MasukBella's POVThe world tore apart around us. One second the ritual core split open under our attack; the next, the ground heaved like something alive and screaming. Bright lines of energy shot through the dirt, cracking it open with sounds that echoed through the trees.Dust and rock flew everywhere. My silver wolf's body coiled tight, fighting to hold my balance. The air reeked of scorched earth and panic, thick enough to choke on. My heart hammered so hard I felt it in my ears."Run! Everyone run!" The words tore out of my wolf's throat as a deep growl. I lunged forward, claws digging into shifting soil to clear a path. Branches snapped overhead.The forest that had felt like shelter turned into a trap set to kill us. My wolf surged inside me, silver sparks racing along my fur, sharpening my eyes to every danger in the chaos. *Mom. Thor. I can't lose either of them now.*Thor moved right behind me, Mom cradled in his arms. She looked impossibly small there, her head resting against h
Bella's POVMom's voice hit me like a lifeline thrown into deep water."Bella..." Soft, weak, but it sliced straight through the ritual's hum and the pounding in my chest. Her eyes stayed open inside the glowing core, tired but clear for the first time.My silver wolf froze inside me, every sense locking onto that image, her pale face, the tremble in her lips from the effort of speaking. The scent of her life force reached me, faint and fading like dying flowers, and wrapped tight around my throat."Mom, hold on." My wolf's throat scraped the words out rough. Tears soaked into my fur as I pressed closer to the pulsing light. My paws shook against the cracked ground. The ritual kept tugging at my power, silver strands drifting off me like smoke, but I barely registered it. All I saw was her. "I'm here. We're getting you out."She smiled, faint, the kind of smile that used to make me feel safe as a kid. Pain twisted it now."Destroy it, Bella." Her voice found strength even as the glow
Bella's POVHorror slammed into me sort of a wave. The glowing core of the ritual shimmered, and there she was...Mom. Not just a memory or a vision, but her face, pale and drawn, floating within the heart of the sunshine like she was trapped inside it. Her vital force fed the entire circle, draining away bit by bit to stay the traditional power alive. I froze, my silver paws rooted to the pulsing ground. My wolf let loose a heartbroken whine inside me, the sound mixing with my very own ragged breath."Mom?" I whispered, the word cracking even in my wolf throat. Tears stung my eyes, blurring the sides of the battlefield. The metallic scent of Thor's blood mixed with the sharp ozone of the ritual, and underneath it all, I caught the faint, familiar warmth of my mother's scent, fading fast. "No, this cannot be happening. They used you... all this point."The energy tugged harder at my silver power, pulling strands of sunshine from my fur toward the middle. My legs trembled. I wanted to
Bella's POVMom's voice hit me sort of a lifeline thrown into trouble. "Bella..." It was soft, weak, but it cut straight through the chaos of the ritual's hum and therefore the pounding of my heart. Her eyes stayed open within the glowing core, tired but clear for the primary time. I felt my silver wolf freeze inside me, every sense locked thereon image...her pale face, the way her lips trembled with effort. The scent of her vital force, faint and fading like dying flowers, wrapped around me and squeezed tight."Mom, hold on," I whispered, my wolf throat making the words rough. Tears soaked my fur as I pressed closer to the pulsing light. My paws shook on the cracked ground. The ritual kept pulling at my power, silver strands drifting away like smoke, but I barely noticed. All I saw was her. "I'm here. We're coming to urge you out."She smiled faintly, the type that always made me feel safe as a child. But pain twisted it now. "Destroy it, Bella," she said, her voice gaining a touc
Bella's POVThe glowing lines under my paws pulsed brighter, sending sharp tingles up through my legs. I protected a step, my silver fur standing on end because the ancient energy wrapped around everyone within the clearing. It felt wrong, like invisible hands tugging at my wolf, pulling her strength outward. My heart raced. I could smell the change within the air...ozone sharp like before a storm, mixed with the thick fear sweat from the guards. "What's happening?" I growled, my voice echoing rough from my wolf throat. I shook my head hard, trying to clear the dizzy pull. My silver power, so steady moments ago, now flickered and stretched love it wanted to go away me. Kattie's father stood tall within the center, arms raised, his face lit by the eerie glow. "Feel it yet? The old blood ritual. It feeds on awakened power like yours."Thor grunted beside me, his body slumping heavier against the remaining chains. "Bella... fight it," he whispered, voice strained. Sweat poured down
Bella's POVMy silver fur bristled as Kattie's father stepped fully into the clearing. The air grew heavier around me, thick with new tension that made my wolf snap to full alert. She paced inside, silver energy crackling like lightning under my skin. I could smell the old bitterness on him, mixed with something colder, like calculated patience that had waited years for this. My paws stayed planted near Thor, protective, but my heart hammered hard against my ribs."What do you mean, you waited for this?" I growled, the words rough and deep in my wolf throat. I lowered my head, ears flat, able to spring if he moved wrong.Kattie's father smiled slow, sort of a man who finally need to show his cards. He didn't look frightened of me or the chaos around us. His eyes stayed locked on my silver coat, gleaming with a hunger that turned my stomach. "All this fighting, the rebellion... it had been never almost taking power from the Lycan King. No. I needed you to push past your limits, Bella
I muttered against his lips, sounding breathier than I wished, "I'm not some fragile egg, you know." "You don't need to be so kind. I'm not easily broken.A slow smile pinched at the corner of the stranger's mouth as he withdrew just enough for me to see his eyes darken with astonishment and someth
Bella's POV I forced my legs up the stairs of the council house. It was the only place I could think of coming to, in order to unwind. In order to breathe without feeling like my chest was collapsing in on itself.I collided into someone, almost losing my balance, but a hand brushed over my back i
Bella's POV My father arrived in Ronan's pack. I rushed towards him, ready to tell him what I had seen.“Ronan cheated on me, father. He was even with his beta as well! He is a hypocrite!" I complained to him, my voice cracking with disbelief and anger.A new wave of murmurs began to spread in the
Bella's POV “My father's pack was wealthy when I came to yours, why would I depend on you??" I snapped at Ronan.My voice trembled with rage I could no longer contain.Surely he was looking for ways to make me stand back and not leave, because there was no reason we would have to depend on him, un







