Rex's POV Falling asleep that night was harder than I expected. I guess the adrenaline of what tomorrow could bring just wouldn’t let my mind rest. But eventually, after tossing and turning, I found enough peace to drift off. That’s when the dream hit me.It was about the book. The symbol on its cover came to life, glowing and pulsing, whispering over and over—“It’s almost time.” Time for what? It wouldn’t say. That phrase kept echoing until I jolted awake, heart pounding, sweat clinging to my skin. Morning had arrived. Only one thought circled in my head—I needed to find someone who could understand the book. Fast. And the first person that came to mind was Aries’ mom. But first… I had more urgent matters to handle. Maron. I got up and headed to the bathroom, preparing myself for what I knew wouldn’t be an easy day. By the time I stepped out, Rose was sprawled across my bed like she lived there. “You’re here early,” I said, towel-drying my hair. “Well, we’ve got
“We need a third person,” she said, then disappeared for a moment. When she came back, she wasn’t alone. A boy I didn’t recognize was with her. “Who’s he?” I asked, raising an eyebrow. “Don’t worry about it,” she said, still smiling. “Now, Danny, remember what I asked you to say?” “I dooo, Rose,” he groaned. “Just have my pay ready.” And with that, he strutted toward the room we’d just left. Rose and I followed quietly, hiding behind the nearest wall that could give us some cover. Danny knocked. The same woman from before answered, just as cold and stern. “What do you want?” she asked. “The Alpha’s asked to see you—and the lady,” Danny said, smooth as butter. “Both of us?” she asked, suspicious. “Yes,” he replied. “I don’t know what it’s about. I’m not from your pack, so I can’t question your Alpha. Just delivering the message.” She paused for a second, then nodded. “We’ll be on our way.” “You’re to meet him outside the meeting room,” Danny added, then casual
The meeting started sooner than I had expected, but the moment the Alphas were all present in the room, I instantly mindlinked Julian to inform Rex. I hope their plan works smoothly, I thought as I brought my focus back to the meeting at hand. I was half-expecting someone to question the clash between Ron and me the previous day, but I guess he came up with some lame excuse—no one said a word.Thankfully, he remained quiet the entire meeting, so everything went smoothly. We were just about to wrap things up when my mom mindlinked me: Maron has been brought to her, and the spell is broken.I was ecstatic. All that was left now was for them all to leave so we could finally get back to our lives.“That concludes the meeting of the Association,” Alpha Levon spoke, rising from his seat. “Thanks, Alpha Aries, for the hospitality. We shall not forget it.”“It was my pleasure to host the Association,” I replied firmly, leading them out of the room.But as we stepped out, there was some commot
To say my mind was in the right place when I put Ron in his place would be a huge lie. My thoughts were a mess, and Ria had completely taken over. The rage was loud, clear, and honestly—justified. As much as I hated the way Ron spoke to Aries, I wouldn’t have exposed that much strength in front of a crowd. Not like that. I could feel Rose trying to pull me back, trying to stop me—but I just couldn’t let go. Not until I heard her voice. Maron. She pulled me back. Out of Ria’s grip and straight into the reality of what I’d just done. I was sure my eyes had changed—maybe even glowed—and without hesitation, Rose shielded me, Maron flanking my other side. Together, they led me out of the meeting room. I messed up. This is all your fault, I snapped at Ria. You might be able to tolerate that kind of insult, but I can’t, she hissed back. No one gets to speak to us like that and walk away. And just like that, she retreated—leaving me alone with the aftermath. I didn’t resist
What happened hours ago refused to leave my mind. I kept replaying it, trying to come up with a reasonable explanation for what Rex did—but nothing made sense.Seeing her display that much strength… Enough to lift an Alpha like he was a rag doll? That wasn’t just unusual—it was impossible. Or at least it should’ve been.The moment Rose and her mother led her out of the arena, I was going to follow—but I knew I had to deal with Ron first.“Julian,” I called out, only to realize he was frozen in place, eyes wide with disbelief. “Julian!” I said again, placing a hand on his shoulder. That finally pulled him out of it.“What the hell did I just see?” he asked, still dazed.“Not now, man,” I said, nodding toward Ron, who was still on the floor surrounded by his pack members. “We have to handle this first.”Without hesitation, I turned to Regal, who stood pale and silent. “Get your Alpha some help. My Beta will escort you out of my territory. We’ll provide transportation, so you don’t have
Watching Aries’s face inch closer to mine sparked a feeling I couldn’t even begin to describe. All the fear, doubt, and confusion I had been carrying melted away the moment he stepped into the room. Just a few words from him, and I believed—really believed—that everything would be okay. That he’d stand by me. So I didn’t move away. Instead, my grip on his arm tightened, bracing myself for what was about to happen.Without realizing it, I closed my eyes, my heart racing in sync with his. As someone who had never kissed anyone before, I should have been nervous, but I wasn’t. I knew he’d guide me. I could already feel his breath mingling with mine. His heartbeat thundered, fast and intense.Then, just when our lips were about to meet-bam! The door flew open.We immediately jolted apart, each moving to our own side of the couch like guilty teenagers caught in the act.“Rex!!!” came a voice I’d recognize even in my sleep. Julian.I sighed and looked at Aries, who stood and offered me his
The sun peeping through the curtains did nothing to ease the anxiety twisting in my stomach. Every part of me wanted to curl back under the covers and pretend last night never happened. Pretend I didn’t nearly kiss Aries—the Alpha of the Awoke pack. Not just some guy… Aries.The worst part? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to avoid it—or do it all over again.After what felt like an hour of overthinking, I finally dragged myself out of bed. Maybe I could skip training with Julian and avoid the awkwardness. But of course, my legs had other plans. They carried me straight to the bathroom, right into my training clothes, and toward the door. Where was my willpower when I needed it?Julian had insisted we start training immediately. He wanted to be the first to witness my “cool powers.” So dramatic.I took a deep breath and stepped out of my room. The stairs creaked beneath my feet as I made my way down, nerves building with every step. I had to pass by Aries’s office to get to the training grou
To say my night was actually used for sleeping would be doing a disservice to the very concept of sleep. And I wouldn’t want to insult the people who actually got some. My entire night was consumed by thoughts. Thoughts about her. What exactly was I thinking? I had no clue. All I knew was that my mind couldn’t stop drifting to her. I needed to figure out these feelings—fast. I had tried to kiss her. That alone meant I owed her an explanation when I saw her again. But what did I actually feel for her? That part, I still couldn’t put my finger on. All I was sure of was this—if we had kissed, truly kissed, I wouldn’t have regretted a single second of it. And that realization? It shook me to my core. Before I knew it, morning had arrived—and I still didn’t have answers. Being indecisive wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t help it this time. I dragged myself out of bed and stared at the guy in the mirror. “Way to go, Aries,” I muttered. “You totally pull off the zombie look.” With a shak
“My family.” Those two words felt warm—sacred, even—as if they weren’t just written on the page, but etched into something deeper inside me. My fingers tingled again, as if the journal still held the warmth of the woman who wrote it. Lyra. I didn’t know what gave me the right to sift through her personal entries, but something inside me pushed forward, almost urged me. The room grew quiet as I drew in a breath and began to read. First Entry; “My family is not bound by blood, but by survival, by truth, by sacrifice, and by exile. We were once part of something greater—until we were cast out. They feared us, called us unnatural. Banished. I carry our story now, so it is not forgotten. So they will know who we were… who we are.” My breath hitched. I felt Aries beside me—when had he gotten here? But his presence grounded me, steadying my heart enough to continue. “There was a girl born under the moon’s shadow, her power pulsing even before she took her first breath. I saw the signs
Sleep took me sweetly for once. I didn’t know why, but I was sure the scent in this room—and the man lying beside me—had a lot to do with it. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let go. But peace is a fragile thing. Suddenly, I was pulled into a dream. I stood barefoot in a strange place. The ground beneath me glowed a soft green, and the air hummed a tune my soul somehow recognized. Tall trees surrounded me, their silver leaves shimmering as their branches swayed gently—though no wind touched my skin. Where am I? I thought. Then I heard them—voices. Familiar but not quite. A woman stood in front of me. Her bright green eyes glowed with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. Her long hair held streaks of jade, and her skin shimmered under the moonlight. She looked… so much like me. Just older. “You’re late,” she said, a soft smile playing on her lips. “Who are you?” I asked, though my voice felt distant, like it was echoing from another realm. “We’ve been
I was still catching my breath, the faint tingle of power lingering at my fingertips, when I heard Lucy whisper a name-soft, barely audible, but it struck me like a lightning bolt. “Lyra?” I turned, frozen in place. The way she looked at me—wide-eyed, stunned—like she was seeing a ghost. Lucy, always so composed and put-together, looked like the ground had been pulled from beneath her. “Lucy?” I called out softly. She didn’t answer. Instead, she stepped closer, her eyes searching me as if trying to piece together a puzzle that had haunted her for decades. “Who is Lyra?” I asked once she was close enough. She blinked, snapping out of her daze. For a second, I thought she’d deny saying it—but she wasn’t like that. Her shoulders dropped as she exhaled, the name falling from her lips again. “Lyra… was someone very dear to me.” The name echoed in my mind. Why did it feel familiar? “She was a friend,” Lucy continued, “from many years ago. And… she was from the Banished tribe.” My
Lucy POV:I never thought I’d see that symbol again.Not since her.So when I opened the book Rose brought me and that mark stared right back at me, I felt the breath catch in my throat."Do you recognize it?" Maron had asked.I feigned ignorance.“I’ll need to look into it more,” I replied, keeping my voice steady—though inside, I was shaken.I knew exactly what that symbol meant.Even after Rex came asking, I gave the same excuse. But the moment she left, I walked straight to my room, the book still in hand, and set it down gently on the bed.Then I made my way to the closet.From the very back, behind old coats and boxes, I pulled out the one thing I’d promised myself I would never open again. I brought it to the bed, sat down, and brushed my fingers over the lid.Inside were pictures… amulets… books… journals—remnants of a friendship long buried.I picked up one of the photos, and as her face became clearer in my mind, so did the ache in my chest.Lyra.My friend.I pulled out one
The Banished Tribe? We all echoed in disbelief, and Lucy nodded solemnly. "Yes," she replied. "The symbol on the pages belongs to them. It's a mark that's always been associated with the Banished—a symbol lost to time," she explained, her voice low, almost like she was afraid someone might be listening in. I swallowed hard, my breath uneven. The Banished Tribe... I had only ever heard whispers about them—stories told to scare children. I'd never had the chance to learn much, but Maron had mentioned them once or twice. Most believed they were nothing more than legends. They were said to be a dangerous tribe, wild and uncontrollable, cast out by other supernaturals long ago. "But..." Julian spoke up, his brow furrowed. "They were just a myth, weren't they?" He stared at Lucy. "I mean, everyone learned about them as kids, but I always thought it was just fairy tales." Rose nodded in agreement beside him. But Lucy shook her head firmly. "No, dear. They were very real. And while n
After finishing my training session with Julian, I was about to leave the grounds when I spotted Aries standing nearby."Rex!" he called out.So, I guess I was back to being Rex—just like that, in a matter of minutes. He said he wanted to talk. About what? After the way he behaved earlier, what was left to say?So I came up with an excuse to avoid the conversation.I didn’t expect him to actually follow me all the way to see his mom."I’ll wait till you’re done," he said just as I stepped inside Lucy’s house.I pretended not to hear him and walked in without looking back.Inside, I was greeted warmly by Ma and, of course, Lucy herself."You’re here already, dear?" Lucy asked."Yeah," I replied, smiling. "I thought I'd just check up and see how it’s going with the book.""You’re so impatient," Maron teased, laughing. "She literally just got the book this morning. There’s no way she’s gone through it already!"She wasn’t wrong. I knew that. I just needed a reason—any reason—to avoid Ari
To say my night was actually used for sleeping would be doing a disservice to the very concept of sleep. And I wouldn’t want to insult the people who actually got some. My entire night was consumed by thoughts. Thoughts about her. What exactly was I thinking? I had no clue. All I knew was that my mind couldn’t stop drifting to her. I needed to figure out these feelings—fast. I had tried to kiss her. That alone meant I owed her an explanation when I saw her again. But what did I actually feel for her? That part, I still couldn’t put my finger on. All I was sure of was this—if we had kissed, truly kissed, I wouldn’t have regretted a single second of it. And that realization? It shook me to my core. Before I knew it, morning had arrived—and I still didn’t have answers. Being indecisive wasn’t like me, but I couldn’t help it this time. I dragged myself out of bed and stared at the guy in the mirror. “Way to go, Aries,” I muttered. “You totally pull off the zombie look.” With a shak
The sun peeping through the curtains did nothing to ease the anxiety twisting in my stomach. Every part of me wanted to curl back under the covers and pretend last night never happened. Pretend I didn’t nearly kiss Aries—the Alpha of the Awoke pack. Not just some guy… Aries.The worst part? I wasn’t sure if I wanted to avoid it—or do it all over again.After what felt like an hour of overthinking, I finally dragged myself out of bed. Maybe I could skip training with Julian and avoid the awkwardness. But of course, my legs had other plans. They carried me straight to the bathroom, right into my training clothes, and toward the door. Where was my willpower when I needed it?Julian had insisted we start training immediately. He wanted to be the first to witness my “cool powers.” So dramatic.I took a deep breath and stepped out of my room. The stairs creaked beneath my feet as I made my way down, nerves building with every step. I had to pass by Aries’s office to get to the training grou
Watching Aries’s face inch closer to mine sparked a feeling I couldn’t even begin to describe. All the fear, doubt, and confusion I had been carrying melted away the moment he stepped into the room. Just a few words from him, and I believed—really believed—that everything would be okay. That he’d stand by me. So I didn’t move away. Instead, my grip on his arm tightened, bracing myself for what was about to happen.Without realizing it, I closed my eyes, my heart racing in sync with his. As someone who had never kissed anyone before, I should have been nervous, but I wasn’t. I knew he’d guide me. I could already feel his breath mingling with mine. His heartbeat thundered, fast and intense.Then, just when our lips were about to meet-bam! The door flew open.We immediately jolted apart, each moving to our own side of the couch like guilty teenagers caught in the act.“Rex!!!” came a voice I’d recognize even in my sleep. Julian.I sighed and looked at Aries, who stood and offered me his