Cassie Jones POV
I didn’t expect to be surrounded by a bunch of rogue wolves, I carefully shifted backwards trying to make a run without them knowing. My wolf was badly wounded last week after fighting with the last set of rogue wolves so attempting to fight with this group would be a death sentence. I turned around sharply running as fast as I could but I was already starved for a long time and didn’t have the strength. I stepped on a tree twig making me trip and fall, twisting my ankle. I winced out in pain, my wolf was numb, it wasn’t responding to me so I couldn’t shift. I looked up and met with a pair of two red eyes staring at me, it was ready to pounce and devour me. As I closed my eyes in anticipation, I didn’t feel anything and opened it back to see two big black wolves fighting with it. The rogue wolf dropped dead and the two wolves shifted back into their human form. I was stunned, staring at them. One has short dark hair with a strand that fell towards his eyes making him look seductive with his blue eyes plum lips. The other with long dark hair, he packed half up and left the rest down and his eyes were deep green. I couldn’t take my eyes off them and didn’t realize I was drooling over them. “Are you done drooling?” The first asked, I looked down in embarrassment but soon stared back at them. “Sorry, my bad.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks for saving me.” I said softly as I tried to stand up, I balanced myself barely standing as my twisted ankle hurt but they seemed to care less about it. “Do you know how to get to the Greyer pack?” The other guy asked, ignoring my words just now. He was unusually cold and didn't look homecoming. “Yea, just… hold on a sec.” I took out the map with me, that was the only thing I was able to keep with me after all the ruffles. I showed them the description to the pack and after a while, they got it right. Just as I bade them goodbye and was about turning back. I felt the same electric pull from earlier come back, this time stronger as a strawberry scent smells in my nose, I closed my eyes loving the scent. My wolf, Gina, who has been quiet for a long time, woke up. I could feel the joy in her as she proclaimed, “They are ours.” I looked up to the two wolf men in shock. They seemed to have felt the pull as they came closer, each fanning over me looking like they’ll mark me immediately. “She’s the one, Mark.” The first guy said again to the second guy that I assumed to be Mark, he sniffed in my scent. I felt myself dripping wet just from their scent. Shit! I need to control myself. I almost had another night stand with two strangers I barely knew. I drew back from them with all my strength and after realizing what was happening, they also calmed themselves down. “It isn’t possible.” We all said at the same time, I raised my brow at them confused at their words, they both walked a bit far away from me. I noticed my ankle had healed up, “Nice showing up after finding our mate.” I said in my mind. I didn’t want to believe it was possible I could find another mate after getting rejected by Jamie. And this fast, even more ridiculous to be mated to two guys. They both walked back to me, “We were thinking, if you had nowhere to go, would you like to follow us back to our pack.” The first guy said. “You guys are alphas?” I was surprised, I originally thought maybe their wolves were just big but I couldn’t have thought they might be alphas. “Yes. Alphas of Emerald pack.” My jaw dropped in shock. At first I fell into silence. Being their mate; if I follow them back to their pack, they would possibly crown me as their Luna and I could carry out my revenge on Jamie for betraying me. It wasn’t such a bad idea to follow them back to their pack. “We aren’t going to force you.” “You are our mate, we accept your bond, and you are ours now. Following us is ensuring you have the life you are supposed to have.” The second guy, Mark said. “I’m Lark, and he’s Mark, we are the twin alphas of the Emerald pack.” Thinking down at their pack name, it felt familiar to me. Yes, I remember. A strong and powerful pack led by two mysterious twin alpha, everyone fears them and if you have them as an ally then your pack would be one of the strongest packs. “Of course I’ll be delighted to follow you both, I’m Cassie. Cassie Jones.” I greeted them cheerfully. “Grab your belongings so we can be one our way now.” Mark replied back yet again ignoring my words and he walked ahead. Since I had nothing to take, I just followed behind him with Lark who was walking slowly to meet up with my pace. “Thanks.” I smiled at him. “You are welcome.” “You know Mark isn’t always all cold or acting tough like he does but he’s soft. He just needed someone to control his emotions.” I think I saw that already, maybe he wasn’t as bad as I’m viewing him. “Maybe you are right, time will tell that.” ***** It’s been a while we’ve been walking and now I can feel the presence of wolves, like we are now in another pack territory. Finally I am out of the forest. Just as we got to the border, the bodyguards there bowed for the two to enter but when they saw me. They hesitated. “Let her in.” Lark said. They bowed and cleared the way for me. Gossips were flowing as we walked deeper into the pack as each person we passed by were whispering. “Am I sure it’s okay or I’m just the one feeling insecure right now.” I thought. There were some people who had the look of disgust due to my rough appearance, I felt uncomfortable seeing how they were staring at me. As if they noticed my inconvenience, Lark stopped while Mark howled a bit. Thus called the attention of everyone in the pack. I noticed we were already at the middle of the pack square, their statue was there stating their positions. I noticed everyone was staring at me like I had done something, I stared up at Lark and noticed they just said something which made the people stare at me. “Everyone should treat her well and care for her like she is a member of our pack which she already is.” I wasn’t expecting them to go this far so immediately we entered the pack which made me smile gently. “For she’ll be your next Luna.” Mark said, breaking the silence as everywhere erupted with noises and cheers. The ones staring at me with the look of disgust had already been replaced with joys. “She’s our mate, and anyone who disrespect her or insult her stand would be beheaded. It’s a crime punished by law.” I gasped. I gently whispered to Lark, “Wouldn’t that be too much?” I said, nodding his head negatively. “No way.” “You can’t just make her Luna.” I heard a voice from behind. It was a displeasure from the person. Everyone gasped, I turned back to look at the person who said that and my eyes widened in shock. How come she is here? Daisy?Cassie's Pov“Did you miss me?” She smiled as she moved further.Death would have been happy to look that good. I kept my face a stone, even though my heart was trying to punch its way out of my chest. Same Alexa, beautiful, terrible."My Luna" Her voice slid across the silent room, filled with sarcasm "How sweet. You gathered everyone for my homecoming."I didn’t budge from the throne. Every instinct I had was shouting, Run, fight, scream, do something! But this was the plan. This was the point of all of it."Alexa. I was wondering when you’d finally come out of the shadows.""Hiding?" That laugh of hers, it always sounded like something precious breaking. "I’ve been busy. Learning, getting strong while you’ve been playing house with this… pack of yours."I felt the fear ripple through the room. The guards raised their weapons, but I saw how their hands shook. "You look tired, Cassie. The crown is not fitting right?""It fits just fine.""Does it? From where I’m standing, it lo
The air in the Vale archives was thick and still, heavy with the scent of crumbling parchment and cold stone. Daisy pressed herself into the shadows of the wall, the rough-hewn rock biting into her back. She held her breath, counting the slow, fading footsteps of the patrol. One heartbeat. Two. The sound melted into the mountain’s silence. Now. Move. She slipped from her hiding place. Her father’s voice was a ghost in her ear, a lesson from a lifetime ago: “The oldest wards don’t shout, little wolf. They hum. Find the frequency, and you can walk through the noise.” Her fingers, delicate and sure, traced the symbols carved deep into the oak doorframe. To her eyes, the unique vision of a hybrid—the magic wasn’t a solid wall. The air rippled. The ward didn’t shatter; it sighed, parting like a weary curtain. She didn’t hesitate. Her feet carried her to the heart of the chamber, to a circle of stone wolves frozen in eternal snarls. And there, on a pedestal of night-black marbl
Cassie's PovThe council meeting was a special kind of torture, each minute stretching like frayed elastic. Across the polished table, Mark’s voice was a steady, professional drumbeat, outlining hunting rotations. A perfect Alpha. But the words dissolved into meaningless noise before they reached me.My mind was still back at the bonfire, trapped in the electric space between Lark’s gaze and mine."...which brings us to the healer situation." Mark’s tone shifted, pulling me from the memory.I blinked, forcing myself into the present. Chief Healer Maeven looked exhausted, the lines on her face etched deeper than yesterday. "The infirmary is overwhelmed. We need more hands, especially with the wounded from both packs.""What do you need?" I asked, my voice feeling rusty."That woman from the festival. Ella" The name hit my gut like a physical blow. "She has real skill. I could use her expertise."My jaw tightened. Ella. The woman with the serene smile and Lark’s undivided attention
Cassie's PovThe lists were trying to kill me. Not with a sword, but with words. Each name was a weight. I felt like I was drowning in paper.Then I heard it.Music. Real music. Not a war drum. A fiddle and laughter.I dropped my pen. It was a stupid list anyway. The dead already knew they were dead. I went to the window.Down in the courtyard, my pack was choosing to live.The firelight painted everything gold. People were dancing. Actually dancing. My shoulder gave a mean throb. The sling was off, but the scar was a nasty reminder. A present from my sister.“You planning to hide up here all night?”Mark. He stood in the doorway with two cups. They smelled like cinnamon and trouble.“I’ve got work,” I said, but it was a lie. My heart was down there with the music.“The work can wait. They need to see your face, Cassie. They need to know you made it.” He shoved a cup into my hand. It was warm. “When’s the last time you had fun?”I didn’t answer. I couldn’t remember.“Come on.” He off
Cassie's POVMy eyes were feeling heavy as I tried to open them. The sting of medicine in my nose. A deep, grinding throb in my shoulder.Alive. I was alive.The infirmary hummed with low moans and the quick steps of healers. The beds were full. Our guys. Their guys. It doesn't matter much now. There were just a lot of injured people."You're awake." A healer appeared, her face tired. "How's the pain?""Like I lost a fight with a mountain," I croaked."Close. The blade almost hit your heart. But it gave a slight injury, but you'll heal. You got lucky."Lucky. Sure.I tried to push myself up. That was q bad idea. White-hot fire seared through my shoulder."Easy," she warned. "You need to stay down.""How long?""Two days."Two days. I scanned the room again. The bandages. The pale, pained faces. The quiet crying in the corner."How many?" I asked, my voice low.Her face fell. "Thirty-seven of ours. Twenty-one of theirs."Fifty-eight men died because of my sister."And the wounded?"
CASSIE'S POVThe shadow blade fell like death itself.Time moved slowly. Each second stretched out forever.I watched it come down. Sharp. Cold. I closed my eyes steadily, ready to end it all when boom….Everything blew apart.Silver and gold light slammed into Alexa's barrier. The magic wall shattered. The glasses were breaking. Thunder was cracking. Light was everywhere."NO!" Mark's voice tore through the air."GET AWAY FROM HER!" Lark screamed.The twins' power joined theirs. Young magic, but strong. So damn strong.The blast knocked Alexa sideways. Her blade went wide.Fire ripped across my shoulder. Deep. Burning. But not my heart. Not my heart.I hit the ground hard. Blood everywhere. My blood.But I was alive.The magical backlash was massive. It rolled across the battlefield like a wave. Every spell Alexa had cast started breaking apart.The hypnosis spell cracked first.I heard it. It was like glass shattering inside someone's head.Jamie's body went rigid. His blank