EMMELINEI just wanted to eat. That was it. Just a quiet breakfast, a little peace before the day truly started. But, of course, peace and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms.The kitchen smelled like fresh bread and spiced meat, the kind of scents that made my stomach growl. I grabbed a plate and started piling food onto it, my focus entirely on the meal I was about to enjoy. For once, I was trying not to think about Darius, or Lydia, or the fact that I was surrounded by people who either hated me or barely tolerated my presence.I turned to leave, but the moment I stepped toward the door, I heard the sharp click of heels against the stone floor.Lydia.Of course.I sighed before I even turned to face her. She stood there, arms folded, eyes raking over me like I was something disgusting she’d just stepped on."You’re not supposed to be in here," she said, voice dripping with condescension.I rolled my eyes, already tired. "And yet, here I am."Her nostrils flared. "You’re getting too
DARIUSThe moment I heard what happened to Emmeline, I didn’t think. I just ran.By the time I reached the clinic, my heart was hammering against my ribs. My mind screamed at me to prepare for the worst, but when I saw her lying there—alive, breathing—I finally exhaled.The doctor, an old friend of my father’s, had treated her. He knew. Of course, he knew. But he was loyal, and I trusted him to keep her secret.I sighed, rubbing my temples. Lydia.What the fuck was she thinking?I didn’t have time to figure it out because the doors to the meeting room burst open, and there she was. Lydia, flanked by a guard, her face blotchy from crying.Crocodile tears.She staggered forward and dropped to her knees like some tragic heroine from a play.“Save the tears, Lydia,” I said, not in the mood for whatever act she was about to pull.“I—I don’t know what came over me,” she sobbed, lowering her head, voice trembling like she was actually sorry. “I lost control.”I folded my arms. “You stabbed h
EMMELINEAfter what Lydia did, I expected to be stuck in bed for weeks, maybe longer. But Lycans heal fast, and despite the pain, I was already moving around like nothing had happened. Still, I was cautious. Getting stabbed wasn’t exactly something I wanted to relive.Darius had been hovering around me more than usual, watching, making sure I didn’t push myself too hard. He hadn’t said much about Lydia since throwing her out, and honestly, I didn’t care. That bitch was lucky I hadn’t gotten my hands on her first.This morning, though, something was different. Darius seemed… excited?“Get dressed,” he had told me after breakfast, a rare smirk tugging at his lips. “We’re going somewhere.”“Where?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.“You’ll see.”“Why do I feel like you’re kidnapping me?”He just shook his head and chuckled. “You can thank me later.”So, here I was, sitting in the car next to him as he drove us to God knows where.“Are we almost there?” I asked after about ten minutes of silen
EMMELINEI was sitting in Darius’s room, waiting for him to return. My foot tapped impatiently against the wooden floor as my mind spun with questions. The moment the door opened, I was on my feet, arms crossed, my eyes locked onto his."The Alphas—Why the hell were they here?" I demanded.Darius barely reacted. He shut the door behind him and loosened the first few buttons of his shirt. "Relax, Emmeline.""Relax?" I scoffed. "You just saw those ruthless Alphas here. Do I look like I’m trying to get myself killed? I certainly don't have a death wish, Darius."Darius sighed, stepping toward me. "They came to remind me about the annual hunting festival."I blinked. "...Annual what?"He smirked at my reaction. "It’s an annual festival where several Alphas from different packs come together for games—hunting, shooting, combat, and more."I frowned. "So it’s basically a testosterone-fueled pissing contest?"Darius chuckled. "Something like that.""And when is this happening?""In three day
EMMELINEThe morning of the hunting festival arrived, and all I could think about was how badly I wanted to kill someone today.The whispers started the moment I stepped into the room. Soft at first, but growing bolder with every step I took.I felt their eyes crawl over me, studying, judging, wanting to figure me out. It was nothing new.I sat beside Darius, dressed in an elegant gown that clung to my curves just enough to make a statement. My hair was pinned up with a few loose strands framing my face, and I smiled politely as the chatter around us filled the open courtyard.That smile? Oh, it was all fake—nothing but an act. Forcing it took effort, trust me. But with all these vultures circling, they expected the performance. Like a well-trained puppet, I had to play along.“She’s absolutely stunning," I overheard someone whisper. "I wonder how Alpha Darius found her.”"That dress must have cost a fortune," another voice muttered. "Darius must shower her with gifts."Yeah, right.
EMMELINEThe forest had a way of making you feel small. A way of making you feel like you were just another part of its sprawling, untamed life — insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But today, I wasn’t going to be the prey.I was the predator.Few months ago, my entire family was killed before my eyes, treated just like one of the animals in this forest.Today, I would have the chance to exact my revenge.The air was crisp, the scent of damp leaves and earth filling my lungs as I moved through the dense forest. I wasn’t here for the sport like the others. I wasn’t here for fun.I was here to hunt.Not for birds, not for boars, not for bears.I was here for something far more dangerous.The rules were simple—birds were worth five points, boars twenty, and bears fifty. Most of the participants stuck to the easy prey, aiming for birds to rack up quick points without much effort. A handful of the braver ones had gone after boars. But me? I had my own prey in mind.I gripped my b
DARIUS“Yesssss!"The scream sliced through the air, and reached me instantly.. My whole body tensed.Emmeline.I know that voice anywhere. And right now, it sounded like she was either being murdered or winning a damn war. There’s no in-between with her. Panic slammed into me. Is she in danger? Is someone hurting her? My mind ran through the possibilities—an attack, a rogue animal, or worse.Before my brain could even process another thought, I was already moving, my legs moving faster than my mind. Branches snapped under my boots as I sprinted in the direction of her voice. I asked her to stay back if she wasn’t cut out for this but her usual stubborn self refused. I just hoped she was not in any danger. If someone so much as touched her, they’re fucking dead. No warnings. No second chances. I would make sure they suffer dearly.I rounded the corner, pulse hammering in my ears, ready to tear into whoever—And I stopped dead in my tracks.The scene in front of me was not what I
EMMELINEDarius won the hunting games today. Of course, he did.Apparently, he had won it multiple times over the years, and from the way the other Alphas were gathered around, admiring the dead bear like it was some legendary trophy, you’d think he had just slain a god.I exhaled slowly, watching him from a distance. He was awesome, I had to admit. And not just because he had won the stupid hunting games… again. But because he had saved my life and I should probably be more than grateful. I sighed, picking at a loose thread on my robe. If he had been even a second late, I would have been nothing more than bear food. I shuddered, the image of that bear’s snarling face flashing in my mind. I didn’t want to think about it. It was like something out of a nightmare. A nightmare Darius had pulled me out of. My arrows barely did anything to that beast, and it was charging straight at me when Darius appeared with his gun and—boom—dropped it like it was nothing.I glanced over at him agai
★DARIUS’ POV★My gut twisted tighter with every second Anastasia worked. She moved fast, thank the goddess, her hands a blur as she crushed herbs, mixing them into some kind of paste, then adding liquid. It felt like an eternity, though. Every rasping breath Emmeline took, every weak tremor that still ran through her tiny body was a hammer blow to my chest. Hurry, damn it. Please, just hurry.Finally, Anastasia held up a small, dark vial. "It's ready," she said, her voice calm but her eyes holding a flicker of urgency that mirrored my own fear.I knelt beside the cot, my heart in my throat. Gently, so damn gently, I lifted Emmeline's head, supporting the fragile weight with my hand. Her skin was still too pale, her lips almost blue. Anastasia carefully brought the vial to her mouth.The first few drops went down, and Emmeline coughed, a weak, pathetic sound that tore right through me. My jaw tightened. Swallow, Em. Please, just swallow. Anastasia waited patiently, then tried again. Th
★EMMELINE’S POV★My head felt like it was stuffed with cotton, heavy and distant. Every breath was a struggle, a shallow, rattling thing that didn't seem to bring enough air. I was floating, drifting somewhere between here and... well, somewhere else. Somewhere quiet and dark. It felt peaceful, in a terrifying sort of way. Like I was letting go."Emmeline? Stay with me. Please."Sylas. His voice. It sounded tight, strained, like he was trying not to break. I wanted to answer, to tell him I was trying, but my tongue felt thick and useless. I managed a small, weak squeeze of the hand he was holding. His grip tightened instantly, almost painfully."She's fading, Sylas," a softer voice said. Anastasia. The healer. I could feel her cool fingers on my wrist, checking my pulse. "The damage... it's spreading faster than I can counter it without the proper herbs."Fading. Yeah, that felt about right. Like a candle sputtering out. The pain was a dull throb now, constant and heavy, but almost se
★DARIUS★Hours. It had been damn hours. My body screamed with every step, every bend, every time I had to push aside a thorny branch that clawed at my already torn clothes and skin. The Crying Woods lived up to its name; the wind seemed to moan through the trees, and the shadows felt heavy, pressing down on me. And for what? Nothing. I hadn't found a damn thing.My eyes scanned the forest floor, blurry with exhaustion and pain. Silver plants, they said. Surrounded by thorny roots. Sounded like something out of a twisted fairytale, and right now, I felt less like a prince on a quest and more like a broken-down mule lost in a maze.I stumbled, catching myself on a tree trunk, the rough bark scraping my cheek. "Son of a bitch," I muttered, leaning my forehead against the cool wood. My lungs burned, my muscles felt like they were tearing, and the dull ache in my ribs was a constant reminder of the fight I'd barely survived. This was insane. I was running on fumes and sheer, unadulterated
★DARIUS' POV★The air tasted like blood and dirt, thick and metallic. This bastard, this rogue Alpha, was fast, I'll give him that. He came at me, claws out, a snarling mess of muscle and rage. My own snarl ripped from my throat, a low rumble that promised pain. He swiped, a blur of grey fur. I ducked under it, the wind of his miss whipping past my ear. Instinct took over. My jaws snapped shut, finding purchase on his hind leg. God, the feel of tearing muscle and sinew... it sent a jolt of brutal satisfaction through me. I yanked hard.He howled, a sound that was music to my ears, stumbling, off-balance. That was my chance. Don't hesitate. Never hesitate. I surged upward, putting everything into it. My claws raked across his face. I felt the warm, wet spray of blood, heard his shriek of agony as one eye was taken. Good. Let him see what happens when you cross me.He didn't back down though. Credit where it's due, the son of a bitch had guts. His rage doubled, making him sloppy, predic
★DARIUS’ POV★Damn, that place was even worse than the stories. The Crying Woods… they weren’t kidding with the name. The air hung thick and heavy, clinging to my skin like a shroud. It reeked of stale blood, rot, and something else… despair, maybe? Twisted trees clawed at the perpetually grey sky, their branches like skeletal fingers. It was unnervingly quiet in some ways, but the silence was punctuated by sounds that made the hairs on my arms stand up – distant growls echoing through the suffocating woods, the rustle of unseen things in the undergrowth.And the eyes. Glowing pairs of them, tracking me from the deepest shadows. Yellow, green, cold pinpricks of hate watching my every step. The rogues. They said rogues were just mindless beasts, driven mad by isolation. Bullshit. Those bastards were smart, cunning. They were hunting me, I could feel it. Packs of them, flanking me, testing my path, waiting for an opening.Being alone sucked right then, made every shadow seem like a thre
★EMMELINE’S POV★I woke up slowly, the dull ache in my body a familiar companion now. But something else felt wrong. Deeper. Colder. I reached out instinctively, my hand searching the space beside me in the bed. Empty.Darius wasn’t there.That wasn’t unusual. He was the Alpha, always busy. But this felt different. The bond, the constant hum of his presence in the back of my mind, felt… distant. Like a faint whisper across a wide, empty space. Not gone, not broken, but stretched thin, strained.Panic, cold and sharp, pricked at me. I pushed myself up, ignoring the protest from my aching muscles. “Darius?” I called out, my voice raspy from sleep.No answer.I swung my legs over the side of the bed, my feet finding the floor. I pulled on a robe quickly, my hands fumbling with the tie. Where was he? Why did the bond feel so… far away?I opened the door to our chambers. A maid was outside, tidying the hall.“Where is the Alpha?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.She curtsied. “Good
★DARIUS’ POV★The morning after Finn died, the air in the pack house felt heavy, thick with grief and unspoken fear. Six of my men, gone. Just like that. Torn apart in those cursed woods. It should have made me stop. Made me rethink. Made me listen to the fear that was gripping the pack.But it didn’t.It only made me harder. More determined. If my best warriors couldn’t get those herbs, if the Crying Woods was too much for a trained team, then there was only one person left who could go. Me. The Alpha.I didn’t waste time. I called Sylas into my study first. He was the most skilled, the bravest of my advisors.He walked in, his face etched with the sorrow of the previous night. He knew why I’d called him. He could probably smell the grim resolve on me.“Alpha,” he said quietly.“Sylas,” I nodded, getting straight to the point. No need for pleasantries. Not now. “You know what happened last night.”He closed his eyes for a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossing his face. “Yes, Alpha
★DARIUS’ POV★I stood before them, my best warriors. Their faces were grim, expectant. They knew something was wrong. My mate was sick, and when the Alpha’s mate is sick, the pack feels it. The air in the room was thick with unspoken worry.“Listen up,” I began with a rough voice. “You know the situation with Luna Emmeline. The healer says there’s a way to help her, a tonic. But the herbs needed… they’re in the Crying Woods.”A ripple went through the group. The Crying Woods. Even the bravest among them shifted uncomfortably. They knew the stories. Everyone did.“Yeah, Alpha,” one of them spoke up. “The Crying Woods. That place is a shithole. Full of rogues.”“Exactly,” I confirmed, meeting each of their eyes. “Not just any rogues. These are the ones who lost their minds. Banished, twisted by rage and isolation. They live like animals in there. Savage. Violent. They kill anything that crosses their path.”I held up the parchment Anastasia had given me. “The healer gave me the descript
★DARIUS’ POV★“There has to be something.” My voice was low, a dangerous rumble I barely recognized. I stood over Anastasia, the healer, my fists clenched at my sides. Her face a roadmap of wrinkles, but her eyes held a weariness that wasn't just age. It was the look of someone who had seen too much, too many things go wrong.She sighed, a thin, reedy sound. “Alpha Darius, I understand your… distress. But I have told you. A hybrid pregnancy is… unnatural. The child grows too fast. It takes too much from the mother.”“Unnatural?” I scoffed, the sound sharp. “She’s carrying my child. There’s nothing unnatural about that.”Anastasia flinched slightly but held her ground. “With respect, Alpha, the mixing of bloodlines this strong… it creates complications. The child’s wolf nature is dominant, even in the womb. It draws on the mother’s life force to fuel its growth. It’s why… why hybrids are so rare now. The mothers…” She trailed off, her gaze dropping to the floor.“The mothers what?” I p