Stephanie's POV I moved swiftly through the corridor, my grip tightening around the blade in my hand. Sarah had given me the map, and I followed it exactly, weaving my way toward the cellar. Every step I took, every breath I exhaled, only solidified my determination. I would get Reyna back.The bodies I left behind didnโt faze me. The guards had barely been a challengeโquick, clean kills. Their lifeless forms littered the hallway, but I had no time to care. I reached into my pocket, pulling out the small vial of wolfsbane. Its dark, pungent scent filled my nostrils, sharp and intoxicating.A scream echoed through the cellar. My chest tightened. Reyna.I didnโt hesitate.I crouched, pouring the wolfsbane over the fallen guards. The second it made contact with their bodies, flames erupted, consuming them in an instant. The fire crackled, an eerie glow dancing against the stone walls.Perfect.If Diane was hereโand I knew she wasโthis would lure her out.A slow smile curled my lips when
Stephanie's POV A slow smile spread across my lips as I caught the flicker of fear in Damonโs eyes. He tried to hide it, clenching his jaw, standing tall, but I saw it I felt it.โWhatโs wrong, Damon?โ I taunted, tilting my head. โI thought you were the most fearless werewolf. A rogue with nothing to lose.โHis fists curled at his sides. By then, Jake and John had started stirring, groaning as they slowly regained consciousness. Damonโs gaze darted to them before snapping back to me.โYouโre a damn psycho,โ he spat. โHow the hell did you cut off Dianeโs hand?โI twirled my blade between my fingers, feigning boredom. โThe same way Iโll take something from you if you donโt release my people.โ My voice was calm, steady. Deadly.Damon scoffed. โDiane was weak. I donโt really care what happens to her.โ His lip curled into a smirk. โAnd Iโll do whatever I damn well please.โI chuckled. โGood,โ I murmured. โBecause Reyna is safe now, and that means I get to enjoy this.โ I lifted my gun, my
Stephanie's POV Jake and John exchanged a look before turning to me."Don't worry," Jake said. "We'll go outside and see what Marcus wants."John nodded in agreement. "You and Sarah get Reyna out of here. Weโll handle things."Sarah scoffed. "We already know what he wants me." Her voice was steady, but I could hear the edge of fear beneath it. She lifted her chin defiantly. "But heโs never getting me back. I left his hold, and Iโm never going back."Her determination made me proud, but we didnโt have time to argue about it. We had to move.Without wasting another second, we slipped through the back gate, where a black car was already waiting for us.โGet in,โ the driver said in a low voice, his eyes darting toward the front of the building.Sarah climbed in first, pulling me along with her. As soon as the door shut behind us, the car sped off, leaving Jake and John behind to deal with Marcus.The tension in the car was thick. Sarah sat stiffly beside me, her fingers clenched into fis
Reyna's POV I woke up to the soft glow of the bedside lamp, my head still throbbing but lighter than before. The scent of fresh linen and antiseptic filled my nose, and as my vision cleared, I saw Sarah sitting beside me."You're awake," she breathed out, her voice laced with relief.I blinked a few times, my body still sluggish. "Whereโฆwhere am I?""A safe house," she answered, reaching out to squeeze my hand. "You've been unconscious for two days. We were so worried."Two days? My mind struggled to catch up. The last thing I remembered was pain,Damon, Diane, and chaos. I swallowed, my throat dry."Stephanie?" I croaked.Before Sarah could respond, the door swung open, and there she was."You're finally awake." Stephanie strode into the room with her usual confidence, but her eyes softened as she looked at me."Steph," I whispered.She crossed the room in seconds and wrapped her arms around me. Her embrace was strong, grounding me in the present. For the first time in days, I felt s
John's POV The hum of the engine filled the silence between Jake and me as I drove through the dimly lit streets. The city blurred past, a mixture of neon lights and shadows, but my focus was elsewhere. Something in my chest feltโฆ off. Like a weight pressing down, not painful, but present. An awareness I couldnโt shake.Jake sat beside me, lost in his own thoughts, his fingers drumming against his knee. I knew what he was thinking about,Reyna. The need to get back to her, to see her safe with his own eyes. I understood that kind of devotion. Or at least, I thought I did.But something had shifted in me.I gripped the wheel tighter, staring at the road ahead. Reyna. The woman I had fought for, bled for, almost died for. The woman I had sworn to protect.Yet, something was missing.The bond, the pull I used to feel toward her, was dull, faded. Not gone, but distantโlike a song played from another room, recognizable but no longer mine to claim.I inhaled sharply, forcing my mind to focu
John's POV I caught the scent of her hesitation before she even moved.Stephanieโs hand hovered over the doorknob, her shoulders tense. Her breathing was steady, controlled,but I knew better. She was about to bolt.In a flash, I moved, cutting her off before she could step inside. I wasnโt even sure why I did it,only that letting her slip away didnโt feel like an option.She gasped, her eyes widening in shock. โWhat the hell, John?โI crossed my arms, blocking the door with my body. โWere you planning on running away?โHer lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. โI wasnโt running.โโThen why did you freeze up when you saw me?โStephanie huffed, crossing her arms. โI wasnโt expecting you to appear out of nowhere like a damn shadow.โI smirked. โWerewolf speed has its perks.โShe rolled her eyes and tried to step around me, but I shifted, keeping her in place.She let out a frustrated sigh. โMove, John.โโNo.โHer brows knitted together. โExcuse me?โI leaned against the doorframe,
Stephanie's POV The silence between us wasnโt heavy. It wasnโt awkward or tense. It simplyโฆ was.John and I sat side by side on the fallen log, the cool night air wrapping around us. The moon was high, its light filtering through the trees, casting silver threads over the clearing. I focused on the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, on the distant hoot of an owl. Anything but the way Johnโs presence made my chest feel tight.I wasnโt used to this.Silence, yes. I had spent years locked inside my own head, drowning in the absence of words. But this wasnโt that kind of silence. This was different. This wasโฆ safe.I stole a glance at him.John was watching me, his eyes darker than usual under the soft glow of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made my skin prickle. Not with fear. Not with unease. But with something I wasnโt ready to name.His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he might speak. But he didnโt. Instead,
Jake's POV The air in the dungeon was thick with the stench of damp stone and decay, the kind of smell that clung to your skin long after you left. I barely noticed it. My focus was locked on the metal door in front of me, the one separating me from Diane.The guards stepped aside as I approached, their expressions unreadable. They knew better than to question why I was here. Everyone knew what Diane had done, the pain she had caused.I pushed the door open.Diane sat in the corner, shackled to the wall. Her once-perfect appearance was in ruins,her hair tangled, her face streaked with dirt and dried blood. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing before shifting into something unreadable.โJake,โ she murmured, voice hoarse. โHere to let me go?โI let out a dark chuckle before slamming the door shut behind me. โYou think this is a rescue mission?โShe smirked, though I could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. โYouโve always been the reasonable one. The quiet one.โ She tilted her hea
Stephanieโs POVMy palms were damp as I followed John into his bedroom, the soft echo of our footsteps the only sound filling the spacious room. My heart was thudding way too fast, and I couldnโt tell if it was because I was nervous about being alone with himโฆ or something deeper.He stopped by the window, the moonlight spilling across his broad shoulders and casting a silvery glow over the room. Then he turned to me, his eyes catching mine in that intense, grounding way he always had.โHow are you feeling tonight?โ he asked, voice low, calmโฆ careful.I took a breath. โIโm fine,โ I said quickly, then hesitated. โBut honestly, I really need to train. Iโve been off lately. My headโs been all over the place.โHe chuckled, folding his arms. โThatโs the price of being a warrior, Steph. You donโt get to switch your brain off, even when you should.โHis smile made something flutter inside my chest, and I found myself smiling back.โYeah, well,โ I muttered, โbeing a warriorโs overrated someti
Reynaโs POVStephanie leaned against the doorframe, arms folded and a sly smile playing on her lips. โYou wonโt believe whoโs rotting in the dungeon.โI raised a brow from where I was sitting on the edge of my bed. โWho?โโDiane.โ She smirked. โLocked up like the traitor she is.โI blinked. My stomach did a little twist,not from fear, but from the overwhelming satisfaction that came with justice being served. โSeriously?โSteph nodded, eyes glinting. โWanna go see her? Give her a piece of your mind?โI didnโt hesitate. โHell yes.โWe were out of the room and down the hallway in seconds, the sound of our footsteps echoing in the otherwise quiet corridor. The tension that had been clinging to my chest since everything happened seemed to ease with every step. I wasnโt sure what I was going to say to Diane, but I knew one thing for sure,I needed to see her in chains.The moment we entered the dungeon, the stench of mold and rust hit me. The air was cold and damp, but I kept walking, eyes
Jakeโs POVThe flames danced in the hearth across the room, casting flickers of gold on the stone walls, but I barely noticed. My mind was running wild, tangled in the mess Diane had left behind. John sat opposite me, arms folded tight across his chest, his jaw tense, frustration radiating off him like heat.โWe have to be smart about this,โ I said, breaking the silence. โWhatever we do with Dianeโฆ we canโt act on impulse. Sheโs not just some rogue wolf we can toss into the dungeons. She has friends among the elders.โJohn scoffed, dark eyes narrowing. โSo what? Weโre supposed to tiptoe around her because of that? Jake, she betrayed us. She handed over sensitive information to Damon and Marcus. If that doesnโt scream โtraitor,โ I donโt know what does.โโI know what she did.โ My tone was calm, but I felt the fire build behind it. โAnd Iโm not saying she walks free. But if we act without council approval, it gives her allies ammunition. Theyโll paint us as reckless. Unstable. We canโt a
Reyna's POV Warm sunlight streamed through the room as the sound of soft footsteps pulled me from sleep. My eyelids fluttered open just in time to see Steph yanking the curtains apart, letting the golden glow spill across the walls."Rise and shine, sleepyhead," she teased, turning to face me with a wide grin.I pushed myself up against the pillows, a slow smile spreading across my lips. "Steph," I breathed.She didn't hesitate. In a second, she was beside me, arms wrapped tight around my shoulders. I clung to her just as fiercely, letting the warmth of her presence chase away the last remnants of fear that had clung to me since my return."I'm so glad you're back," she murmured, her voice thick with emotion.I pulled back slightly, searching her eyes. "I'm glad to be back."Her gaze softened. "We were all worried about you, Reyna. I was worried about you."A lump formed in my throat. It was still hard to believe I was safe, back in familiar surroundings, surrounded by people who car
John's POV The night air was crisp as I stepped through the front doors of the estate, the weight of exhaustion settling deep in my bones. Steph had been right beside me just moments ago, but before I could say a word, she vanished into the shadows like she always did. She never liked lingering too long, especially after a mission.I rubbed my temples, barely suppressing a groan. The night had been long, and I wasnโt looking forward to whatever came next.A sentinel approached, his expression unreadable. โThe elders request an audience with you, Alpha.โI exhaled sharply, already irritated. โNot tonight. Tell them Iโll meet them tomorrow.โThe sentinel hesitated but nodded before turning on his heel and disappearing down the hall. I knew pushing off the meeting wouldnโt go over well, but I didnโt care. For once, I just needed a damn moment to breathe.I moved further inside, my steps slowing as I reached Reynaโs door. My hand hovered over the handle, but I hesitated.What was I suppo
Jake's POV The air in the dungeon was thick with the stench of damp stone and decay, the kind of smell that clung to your skin long after you left. I barely noticed it. My focus was locked on the metal door in front of me, the one separating me from Diane.The guards stepped aside as I approached, their expressions unreadable. They knew better than to question why I was here. Everyone knew what Diane had done, the pain she had caused.I pushed the door open.Diane sat in the corner, shackled to the wall. Her once-perfect appearance was in ruins,her hair tangled, her face streaked with dirt and dried blood. She looked up at me, her eyes narrowing before shifting into something unreadable.โJake,โ she murmured, voice hoarse. โHere to let me go?โI let out a dark chuckle before slamming the door shut behind me. โYou think this is a rescue mission?โShe smirked, though I could see the flicker of doubt in her gaze. โYouโve always been the reasonable one. The quiet one.โ She tilted her hea
Stephanie's POV The silence between us wasnโt heavy. It wasnโt awkward or tense. It simplyโฆ was.John and I sat side by side on the fallen log, the cool night air wrapping around us. The moon was high, its light filtering through the trees, casting silver threads over the clearing. I focused on the sound of the wind rustling the leaves, on the distant hoot of an owl. Anything but the way Johnโs presence made my chest feel tight.I wasnโt used to this.Silence, yes. I had spent years locked inside my own head, drowning in the absence of words. But this wasnโt that kind of silence. This was different. This wasโฆ safe.I stole a glance at him.John was watching me, his eyes darker than usual under the soft glow of the moon. His expression was unreadable, but there was something in the way he looked at me that made my skin prickle. Not with fear. Not with unease. But with something I wasnโt ready to name.His lips parted, and for a moment, I thought he might speak. But he didnโt. Instead,
John's POV I caught the scent of her hesitation before she even moved.Stephanieโs hand hovered over the doorknob, her shoulders tense. Her breathing was steady, controlled,but I knew better. She was about to bolt.In a flash, I moved, cutting her off before she could step inside. I wasnโt even sure why I did it,only that letting her slip away didnโt feel like an option.She gasped, her eyes widening in shock. โWhat the hell, John?โI crossed my arms, blocking the door with my body. โWere you planning on running away?โHer lips parted, then pressed into a thin line. โI wasnโt running.โโThen why did you freeze up when you saw me?โStephanie huffed, crossing her arms. โI wasnโt expecting you to appear out of nowhere like a damn shadow.โI smirked. โWerewolf speed has its perks.โShe rolled her eyes and tried to step around me, but I shifted, keeping her in place.She let out a frustrated sigh. โMove, John.โโNo.โHer brows knitted together. โExcuse me?โI leaned against the doorframe,
John's POV The hum of the engine filled the silence between Jake and me as I drove through the dimly lit streets. The city blurred past, a mixture of neon lights and shadows, but my focus was elsewhere. Something in my chest feltโฆ off. Like a weight pressing down, not painful, but present. An awareness I couldnโt shake.Jake sat beside me, lost in his own thoughts, his fingers drumming against his knee. I knew what he was thinking about,Reyna. The need to get back to her, to see her safe with his own eyes. I understood that kind of devotion. Or at least, I thought I did.But something had shifted in me.I gripped the wheel tighter, staring at the road ahead. Reyna. The woman I had fought for, bled for, almost died for. The woman I had sworn to protect.Yet, something was missing.The bond, the pull I used to feel toward her, was dull, faded. Not gone, but distantโlike a song played from another room, recognizable but no longer mine to claim.I inhaled sharply, forcing my mind to focu