When I woke up, we were already approaching the park border. Gem immediately hit the brakes and called one of the guards over, instructing him to alert the others."There's something dangerous out there," he said firmly. "Everyone needs to stay on high alert."He didn’t even take us to his house as originally planned. Instead, he drove straight to my parents' place. I could tell by the way his hands gripped the steering wheel that he wasn’t taking any chances.As we pulled into the driveway, Mom and Dad rushed out. Dad looked tense—like a storm had already hit and he was bracing for another one. The moment the car stopped, he yanked the door open on my side and pulled me gently but urgently into his arms.“Hey, hey… Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked, his eyes scanning me all over.“I’m fine,” I mumbled, my voice weak. “Just need time to recuperate and regain my energy. But Karin and Xana… they need medical attention. Gem, I think you should call the pack doctor.”Gem nodd
Gem immediately shifted into his wolf form, launching himself at the wolf charging toward him and Xana mid-air. His powerful black wolf collided with the beast mid-flight, sending both of them crashing into the trees.Karin didn’t waste a second. With a flash of light, she shifted into her majestic brown wolf form, meeting the second wolf head-on before it could get to her.Then, one of them landed right in front of me.Red eyes glowing like coals.It was the same wolf I saw at dawn.I wasn’t dreaming. It was real. It was real.As Karin and Xana fought the second wolf—Xana having shifted to assist her—I remained face to face with the red-eyed beast. It was as big as Gem’s wolf, maybe even bigger, but there was something about it that made my heart freeze. Its aura screamed danger. Its snarl reverberated through my bones.It lunged.I dodged quickly, rolling to the side. That only made it angrier.It leapt again. I summoned vines from the earth—tree leeches—twisting up its legs and try
Winter I wake up with a sharp, throbbing pain at the back of my head and an excruciating headache.As my vision clears, I see Xana’s face hovering over mine, her brows furrowed in confusion.“Uhh… did you sleep on the floor?” she asks, staring at me like I’d completely lost it.“No…” I mumble, glancing around—only to realize I was on the floor.“I don’t know… maybe. But I saw something. A big wolf,” I say, still trying to piece things together.Xana gives me a skeptical look. “Did you hit your head or something? You passed out cold, and now you’re talking about werewolves like this is some full-moon fever dream.”“I’m not lying. There was a huge wolf at my window earlier—just before dawn. I swear I wasn’t dreaming!” I insist, pushing myself to sit up. My head still feels like it was hit by a brick.She raises an eyebrow. “Okay, you sound real convincing with that dramatic groan,” she says sarcastically, but takes my hands and helps me up anyway.“I have proof. It clawed at the window
WinterBy nightfall, the place was already pitch dark. You couldn’t see anything except the warm light from the patio and porch, and the tiny flickering glows of fireflies dancing in the air.Gem and Karin were out on the patio grilling steak and roasted potatoes for dinner, while Xana and I were in our room, settling in for the night.The cabin only has two rooms, so naturally, Xana and I had to share. Luckily, the room had two separate beds. I honestly wouldn’t have it any other way ,this place didn’t feel mystical or magical at night. No, at night, it gave full-on horror movie vibes.“The internet connection here is trash! Why the hell would you choose a place with zero signal for your birthday retreat?” Xana huffed, pacing back and forth in front of the window while holding her phone up high like it was a sacred artifact. “I need to know what’s going on in both the human and wolf world. Also, I want people to see this new nightmare set your mom made,it’s absolutely gorgeous!”“Thi
Gem drove like an absolute maniac down the windy and dusty road. We hadn’t told my parents the full details yet, but the truth was , Gem was taking us way past the pack borders into a different territory.The Silver Wings Forest.It was rumored to be a mystical forest filled with all kinds of supernaturals. It was said to protect wolves and witches from vampires, which made it one of the safest places outside the pack grounds. Still, there was something eerie about it,like you didn’t really go there unless you had a reason.The car was practically shaking from the bass of “Tap Out” by the Young Money gang, with Gem and Karin yelling the lyrics like they were at a concert. Honestly, those two were a match made in chaos,they matched each other's energy.Xana was passed out next to me, somehow managing to stay asleep despite all the yelling. But knowing her, she wouldn’t be asleep for much longer.…...About twenty minutes later,after I had heard the same song on repeat ten times,the c
Heading down for breakfast, I’m greeted by several omegas who work in the house as maids. Each of them pauses to wish me a happy birthday with warm smiles and soft voices.In our pack, omegas are treated with the utmost respect,and my father makes sure of that. He always says that without them, this pack wouldn’t run as smoothly as it does. And he’s right. They’re the backbone of our home, our sanctuary.When I finally reach the dining hall, my eyes widen at the sight before me. The long wooden table is decorated with fresh flowers and plates piled high with a variety of breakfast dishes. Everything smells heavenly."Come, come! I made your favorites," Mom sings, pointing toward the stuffed strawberry croissants sitting prettily on a white platter."Aww, Mom, thank you," I say, grinning as I grab two pieces and place them on my plate.I pick up my tablet while my phone buzzes furiously beside me, practically overheating from all the birthday messages pouring in. Not from friends,well,