LOGINJacob *I stood in front of Laurel’s door, my hand hesitating in the air before knocking. It wasn’t hesitation out of fear or uncertainty—at least that was what I told myself. It was just the weight of everything unsaid that hung between us, heavier now than it had ever been. Since the day in the training grounds, when she’d slapped me, Laurel hadn’t gone out of her way to avoid me anymore, but she hadn’t spoken to me either. Not directly. Not willingly.I knocked twice, the sound echoing down the hallway. Her voice, clear but distant, came from inside. “Come in.”I opened the door to find her sitting by the window, a book in her hands. The late afternoon sunlight streamed in, framing her in gold. She looked peaceful, but the moment she saw me, her body stiffened, and she closed the book with deliberate care. Rising to her feet, she greeted me with a bow of her head. “Alpha.”Something twisted inside me at that. Laurel never used to call me that unless we were in public. I knew why s
Jacob *I leaned back, my fingers tapping against the armrest of my chair as I processed her report. The description—or lack thereof—matched Krista’s cautious nature. She’d always been resourceful. If she’d found a way to blend into human society while keeping her distance, it would explain why she’d been so difficult to track, especially if she had someone’s help.“She’s clever,” my wolf murmured. “But not clever enough to escape forever.”Perhaps. But if this huntsman’s wife wasn’t Krista, it could still be someone who knew her. Someone who might lead me to her. “Did your team follow their trail?” I asked.Leah shook her head. “We tried, but it was as if the trail disappeared entirely once they left the town.”I turned my attention to Garret, who had been silent throughout Leah’s report.“And you?” I asked. “What news does your team bring?”Garret cleared his throat, sitting a bit straighter. “Our search took us further south,” he began. “We didn’t find much—no sightings, no solid
Jacob****When Leah and Garret entered the room, I could see the exhaustion etched in their features despite their attempts to mask it. They looked better than I expected for wolves who had spent weeks combing through human towns, but the tiredness clinging to them was evident in the way they moved and spoke. Their postures were straight, their uniforms clean, but the faint shadows under their eyes and the way their shoulders sagged when they thought I wasn’t looking betrayed them. Still, they greeted me with the respect expected of pack warriors, their voices quiet as they addressed me as Alpha.I gestured for them to sit, observing as they exchanged a glance before taking the chairs opposite me. I needed to make our debriefing as short as possible, so they could get the rest they had earned.Garret remained silent, deferring to Leah, the leader of the first team, to speak first. I appreciated that about Garret; he knew when to step aside and let others take the lead.“Speak,” I sa
Jacob*The training ground echoed with the sharp crack of fists meeting flesh and the thud of bodies hitting the dirt. I moved on instinct, dodging Samuel's powerful strikes by fractions of an inch. His wolf snarled beneath the surface, much like mine, the primal energy in both of us pushing the fight to its limits.We circled each other like true predators, muscles coiled. The pack warriors stood to the side in a loose circle, their eyes sharp and eager as they watched me and Samuel, leader of them all, square off. This wasn’t a simple sparring session; this was a raw display of dominance and skill. Samuel was no pushover, and that was why I’d chosen him. I needed someone who could make me work for it, someone who wouldn’t back down just because I was Alpha.We circled each other, slow and deliberate, the sound of our boots crunching on the dirt the only noise in the silence. I let my gaze lock with his, daring him to strike first. Samuel didn’t disappoint.His fist shot out in a bl
Jacob *I studied her, considering the angle to use with her. Her hatred of me was too powerful, and her loyalty to Krista too absolute. Already, being friendly had gone nowhere– Serah’s voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. “Forgive my tone, Alpha,” she began, her words sharp and deliberate, “but the only reason I stayed behind was because I had no idea when Krista left. If I had, maybe your scouts would have been searching for both of us. It may be far more correct to say I was left behind, because if I had a choice, I would not be here with you.”I clenched my jaw, fighting to keep my anger in check. I didn’t believe her for a second. Her words were too obviously untrue, fueled by whatever satisfaction she got from lying to me to my face. Each sentence felt too calculated, as if she had rehearsed these lines in the event I ever questioned her. I had no proof, but my gut screamed that Serah was lying. She was hiding something, and it was infuriating. Still, I gave her one la
Jacob *The fight between Serah and Brax was more intense than I’d expected. Serah’s smaller frame gave her an agility advantage, and she used it to dart around Brax, avoiding his attempts to pin her. Brax, however, relied on brute strength, and when he managed to grab hold of her, it was clear she was fighting an uphill battle.Each blow of his landed with a force that made the younger wolves watching wince. Serah, on the other hand, struggled to find her footing. She was faster—no question there—but Brax had size and power on his side, and it was clear she was still figuring out how to deal with that.I crossed my arms, watching the scene with a mix of amusement and curiosity. It wasn’t uncommon for wolves to settle disputes this way, and as long as things didn’t escalate, I saw no reason to intervene. Still, I kept a close eye on the fight, ready to step in if necessary.My wolf growled in disapproval. “She’s quick, but she’s not anticipating his moves. Brax is telegraphing every







