Michael’s POVEverywhere I turned was violence. There was blood on the wall and it's thick rusted iron-like scent clogged the air, mixing up with the bad stench of the place.I would've held my breath and ran out of the cave if not for the horde of werewolves we were facing and the reason we were here had yet to be accomplished.It was difficult to fight and keep track of time, but I knew quite some time had passed since Lora disappeared into the shadows.As me and the rest of my pack fought back Deveruid’s men, I noticed that all this while that Lora had been gone, I had yet to see her come out of the path she took to find Elara. How long has she been gone?At that moment, my mind became clouded with worry and it was getting difficult to finish a fight without struggling. All I could think of, was the worst. There was also a slight chance she might have gotten out already. But I needed to be sure.Dammit, I hated being distracted in a fight.As one of Deveruid’s men rushed towards m
Andrew's POVAs I stared out my window at the brightening sky, I couldn't help but feel guilty and helpless at thesame time.I should be out there doing something. I should be with the rescue team to bring back my mate.Yet, here I am, waiting for them to return like some princess trapped in a building waiting for her lover to come rescue her.It's been hours since I sent my men after Elara and they are not yet back. I wondered if they got into some problem.I turned away from the window and continued my pacing, as I thought of the next line of action to take.“You are going to wear a hole on the floor if you keep that up.” Rhea stated as she sat in the extra chair close to the door watching me.What did she know? She didn't have a mate and she was no Alpha.“I don't care, I need my pack back.” I stated trying to control the urge to let my wolf loose. It was as antsy as I am.“You could've just followed the rescue team instead of pacing this floor like an excited dog.” She stated. “Thi
Lora's POVAs I stood there my back pressed against the chest of Deveruid, I couldn't help but shiver at the fact that this could be the end for me.Some moments ago I was sure he was going to let me go. Now, I knew otherwise.My not so quiet insults really got him angry. I should've known better than to anger him any further.“Oh, so you're trembling now?” Deveruid asked, his breath hot against my ears. “You sounded so fearless some moments ago I thought you could handle a little heat.”For the first time, I had no retort for him. This was no little heat. This was practically a threat to my life. Nothing little about that. I knew he was mocking me because of how confident I sounded earlier and all I wished was to disappear from here. I felt embarrassed despite being in the face of death. It just felt like I was all mouth and no action.“We had an agreement.” I croaked.That was the only thing I could think up. My mind had somehow shut down.“And that agreement is off. Not that we h
Elara's POVFor a minute, I was sure that Deveruid was going to rip Lora's throat in front of me. The grin he wore on his face and the look of malice he had to match it made my stomach squirm and my heart pound from the threat. I don't remember being this terrified since my last encounter with that ghost.I could still the dampness on my cheek from crying. I tried to convince Deveruid to release Lora using everything I had including tears but he turned out to be a cold hearted monster.As I watched Lora rush into the arms of Michael, I couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if he hadn't shown up in time to avert the disaster.Seeing Micheal return Lora's embrace with as much passion, his hands disappearing into her hair as he shut his eyes, suggested that there was something going on between them.What could it be and how did they even meet in the first place?I was curious but this was no time for questions, I needed to get out of here. Looking down at the limp body of Deve
Elara's POVAs they rushed towards us, I take my stance to begin the fight when Lora takes my arm and pulls me back.“What the hell are you doing?” I asked struggling against her grip. “We should fight them off.”We were in a narrow path, rocky walls on both sides of us but I thought we could use that to our advantage.“We don't have time for this.” She stated still pulling me as the men began charging towards us. “Let's get out of here.”“We can't just—” I began.“Elara get out of there right now.” Michael called.Turning, I noticed that Michael had already turned back and was running ahead us while I argued with Lora.What's wrong with them? By the sound of the shouts and grunts, I could tell we were close. All we had to do was get past the wall of werewolves.At last, I let Lora drag me along as she began running, dragging me along. What's happening? I thought we were going to face them head on. Craning my head to the side, I could see the men chasing after us. When I turned back
Lora's POVWe had narrowly escaped the detection of Deveruid's men. Overcome with joy, I didn't know what to do.I wanted to scream out loud at the fuckers that I had escaped but obviously that will be giving us away.Under the afternoon sun, it was difficult to hide away from men determined to catch us but thank the fates that Michael accounted for this situation.The giant bush and the thick smell of grass was all we needed to lay low for a few minutes as the men ran past.He chose a place we could easily hide from both nasal and visual detection. My mate.I didn't know him before coming to this place, but I already wanted to kiss him senseless for his wonderful plan.Immediately our pursuers had disappeared into the woods, we came out of our hiding, smiles gracing all our faces. It was time to get out of here.Before we could take the first actual step to freedom, I caught sight of Micheal clutching his shoulder as he stumbled for a moment, grunting. Before I could reach him, he f
Andrew’s POVIt's been more than twenty-four hours since Elara had been kidnapped and there have been no word about her or those that went to rescue her.For the longest time, all I remember doing is pacing around and making as much calls as I can to know what the new update was.I tried to sit still and wait but the thought of Michael and the rest of the rescue team being captured or worse killed had me calling Max and Tom to my office.They were the ones I gave charge to keep an eye out for the people we were waiting for, but I was done waiting around.I wouldn't have bothered with them if there were other persons that could go on this mission with me without any worries.As it turned out, most had gone with the first rescue team while the others remaining I would prefer to keep watch over the pack.“I'm sure you have an idea why I called the both of you to my office right?” I asked staring straight into their eyes daring them to match my stare but they didn't.Their eyes were fixed
Andrew's POVOh shit. He looked terrible.“What happened to him?” I asked surprised to see the large wound in his shoulder. “Shouldn't that be healing by now?”My eyes roamed the worn out and tired faces of them before settling on the person that carried him.“It should, but I don't understand why it isn't.” Greg replied his voice tinged with exasperation. “And there was nothing any of you could do about it?” I blurted.I sounded almost ungrateful and it didn't sit well with me.Before anyone could answer, I turned away. That's when I spotted someone to carryout the assignment I had in my head. “Max, go tell Mirabel to get a room ready for Micheal in the health center. We're bringing him in now.”With a nod, he ran towards the direction of the health center. “And you Greg, you've done well bringing Micheal back. Take him to the health center, I will be right behind you.”“Sure boss.” He replied stalking away with Micheal on his back. I would've ordered some people to take him instea
Elara’s POVThe first breath I took was like drowning in light.Not air—light. Thick and sharp and everywhere. It filled my lungs, my veins, my mind.Then I came back.And everything hurt.My eyes snapped open. The world rushed in too fast. The ruins. The silence. The blood on my hands. The echo of Andrew’s voice still whispering my name.He was holding me.His arms were wrapped around me like he was afraid I’d disappear again.“Andrew,” I croaked. My voice didn’t sound like mine. It was softer—richer. Like something else had laced itself through me.He jerked back just enough to look at me, his face streaked with blood and ash and tears. His lips parted in a shaky breath.“You’re awake,” he whispered. “Elara, you’re awake—”“I’m okay.” I wasn’t. But I had to say it for him.He exhaled and pressed his forehead to mine. “You scared the hell out of me.”I touched his jaw. “You offered your life.”“I’d do it again.”He kissed me, quick and desperate. It wasn’t gentle. It was real.I clun
Lora’s POVThe world cracked.Not metaphorically. Not in the dreamy, nice and poetic way people say when things fall apart.I mean the altar—centuries old, cursed by blood and time—split down the middle with a sound like the earth itself had screamed.I flinched as shards of stone flew past my face. One grazed my cheek, warm blood sliding down before I could even register the sting. But I didn’t stop moving.“Elara!” I shouted, weaving between the broken stones and bodies. I saw her in Andrew’s arms, limp and deathly still, and something in me nearly shattered too.Not her. Please, not her. She was my best friend and the last thing I wanted was for her losing her life in this wretched place.Then Greg—no, the thing that had been Greg—turned toward me. His eyes weren’t his anymore. Red and empty. His smile too wide, very wrong and completely twisted.My heart pounded, fists clenched. The god had taken him. It had used him.But now?Now even that thing was looking like it wanted to devo
Andrew’s POVThe moment Elara expended her power trying to keep the god locked, it seemed like everything had stopped to focus on this particular moment. I stood screaming her name as she tried to do the impossible. But when I watched her falling, I couldn't take it anymore."Elara!" I tore through the red-glowing haze that had blanketed everything. My feet slammed hard into the ancient steps, sliding as I reached her. She was limp. Her skin had gone pale, almost gray, and her eyes fluttered like she was on the edge of leaving me. “Stay with me, dammit. Elara, breathe.”She didn’t respond. Her lips trembled, breath catching in shallow bursts.The air cracked above us—the sky splitting as the Blood Moon hit its peak. I looked up.And saw it.The gate was open. Not just some door or portal. This was ancient, raw, and alive. It was jagged light framed by black mist, spinning slowly in the heavens above the altar. And from it, something moved, a hand reached out.The forgotten god.Did
Elara's POVThe scream that tore from my throat didn’t feel like mine.It came from somewhere deeper—bone-deep, soul-deep. My back arched against the pulsing altar, and the red light crashing down from the Blood Moon carved through me like I was paper. Everything inside me felt like it was breaking apart. Shattered pieces of a girl who used to be Elara.Then I heard him."Elara!" Andrew’s voice cut through the chaos.I clung to it.The pain was still there, like I was being ripped from the inside out, but I clung to the sound of him. It grounded me. Reminded me of who I was. Of the nights we used to spend togetger as a couple. As mates. Of the way he whispered my name when no one else was listening.I blinked through the red haze and found him kneeling beside me, hands cupping my face. His eyes wide. Terrified. His thumb brushed the tears off my cheeks, and I leaned into the touch like it was the only thing keeping me alive."You’re still here," I choked out."I’m not going anywher
Andrew’s POVThe world went quiet.It shouldn’t have. There was chanting all around me, the sky roaring with thunder, cultists pacing like wolves ready to tear the altar apart. But all I could hear was the sound of her heart breaking.Elara’s eyes were locked on me—pleading, desperate, furious.And I’d faltered.Fates, I’d faltered.The girl beside her—the replacement—was glowing now. Not metaphorically. Literally. The altar pulsed under her knees, and I could feel the magic reaching for her like it had once reached for Elara.This was the moment.One path ended in her survival. The other? Salvation for the rest of the world.I didn’t move.My chest felt like it was splitting in half. The prophecy I didn't know much about seemed not to care who she was. It just needed a vessel. And now it had one.But she wasn’t Elara.“You said you loved her,” Michael’s voice tore through the tension, sharp and shaking. “So act like it.”I blinked.“She’s dying,” Dorian said again from behind me. Cal
Elara’s POVI couldn’t feel my hands.Not because of the chains—they’d long since numbed my wrists. It wasn’t even the dark magic humming through the stone under me, or the pulsing weight of that fake moon bleeding into the sky.It was the woman.Her.The one Dorian dragged in like an offering. The one who looked like me. I didn't know how he managed to do something this sick all on his own but it had my hackles rising.She stumbled, dirt in her hair, blood down one arm. Her eyes met mine—and I saw myself.I froze.My mouth went dry.No.No, no, no. I have to get to the bottom of this.“What is this?” I croaked. My voice was rough, scraped raw from screaming earlier. “Who is she?”Dorian smiled, cold and smooth. “Insurance,” he said. “A vessel the altar will accept willingly.”“She’s not me.” I pointed out trying to figure out exactly was going on.“She’s enough,” he said. “The Blood Moon doesn’t care for names. Only bloodlines. Only sacrifice.”Behind him, Harrow stood silent, arms f
Michael’s POVI’d seen hell before.I’d seen blood-soaked battlefields, the ruins of old packs cursed by forgotten gods, and the aftermath of hunts gone sideways. But nothing—nothing—prepared me for the madness that unfolded once Elara vanished into the altar.One second she was there, blood burning on the stones. The next, the ground split and swallowed her like she’d never existed. Andrew dove after her, but the crack sealed fast—too fast.We stood frozen. Just for a beat.Then the sky changed.A deep rumble rolled across the clouds—slow and hungry. The black above us began to shift, bruising over with a sickly red hue. The true Blood Moon was still weeks off, but what rose above the mountain now? That was no moon. That was an imitation. Something summoned.Kieran raised his hands, shouting incantations in a language I’d only ever know can be found in hidden scrolls and dark books.The cultists around him echoed the words. Voices rising, and twisting like one. If it wasn't for sac
Andrew’s POVI didn’t look at Elara. Not when I heard Kieran say it. Not when that thing that looked like her stepped into the firelight with dead eyes and a mocking smile.Because if I looked at her right then, I might’ve lost the control I’d been holding onto since we stepped into this cursed clearing. And right now, she needed me steady. Not broken.The Gatekeeper. That’s what he called it.But that wasn't Elara—not really. It was a lie dressed in her skin. Some unholy mimic summoned to rattle us before the real bloodbath began.Greg cursed softly behind me, low and venomous.“We need to move,” he muttered. “Now. They’re baiting us.”Kieran was already turning, robes sweeping the earth as he walked back toward the rise of the altar behind him. “Follow,” he called. “Or run. The outcome doesn’t change.”He was right. If we decided to back down, it won't change anything. His men will give chase and he could use some other means to capture Elara.I didn't want to be away from her.I st
Elara’s POVAfter what happened in tombs, Andrew and I managed to escape that place and made it back to our friends.“Are you ok?” The words hadn’t even fully left Andrew’s mouth when a message hit me. Not through the air, not by any messenger, but inside my head, cold and direct.“Join us willingly, and we’ll spare the rest of your pack.”Kieran.I stood frozen in the middle of the shattered cemetery, my boots soaked from the broken ground that still bled magic. Smoke curled in lazy spirals from the scorched edges of the broken seal behind us. The earth trembled, subtle but steady, like it was breathing beneath our feet.I didn’t move. I didn’t speak.Andrew’s hand brushed mine. “What is it?”I met his eyes, hating what I was about to say. “It was Kieran. He’s offering a deal.”Michael spun around from where he was guarding the broken archway behind us. “What kind of deal?”Greg, who hadn’t spoken since we’d forced the cultists back into the tunnels, just narrowed his eyes. I didn’