Mag-log inHALEYI took a breath, closed my eyes and called to my wolf.It hurt because the change came slower for me. It always did.My bones ached as they cracked and reformed. My skin stretched and burned as fur pushed through. My face lengthened, my teeth sharpened. For a few seconds I was neither human nor wolf, just pain and change.I felt myself drop to the ground, my spine curving, my senses sharpening.Then it was over.When I opened my eyes, I stood comfortably on four legs and the world looked different. Brighter. More detailed. I could smell everything. The trees. The grass. The dirt.I shook out my fur, getting used to the feel of it again. It had been a while.Rhea's wolf huffed, then stood up and turned and ran into the trees.I followed.We ran hard and fast, weaving through the forest like shadows. My wolf moved through the forest like she was born to it, leaping over logs, dodging branches, her paws barely touching the ground.Rhea set a brutal pace, leading the way. Her grey f
HALEYI turned to leave. My legs barely worked. They felt like they belonged to someone else. I managed to make it to the door, then stopped.“What about her?” I asked, not looking back at Olivia's body.“What about her?”“She deserves a burial. A proper grave at least.”Kael laughed again. “She deserves whatever I feel she deserves. Which is to rot. And she will. Right here. As a reminder.”I didn't say anything else. I just nodded and walked out of the room, down the hall, out the front door.Slow and steady, like I wasn't terrified out of my mind.Behind me, I heard the cabin door close.I kept walking.I breathed in the smell of clean, fresh air, stumbling away from the cabin, my feet moving on their own. The cold air hit my face and I sucked it in greedily, trying to scrub the smell of death from my lungs.I walked fast, not looking back, not stopping until I was deep in the forest. When I was far enough that I couldn't see the cabin anymore, I finally stopped and leaned agains
PENIELLuciano stepped closer, until we were toe to toe, his hands reaching up to cup my face. “I can't lose you, Peniel. I can't.”“You won't.” I reached up and touched his wrist. “But I have to do this. If there's even a chance…”“There's always a chance. That doesn't mean you take it.”“I'm not the same girl who got kidnapped before.” My voice was firm now. “I've trained with Rhea. I've fought. I've survived. I can do this. I can face him.”“Name one thing worse than Henry.”I thought about it. “Kael. Julie. The Angel.” I shrugged. “They're all monsters. The only difference is Henry is the one who made me.”“Face him alone? In the middle of nowhere? That's suicide.” Luciano shook his head. “I won't risk you.”“You won't be risking me. I'll have warriors with me.”“He said to come alone.”“Then don't let me go alone.” I looked at him. “You can have warriors hidden. You can follow me. He said come alone, but he won't know you're there.”“Besides, its obvious he said that because he's
PENIELThe gardens were really quiet these days.To be honest, I liked them like this. Peaceful. No servants rushing past. No warriors training nearby. Just the flowers and the bees and the warm sun on my face.I sat on a stone bench near the rose bushes, a book open in my lap that I wasn't really reading. My mind kept drifting, too full to comprehend the words on the page. But it gave me something to do with my hands.I thought about Luciano. The recent way he looked at me sometimes, like he was afraid I would disappear if he blinked.I thought about Haley, out there somewhere, playing a dangerous game. I thought about Preya, still in that bed, still not waking up.I thought about my father.The thought made me shiver even in the warm sun. Henry. Out there somewhere. Planning. Waiting.I pushed the thought away and tried to focus on the book.I heard the crunch of gravel as someone walked towards me but didn't look up.Until the shadow fell over me, blocking the sun. I raised my he
HALEY“N-no. I did what you said. I got close to her. I did everything.”“Did you?” The knife pressed harder. I felt another sting, more warmth. “Because from what I hear, you've been very cozy in that infirmary. Eating their food. Letting their healer fix you up. Getting real comfortable in that pack.”“I was playing the part. Like you told me to.”“Playing the part.” He laughed. It didn't sound nice.“And yet here you are, alone. No one followed you. No one's watching or peeping,” He paused. “Its almost like they trust you.”My heart pounded so hard I thought it would burst. “They don't trust me. They watch me every second, every hour of the day. I had to sneak out just to get here.”“Is that so?”“Yes. Please. I'm on your side. I've always been on your side.”He smirked, “Not with that dead body you won't.” I whimpered, my eyes going to the body, then quickly bouncing away.I couldn't look at her again. I stared at the floor, tears dripping off my face.The knife stayed on my throa
HALEYI pushed the door open. It swung inward with a long, low creak. Darkness stretched out, thick and oppressing. The smell hit me first. Decay. Blood. Rot. It was dark inside. The windows were covered up with boards, letting in only thin strips of fading light. I could see shapes. A table. Some chairs. I reminded myself that I wouldn't go into that room. The room where it happened. I'd leave the message if Kael wasn’t there and get out fast. No need to linger more than necessary.I stepped inside, one foot over the threshold.Took another, then one more.Fast. Too fast.An arm wrapped around me from behind. Cold metal pressed against my throat. A knife.I froze. My breath stopped.“Well, well, well.” The familiar voice sang in my ear. “Look who decided to come back and pay dear old me a visit.” He mocked.Kael.I couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. He pressed the knife harder against my throat, I hissed, feeling it nick the skin lightly.“Kael,” I said, his name calling out like a







