LOGINThaila’s POV Suddenly, the temperature dropped by tens of degrees. “No, no, no.” I mumbled to myself. Something was wrong I could feel it. Kael’s hand tightened around mine. This time, it wasn't reassuring and it didn't make me feel protected. It made my heart drop. I looked at him, and his face confirmed my fears. He looked strained and desperate. Like he was holding onto me with the last bit of strength he had left. “Kael—” I started, my voice barely forming. He looked at me sadly. “I'm sorry. I have to go. Can't stay here anymore.” I shaked my head wildly, tears already dropping from my eyes. “No.” The ground beneath us cracked. My heart cracked with it. The earth split through the frozen clearing like lightning tearing through the sky, loud enough to silence even the wind. Loud enough to make every Wendigo freeze mid-step as the ground beneath Kael’s feet fractured open, dark veins spreading rapidly through the ice as though something beneath us had been wait
Thaila’s POV I waited for them to touch me, push me, maybe even carry me to their king as he had demanded, but they didn't. And that felt wrong. A hundred starving creatures were circling us, breathing rot into the air. Their hollow eyes fixed on me like I was the only warmth left in a dying world — and yet none of them lunged. None of them clawed, reached out for me or even tried to tear me apart. They studied me instead, fully on alert yet making no moves. “They're waiting for you to run,” Kael said through gritted teeth. “If you try to escape, it's over.” I nodded, fully getting the message. Then one of them moved, followed by another. The same way they came. The circle parted slowly and soundlessly, forming a narrow path through the snow as like they were making way for royalty… or sacrifice. “Walk,” Kael said under his breath. I didn’t move, my legs felt stuck to the ground where I stood. “Thaila,” Kael added, quieter this time, and there was something s
Thaila's Pov It was indeed a werewolf, but its skull was laying a few feet away from its body, half-hidden beneath frost. Its human shape was unmistakable but also wrong. The jaw was warped. The teeth were too long and sharper than natural. The bones, scraped and gnawed. My stomach tightened. “What happened here?” I asked quietly. Kael crouched beside the remains. His expression shifted into something unreadable. “Starvation,” he said. My head snapped towards him, horrified at the implication of what he was saying. “Wolves don’t eat wolves.” He slowly looked at me, his eyes filled with empathy and pain. “Desperate ones do.” I stared at the carcass, trying to wrap my head around it when a sudden sound tore through the silence. It was soft and distant. Like something was gentle stepping on snow. I straightened immediately, my wolf going on full alert. “We’re not alone,” she growled, extending my claw. I scanned the trees for any signs of danger, nothing. Jus
Thaila’s POV The question hung in the air. I didn’t answer her because the truth was sitting heavy in my chest. I wasn't ready. I had never been ready for any of this. Not the mating ceremony, not the rejection, not being burned because of my sister, definitely not finding out my hidden bloodline and becoming a target because of it. And now there was the hot demon standing right beside me. Traveling with me and protecting me as we ventured into dangerous territories like he belonged at my side. “Are you alright?” Kael asked, distracting me from my thoughts. “Yes I am, why?” “You've just been a little bit quiet, that's all.” He asked with concern. I looked down and our hands were still intertwined. I quickly left his hands. “I'm good.” I replied, but that was a big lie. I was far from good. There was a shifting in the atmosphere as we moved farther away from the river. The breeze that had cooled my skin just moments ago began to fade, replaced by something sharper and c
Thaila’s POV I waited for them to touch me, push me, maybe even carry me to their king as he had demanded, but they didn't. And that felt wrong. A hundred starving creatures were circling us, breathing rot into the air. Their hollow eyes fixed on me like I was the only warmth left in a dying world — and yet none of them lunged. None of them clawed, reached out for me or even tried to tear me apart. They studied me instead, fully on alert yet making no moves. “They're waiting for you to run,” Kael said through gritted teeth. “If you try to escape, it's over.” I nodded, fully getting the message. Then one of them moved, followed by another. The same way they came. The circle parted slowly and soundlessly, forming a narrow path through the snow as like they were making way for royalty… or sacrifice. “Walk,” Kael said under his breath. I didn’t move, my legs felt stuck to the ground where I stood. “Thaila,” Kael added, quieter this time, and there was something strained in
Thaila's Pov It was indeed a werewolf, but its skull was laying a few feet away from its body, half-hidden beneath frost. Its human shape was unmistakable but also wrong. The jaw was warped. The teeth were too long and sharper than natural. The bones, scraped and gnawed. My stomach tightened. “What happened here?” I asked quietly. Kael crouched beside the remains. His expression shifted into something unreadable. “Starvation,” he said. My head snapped towards him, horrified at the implication of what he was saying. “Wolves don’t eat wolves.” He slowly looked at me, his eyes filled with empathy and pain. “Desperate ones do.” I stared at the carcass, trying to wrap my head around it when a sudden sound tore through the silence. It was soft and distant. Like something was gentle stepping on snow. I straightened immediately, my wolf going on full alert. “We’re not alone,” she growled, extending my claw. I scanned the trees for any signs of danger, nothing. Just
Thalia's POV The hooded figure's words hung in the air like a death sentence. "This is the last of the Direwolf bloodline. How... disappointing." My blood turned to ice. The casual cruelty in his tone, the way he spoke about me like I was livestock to be bought made my skin crawl. But beneath t
Thaila's pov The shadows that wrapped themselves around Kael still scared me. But aside from that, I felt calm, safe and protected. "What are you doing?” My wolf nudged me. “I don't know… what does it look like I'm doing?" I replied back in my head. “Umm… let me see," my wolf said in
Kael's POV The moment I told her my name, she froze, confusion flickered across her eyes. "Kael?" She repeated, looking lost in thought. "I'm sorry but i don't know any Kael." I nearly laughed, genuinely amused by her cute confused expression. "Well, let's just say that I am your stranger in s
Thalia’s POV The moment I woke up from that dream, I knew something was wrong. This wasn't about the dream, or the shocking revelation that someone was about to sell me out It wasn’t the sharp sting of the witch’s brand still burning faintly on my skin, or the faint ache left in my ribs from the







