LOGINCrystal's POVThe northern ridge smelled of scorched ozone and wet pine needles. A suffocating heat radiated off the tree line, carrying the foul, copper tang of blood magic that made my tongue taste like iron. Beside me, Kenneth had fully shifted into his Alpha form, a towering, midnight-black wolf with glowing amber eyes, muscles coiled like iron cables beneath his thick fur. Around us, three dozen Silver Moon warriors crouched in the underbrush, their low, vibrating growls creating a terrifying symphony of restraint.High above the tree canopy, the sky tore open.With a sickening, glass-shattering sound, the ancient protection ward snapped. Fractured shards of purple light rained down through the branches, dissolving into dark mist before hitting the dirt. The perimeter had fallen."Hold the line!" Marcus screamed from the flank, his form shifting into a massive silver-grey wolf just as the shadows beneath the trees detached themselves from the trunk line.They didn't charge
Crystal's POVThe ride back to the pack house was charged with heavy silence. Kenneth kept one hand firmly on the steering wheel, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscle ticked continuously. His other hand was wrapped tightly around mine, his fingers laced through mine so fiercely that I could feel the violent, rapid rhythm of his pulse vibrating through my own palm.Every mile we covered felt like a countdown. The sunset had fully faded, leaving behind an eerie, moonless sky that seemed to bleed into the dark canopy of the forest. Inside my chest, my wolf paced endlessly, scratching at my ribs with a restless energy that mirrored the crackle of magic under my skin."They were waiting for us," I said softly, breaking the thick silence inside the SUV. "Lucas knew about the cabin.""My father thought only a handful of elders knew about that place," Kenneth replied, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that vibrated through the vehicle's interior. "Either Lucas was watching our movements or
Crystal's POVKenneth’s growl vibrated through the crisp mountain air, a low, murderous sound that made the surrounding earth seem to tremble. He shifted his weight, instinctively placing his broad frame squarely between me and the creature, masking my aura behind his own raw alpha presence."You crossed into my territory, leech," Kenneth snarled, his golden eyes flashing with lethal intent as his claws elongated, tearing through his leather gloves. "I'll make sure you don't leave here alive."The vampire only smiled, a cold, empty expression that showed off two sharp, gleaming fangs. "A noble attempt, Alpha. But you are far from your pack, far from your guards, and hopelessly outnumbered."The moment the words left his mouth, the surrounding tree line came alive with movement. Four more vampires stepped out from the dense forest shadows, their dark eyes locked on us, their pale skin catching the fading golden light of the setting sun. To worsen the situation, there were three massi
Crystal's POVThe warm weight of Kenneth’s hand wrapped around mine remained the one solid thing in a world that had felt unsteady for far too long. Every step back toward the pack house felt lighter, as if acknowledging the truth between us had peeled away a layer of armor I hadn't realized I was suffocating inside.When we reached the main house, the lingering tension in the air was palpable. A few guards were posted near the heavy oak doors, their heads snapping toward us as we approached. Their eyes flicked down to our joined hands, subtle shifts of surprise passing across their faces before they bowed their heads respectfully and fell back into the shadows."Get some rest tonight," Kenneth said softly as we stopped outside my room. He turned to face me, his thumb tracing a slow circle over the back of my hand. "Tomorrow, we're leaving the pack grounds, just the two of us.""Is that safe?" I asked, though the playful lilt in my voice betrayed how little I cared about the answe
Crystal's POV The elder was waiting at the clearing earlier than usual the next morning, and I understood, seeing his expression, that Kenneth had already sent word ahead about Lucas. "Sit," he said, gesturing to the flat stone across from his usual seat rather than starting with the grounding exercises we always began with. "Before we train, we talk." I sat, the morning air cool and still around us, the birds not yet fully awake in the trees overhead. "I know the name," he said without preamble. "Lucas. I did not share what I knew before because it was not time." "Tell me," I said. "He is not simply the head of a faction searching for a weapon," the elder said. "He is old, older than most vampires who still walk freely. He has survived this long, which means he has likely known about you considerably long enough." Something cold settled in my chest. "How long." "I do not know precisely," the elder admitted. "But the prophecy itself is not a secret confined to werewolf
Kenneth's POVMarcus brought the news himself, rather than sending a runner, which told me before he said anything that something was wrong."We caught one," he said, entering my study without knocking, his uniform still dusty from the eastern boundary. "A scout. He's alive, but barely we had to get him talking."I set down the report I had been reading. "Where is he now?""Holding cell, lower level," Marcus said. "Jordan is with him. He has said very little so far, but he will definitely be useful.""Tell me."Marcus exhaled, choosing his words carefully. "He is not simply a scout," he said. "He was sent, specifically, to confirm reports of a hybrid, and to relay the information back to someone he referred to as the head of the faction.""A name," I said."He gave one, eventually," Marcus said. "Lucas."The name settled into the room with more weight, and I found myself turning it over slowly to see if I've heard of that name."Lucas," I repeated. "Do we know anything else about him?
Crystal's POV Something stirred in the darkness, a pulse, a whisper, the faintest spark of magic. My wolf growled from deep inside me, refusing to fade, refusing to give up.A voice came, soft but powerful, moving through the darkness. “Crystal; child of wolf and witch; the prophecy calls you; ri
Crystal's POV I pressed myself into the night, moving quietly behind crates and low walls, every step I took was guided by my wolf. My senses were sharp. I could feel even the smallest movement, and every sniff of the air I took told me who was nearby. The desert wind blew against me, carrying
Crystal's POV Pain. That was all I felt. It did not come in waves or pulses, it consumed everything, like my body was being torn apart from the inside. I could not breathe. I could not think. I could only feel the bond breaking, piece by piece, like something sacred was being ripped out of my soul
Crystal's POV The first time he hit me, I did not cry. Not because it did not hurt, but because I learned early that tears only made them hit harder.“Get up, worthless Omega,” Bryan’s voice snapped through the cold morning air. My body trembled as I pushed myself off the ground, my knees scraped







