As the world around us shifted once more, the human city dissolved into nothingness, replaced by the familiar surroundings of the enchanted forest. I held on to Veronica tightly, reassuring her that we were safe, that we were going home. She was back with me now, thanks to Simone, and I swore I would never let her out of my sight again. When the swirling sensation finally subsided, we found ourselves in the heart of the enchanted forest, the soft glow of fairy lights surrounding us. Veronica and I collapsed onto the soft forest floor, panting and exhausted from our ordeal. “We did it, Veronica. We're safe now,” I whispered, grateful for the bond between us that had seen us through the darkest of times. Veronica nodded, a small smile of relief gracing her lips. “Thank you, Hallie, for coming to save me and not giving in on me. You are the best big sister. I want to see our family now and everything to be ok.” she said. Just then, Simone appeared beside us, her expression earn
"Who are you?" Veronica whimpered, cowering behind me as a towering, ominous figure emerged from the shadows. The man's cruel laughter cut through the tense silence like a knife."You don't remember me, little one?" he mocked his voice a sinister rasp that sent chills down my spine. The imposing silhouette stepped into the soft fairy light, revealing a gaunt, twisted face I had hoped never to see again. A sense of dread washed over me like icy tendrils - this was no mere foe but the same evil force that had held Veronica captive, the monster we had fought so desperately to defeat. He was trying to trick us into thinking it was two different people."Don't tell me your pitiful little mind has already forgotten our time together," he sneered, fixing Veronica with a predatory stare that made her tremble violently. "After all the delightful torture I put you through to break your will."White-hot rage surged through my veins. How dare this vile creature show his face here, in our sanctua
Prologue: From a young age, Hallie knew what she wanted: to become the best warrior in the kingdom. She trained tirelessly, day and night, honing her skills and perfecting her craft. She knew that her path would be difficult, but she was determined to succeed. As she grew older, Hallie's ambition only grew stronger. She knew that she would have to make sacrifices along the way, but she was willing to do whatever it took to achieve her dreams. But there was one thing that Hallie never wanted: a mate. She saw the bonds that tied her friends and family together, and she knew that she didn't want that kind of attachment. She wanted to be free to pursue her own path, without anyone tying her down. And then she met Hugh. Hugh was unlike anyone she had ever met before. He was strong, smart, and charming, and he had a way of making her feel things that she had never felt before. Hallie tried to resist him, tried to push him away, but he was relentless. As she trained away from
I groaned as the alarm sounded, pulling me harshly from my cosy dream. Reality. “Hallie. You better wake up, or you're be late again.” My sister's voice echoed through the door, asking if I was awake. Why did she always have to be so perfect? She was always up on time and always going on about how excited she would be to find her mate. “Go away, Veronica,” I yelled as she continued to bang on my bedroom door. I rolled my eyes and headed to the bathroom, turning on the shower to drown out her annoying banging and shouting. Mornings were never my thing, but I knew that if I wanted to be one of the top female warriors, I had to be punctual. Coach Benjamin had already been on my case about my timekeeping; if I kept being late, he would have no choice but to stop my training. No way was I letting that happen, and I wouldn't let him down. My brother, George, was away at alpha training; he would soon become the near alpha when our father stepped down. He had to train tw
It was almost lunchtime before I decided I needed to go for a run and let my wolf roam around. Jax and Kels were far too busy with their tongues down each other's throats, playing their favourite game of tonsil tennis. They were obsessed with each other; it was cute, but being like that with someone made me want to throw up in my hands and clap. I would much rather skip that part of life. My father was adamant that I would soon find my mate, and my mother was excited about throwing a grand ball. The whole thing was just a pointless load of rubbish, in my opinion. I was excited for my brother to come home from alpha training; we had always been close. I suppose that might be because he and he were close in age. Veronica was all right, but she was sometimes so whiny and irritating. For example, when my mother would try to discuss pretty dresses, I would get bored, but Veronica would squeal with excitement and overreact. She liked to be the centre of attention. “Halli
I was at a loss for words. Everyone had their eyes on me, including my mother, who looked disappointed by my lack of enthusiasm. Just moments before, she had dropped the news of a ridiculous mate ball, a place where single she-wolves could find their mates. Suddenly, my brother returned with a mate in tow and a baby on the way. He broke the awkward silence by throwing his arms around me and spewing nonsense about how much he missed me. He didn't miss us much, considering he forgot to mention his mate and child. Now, our parents would be even more pushy for me to follow in his footsteps. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves and gather my thoughts. I knew that I couldn't continue to feel resentful towards my brother, but I couldn't shake the feeling that his return would only add to the pressure I was already feeling. I decided to step back from the situation and focus on what I wanted. I knew I didn't want to be pushed into finding a mate at some silly ball, but I di
I was brimming with confidence as I prepared to showcase my abilities, my wolf eagerly anticipating the challenge. With every passing moment, I could feel the excitement building within me, urging me to push myself to the limit. I took a deep breath, my gaze fixed on the opponent before me, and reminded myself that I was ready for anything that came my way. And then, the buzzer sounded, signaling the start of the challenge, and I sprang into action with all my might. I shifted seamlessly between my human and wolf forms, my every move calculated and precise. I could feel the wind whipping past me as I charged towards my opponent, adrenaline pumping through my veins faster than my feet could move. But I was in my element, and my wolf was right there with me, every step of the way. My opponent was strong, but I was stronger. I dodged and weaved, striking with lightning-fast reflexes that left my opponent reeling. And when I finally emerged victorious, I let out a triumphant roar
When I arrived at the Garson Pack, I was thrilled to see how beautiful it was. Before me stood a magnificent forest with tall trees that seemed to reach for the sky. It was like something out of a fairy tale. When I walked into the center of the pack, I was greeted by Alpha Arnie and his wife, Luna Isabella. Alpha Arnie was a towering figure, with broad shoulders and piercing blue eyes. His wife, Luna Isabella, was breathtakingly beautiful, with long black hair that cascaded down her back in waves. They were both incredibly welcoming and showed me around the pack, introducing me to some of the other wolves. As we walked, I was struck by how friendly and welcoming everyone was. Even the youngest members of the pack, like little Peggy, were eager to say hello and make me feel at home. Peggy was a little doll, with big beautiful green eyes and pigtails tied up with pink bows. She was dressed in a pretty pink dress with white sequins all over it, and her shoes were pink with white d