FAZER LOGINElena’s POVThree weeks had passed since the darkness of Lilith was purged from our home.The third-floor hallway and bedroom had been completely repaired. New floorboards replaced the scorched wood, the broken windows were replaced with crystal-clear glass, and the smell of fresh paint, baked bread, and roasting herbs filled every corner of the house.Today was a special day. The sun shone bright and warm over the city, casting golden light through our dining room windows.Down in the kitchen, the counters were overflowing with food. Nathan stood by the stove, looking healthy, strong, and full of life. His green eyes sparkled as he stirred a large pot of savory mountain stew, his broad shoulders relaxed under a simple linen shirt.Colin and Caleb were standing beside him at the island, arguing loudly over how to season the roasted chicken."I'm telling you, Caleb, you need more garlic!" Colin insisted, waving a wooden spoon in the air. "Northern pack recipes always use extra garlic!"
Leo’s POVThe blinding, white-hot blast of electromagnetic energy tore through the air like a powerful lightning strike.The overload raced along the dark-violet tendril connecting Lilith to my dad. Powerful electrical sparks surged into Lilith’s open palm.BOOM!Lilith let out a horrific, deafening shriek that shook the foundation of the house!The black ice coating the hallway walls shattered all at once, raining down like broken glass. The dark parasite core inside Lilith couldn't digest the high-frequency energy my harness threw at it, it was like pouring ice water straight into boiling oil.Lilith stumbled back, her body jerking wildly as thick purple smoke poured out of her mouth and eyes."The tendril!" I yelled, my chest harness smoking as the breakers blew. "The shock forced the energy backwards! Dad's heart!"Inside the bedroom, the continuous flatline beep cut out, replaced by a violent spike.BEEP... BEEP... BEEP!The surge hit my dad’s chest and his body slammed back onto
Elena’s POVThe temperature in the second-floor corridor dropped so fast the air turned to thick, white mist.Black ice spread like dark veins across the floor, crawling up the walls and freezing the velvet curtains into brittle stone. Maya or the ancient entity wearing her skin stood at the top of the stairs, with her head tilted at an unnatural, sickening angle. Her eyes were pools of pure, void-like darkness, her lips curved into a sharp, unnatural smile that didn't belong on a child's face."Get behind me!" Julian roared, stepping into the center of the hallway. His body surged with brilliant silver Alpha aura, his yellow-green eyes blazing as he summoned the full weight of his authority."She... she isn't Maya?" Leo stammered, backing away in absolute horror, his face drained of all color as he stared at the girl he had tried so hard to protect. "The conduit signature... the frost...""It was all a lure, you foolish boy!" Lilith’s voice echoed, no longer a soft fourteen-year-old
Elena’s POVIt started three days after Leo and Cindy reconciled.At first, Nathan thought it was just exhaustion. He had spent hours working in the sanctuary medical room, setting up supplies and organizing intake records. But by Tuesday evening, his hands were trembling so badly he couldn't hold a glass of water. By Wednesday morning, he couldn't even stand up from our bed.His fever spiked to a terrifying one hundred and five degrees, yet his skin felt as cold as ice to the touch.I tried everything. I brewed ancient Silver-Crest healing remedies made from mountain roots that had cured fever in our pack for centuries. Nothing worked. In fact, every time I pressed a warm herbal compress against his chest, Nathan gagged, choking on air as his skin turned a sickly, bruised gray.In pure desperation, I took him to the city central hospital. But the moment the human doctors hooked him up to IV drips and heart monitors, his blood pressure plunged to near-fatal levels. The monitors shrie
Leo’s POVI didn't care about the peppermint tea. I didn't care about the drying oil paint, or the morning light pouring softly through her bedroom window, or the fact that anyone downstairs could hear us if they walked by.Cindy looped her arms tight around my neck, deepening the kiss until my head was spinning. The taste of her was intoxicating; mint, vanilla, and the sweet, salt-laced warmth of her mouth. I leaned down, hooking my arms beneath her knees, and lifted her completely off the floor.She let out a soft, breathy gasp into my mouth as I carried her the two steps to her bed, coming down on top of her. The mattress gave under our weight, and Cindy immediately spread her thighs wide, pulling my hips against hers."Leo..." she breathed out against my jawline, her breath was hot against my throat as her hands slid down my chest, frantically yanking at the hem of my shirt. "Get this off."I sat back just enough to pull the shirt over my head, tossing it blindly across the room.
POVI didn't sleep more than two hours last night. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Cindy’s tear-streaked face, Maya’s terrified posture, and the heavy disappointment in my dad’s eyes.Before I could even think about fixing things with Cindy, I had to fix what I broke with Maya.I walked down into the common room around eight o'clock. Maya was sitting alone on the soft rug by the fireplace, cradling a mug of warm cocoa in her lap, her knees tucked up under a giant knitted blanket. She looked smaller than she had two days ago.I stopped near the edge of the rug, taking a slow, quiet breath."Maya?" I called out softly.She flinched slightly, as her head turned to look at me. Her dark eyes were guarded, holding a tiny flicker of caution that made a sharp ache pulse behind my ribs."Can I sit down?" I asked, pointing to the far edge of the rug, a good three feet away from her. "I just want to talk, I promise."Maya looked at me for a long moment before giving a small, hesitant nod. "Ok
Elena’s POVThe heavy iron gates of the West-wash pack house swung open with a low, ominous groan. For a second, the air inside the car felt too thin to breathe.Six years ago, I had crawled through the dirt of the forest, bleeding and broken, just to get away from this place. I had been a "rankles
Elena’s POV"Mommy has to go help someone who is very sick," I said softly, kneeling down to look my three babies in the eyes. "Mr. Sinclair is going to stay with you. You have to be on your best behavior, stay inside the garden, and you must never take off your necklaces. Do you promise?"I touch
Elena’s POVSix Years Later…“Mommy, wake up! It’s past 8!”A chorus of chattering voices broke through the fog of my sleep, followed by a shower of soft kisses and tiny, energetic hands.“Let’s go for the tickle, it always works,” Caleb’s mischievous voice commanded.I cracked my eyes open, giggli
Elena’s POVI could only stand there and watch as my partner marked another, and there was nothing I could do.***The hall fell unnaturally silent. Even the elders straightened as the Alpha stepped forward.“Now,” the Alpha’s voice rang out, vibrating with authority that jolted me back to reality.







