mercy.“I only needed the
Rue’s POVI had not left the television station yet. I was halfway down the corridor toward the exit when someone gasped behind me.“Is this real?”Another voice answered, strained and disbelieving. “It’s live.”I turned.A cluster of staff members had gathered around a tablet. One of the interns looked pale, her hand covering her mouth. On the screen, a shaky video feed flickered under dim lighting.For a fraction of a second, I didn’t recognize what I was seeing. Then I did.It was Haven, bound to a chair. Her silver dress now wrinkled, hair slightly disheveled, wrists secured behind her back. A harsh overhead light cast shadows under her eyes, hollowing her expression.I stepped closer without thinking.The livestream interface scrolled rapidly with comments, thousands already flooding in. The viewer count climbed by the second.This wasn’t a private threat, it was a spectacle meant for everyone to see.A masked man stood partially within frame. His voice was distorted electronical
From behind the cameras, producers exchanged glances. The audience, though trained to remain composed, could not suppress the subtle ripple of unease that had taken hold.The host, who had maintained professionalism throughout the confrontation, suddenly changed his expression.His fingers lifted to his earpiece.“Excuse me,” he said softly, though the microphone caught it clearly. “I’m being told we’ve just received additional information.”The room stilled again. Haven, who had just begun to regain her composure after Rue’s recording, stiffened.The host listened for several seconds, nodding faintly as if absorbing something.Then he looked directly into the main camera.“We have confirmation from on-site rescue personnel regarding the island incident.”Haven’s spine straightened further, but her shoulders betrayed her. “According to field reports,” the host continued carefully, “Haven did not arrive at the rescue site earlier than previously implied. In fact, rescue staff confirme
Rue’s POVI was surprised when Haven arrived moments after I did. I never realized the same TV station would also invite her to the same interview. But it wasn't surprising given that TV fished for drama whenever they could.She wore a pale silver dress. And when she smiled, it was gentle. To anyone watching without context, she looked like the embodiment of grace. The host greeted us warmly, voice bright with anticipation. The audience, though limited, carried an electric undercurrent. Recent events within the pack had already circulated widely. Most prominently was the recent rescue missions and the rumors of internal tension.We took our seats opposite one another.The host began.“Recent developments within the pack have raised questions about leadership structure and crisis management. Both of you hold influential positions in your respective packs. Let’s start with operational oversight…Rue?”I inclined my head slightly.“First of all, thank you for having me over,” I said calm
Hours later, Vance heard voices from far away. At some point, there was pain, like drowning slowly in something invisible. He tried to move but he couldn't. He tried to breathe deeper but failed.A voice cut through the fog.“His pulse is stabilizing.”Another voice.“Good thing we got to him early.”When Vance forced his eyes open, the ceiling above him was unfamiliar.He was in a room with dim lighting. His throat felt raw and his limbs heavy.He turned his head slightly and froze.Rue stood beside the bed. Her posture was straight and her expression unreadable.“You’re awake,” she said calmly.His mind struggled to catch up.“What…”His voice cracked.“What happened?”She didn’t answer immediately.Rue’s POVWhen Vance was stable enough to sit upright, I dismissed the attending physician and remained alone in the room with him. His skin had regained some color, but exhaustion hollowed his features. There was no arrogance left in his posture now. Only the awareness of someone who h
Rue’s POVI stopped fighting the ground beneath me and felt it instead, the weight of my body, the alignment of my spine, the tension coiled deep in my limbs.I had not survived by flailing. I had survived by enduring, waiting and learning when to strike.When Haven charged again, confident and car
Rue’s POVThe very next week, I took Iris to the beach so that she could have some fun. As expected, Iris was having more than fun. After days of regular schooling and training, her brain was exhausted. She giggled as she splashed tiny feet in the shallow tide, her curls bouncing.We were only ther
Aiden’s PerspectiveI stood at the edge of my pack’s command tent, watching Rue move through the camp.She gave orders quietly and distributed supplies with efficiency. People listened when she spoke, not because she raised her voice, but because she didn’t need to. Even now, after everything, the
Rue’s PerspectiveThe number of mutated rabid wolves grew every single day.Reports came in like clockwork, scratches here, bites there, a border breach narrowly contained, a patrol that never returned. Even with centralized control, even with culling operations, the sense of pressure never eased.







