LOGINJANAYAH I stayed there longer than I realized. Time blurred into the soft crackle of candle wicks and the steady, fragile sound of Chris breathing. Every rise of his chest felt like a small mercy granted — one I hadn’t known I was capable of earning. My wolf stirred quietly inside me, not restless this time. Watchful. Protective. You did well, she murmured, her voice gentler than I’d ever heard it. I didn’t answer. If I spoke, I was afraid the tight knot in my throat would break loose. Cassandra moved around the room with practiced calm, grinding herbs, whispering under her breath, occasionally pressing two fingers to Chris’s neck or wrist. She didn’t rush. Didn’t panic. She worked like someone who trusted her own hands. Finally, she straightened and turned to me fully. “You shouldn’t have been able to do that,” she said. My fingers tightened around the hem of my borrowed shirt. “I know.” Her eyes narrowed slightly, not in suspicion — in curiosity. “That place you pulled h
JANAYAH It felt like the room tilted.Like the floor dropped.My pulse stumbled so hard it hurt.Unwanted.The word hit like claws scraping down my chest—cold, sharp, deep.But he didn’t look away.Didn’t soften it.Didn’t try to take it back.Because it was the truth.Raw.Ugly.And his.I sucked in a shaky breath, my fingers trembling in my lap.My ears were still ringing from the sound of his voice — the single, ugly, honest word that had settled between us like hot coals.Unwanted.It tasted like metal in my mouth.I stared at him, trying to read the expression on his face the way you might study a map for a place you don’t know. His chest rose and fell steadily; his hands were fisted at his knees, knuckles white. I could see muscles working along his jaw, like he was holding a storm behind it.“I—” My voice felt too small. “You said I was yours, and then—then you said unwanted. Which is it? Which am I?”He gave a short, almost bitter laugh that didn’t reach his eyes. “Both,” he
JANAYAH Samantha’s scream ripped through the trees—sharp, shaking, terrified.I wanted to react.I wanted to lift my head, tell her I was fine… or at least alive.But I couldn’t move.Not a finger.Not a breath beyond shallow, shaky ones.Then the world erupted.Footsteps thundered toward us—multiple, fast, frantic. Voices overlapped, panicked shadows closing in around my consciousness.“Here!” Samantha shouted.Everything sounded muffled, as if my ears were stuffed with cotton. I felt a hand brush my forehead, another touch my cheek, and still… nothing in my body responded.Then strong arms slid under me, lifting me fully off the ground.I couldn’t even tilt my head to see who it was.My body was draped over the warm, broad back of a wolf—its fur thick, its heat soaking into my numbed skin. Someone climbed up behind me, an arm wrapping carefully around my waist to keep me from falling.The movement jostled my body as the wolf surged forward.Darkness swayed around me.The world rock
JANAYAH Darkness churned behind my eyelids.Not sleep.Not awake.Somewhere… between.Blurry shapes floated in and out—shadows bending, stretching, dissolving before I could understand them.Colours bled like water.Faces shifted.Voices warped, muffled like they were trapped underwater.Then everything snapped into focus—And I was back in Bloodmoon Pack.Back in hell.The omega stood inches from me, her smile sharp, vicious, familiar.Her hand cracked across my face—SLAP.“Did you think you were hiding?” she hissed, circling me like prey.“I promised I’d find you.”Her grin widened, showing teeth.“And this time… I’m going to kill you.”“No—” My throat burned, but the voice wasn’t leaving me.Her bones cracked, twisted, snapped—And her wolf burst out, snarling, jaws dripping.She lunged—Straight for my throat.I screamed—And jolted awake.My heart slammed so hard against my ribs it hurt, my breath hitching like I’d run miles. Sweat clung to my skin, my entire body trembling.An
MACE Jackie stepped out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. The moment she met my eyes, her expression told me she already suspected something was very, very wrong.“Alpha…” she began cautiously.“Come.”I jerked my head toward the end of the hallway. I needed distance—just enough that my voice wouldn’t reach the girl sleeping in my bed.We stopped near the stairs.Jackie folded her arms, bracing herself. Smart of her. My temper was barely leashed.“What happened?” she asked.“She was attacked,” I said. The words scraped out like gravel. “By Michael’s omega.”Jackie’s face drained white. “I knew that bitch was full of evil the moment I saw her?”Jackie’s mouth was still open, the beginnings of another furious sentence forming, when her eyes suddenly unfocused—her words swallowed by the mindlink tugging at me.Michael.Of course.I raked both hands through my hair, dragging in a sharp breath. “Jackie, I need to step out.”She stiffened. “Is it—”“Yes.” My jaw clenched. “S
MACE I stormed out of my room without another look at her.Leaving her there—still in her wolf, curled into the corner like she was trying to hide her very skin—twisted something painful in my chest. But I forced myself away. If I stayed, I’d rip down every wall between us, and she wasn’t ready for that.My steps thundered down the staircase. Every inhale burned. Every exhale felt like smoke.I headed straight for Michael’s guestroom.Didn’t knock.Didn’t slow.Just burst in, door cracking loud against the wall.Michael was standing at the window, hands in his pants pockets like he owned the place. He turned slowly, one brow lifting.“Even though this is your house,” he said, voice cool, “don’t you have manners to knock?”I ignored the jab. “Where is your omega?”His eyes narrowed slightly. “What do you want my omega for?”I took a step forward. “Where. Is. She.”Michael shrugged lightly. “She’s obviously in this house.”That answer wasn’t enough—but I refused to waste another second







