PRISCILLA Aurora held my gaze for a moment longer, her eyes strangely calm, like she could see more than what was in front of her. Then she nodded once, as if satisfied.“You may feel tired,” she said. “The spell taps into your aura—shifts it, masks it. Give your body time to adjust.”I gave a slight nod, rubbing my arms as if trying to ease the weight that still clung to me. “I’ll be fine.”Gabriel stepped closer. “If anything feels off, you tell me. Immediately.”His voice was firm—commanding—but it didn’t irritate me like before. Maybe because, for once, I could sense it wasn’t about control. It was protection. And I didn’t have the energy to fight that.Aurora stood, brushing ash from her palms. “You should rest. The spell’s strongest within the first few hours. I’ll reinforce it tomorrow if needed.”Gabriel gave her a nod of thanks before placing a hand lightly on my back, guiding me toward the door. I let him. Just this once. But then I stopped at the door and turned back towar
GABRIEL I ran. Fast and hard, my paws tearing through the damp earth, claws gripping the soil as I pushed deeper into the woods. The trees blurred past me, their trunks familiar sentinels in a world that had always felt more like home than any room built of stone and brick. The wind rushed against my fur, sharp and cold, clearing the fog that had built in my head after too many tense days and sleepless nights. The forest was silent, save for the sounds of my breathing and the rhythm of my movement—the thud of paws against soil, the swish of leaves brushing against my flanks. But to me, it wasn’t quiet. It was alive. The scents, the subtle shifts in temperature, the way the ground dipped and rose with each stride—I felt it all. Every breath of moss, bark, and damp leaves grounded me. Every crack of a branch or distant rustle pulled me deeper into that raw, wild place I hadn’t been able to reach in days. This was where I shed everything—the pressure of being Alpha, the weight of
GABRIELI found Aurora exactly where I expected—seated cross-legged on the floor of her dim room, her concentration absolute. Herbs, vials, dried roots, and thick old books were scattered before her in a careful pattern. Smoke curled from a copper bowl, and glowing sigils hovered faintly in the air above her head.“Aurora,” I said, stepping into the room.She didn’t look up. “We need to talk,” I added, firmer.She finally glanced at me, expression unreadable. “I’m all ears.”“I found a bitten rogue in the woods,” I said, getting right to the point. “But he was still in his right mind.”Aurora paused, blinked, and turned fully toward me. “So, what do you want me to do with that information?” she said, dryly. “Gabriel, I have no control over those creatures. They’ve never responded to my spells. Not even a flinch. So unless you want me to throw sage and prayers at them—”“I know,” I cut in, raking a hand through my hair. “I’m not asking you to contain them. I was thinking… the first tim
PRISCILLA I was floating.At least… that’s what it felt like.Not standing. Not lying. Just suspended somewhere in between — weightless, drifting through a place that wasn’t darkness, but not light either. A vast emptiness, humming with a low vibration that crawled under my skin.It should have terrified me.But somehow, it didn’t.The air smelled different here. Like wild rain. Like old woods. Like something ancient brushing against me with invisible hands.I blinked, or at least I thought I did, and when I did— a figure stood in front of me.I squinted at it. No—him.A man.Not fully formed. His edges blurred, smoky, like he wasn’t built from flesh and blood but from something rawer. Older. His hair was all grey, yet he stood tall and young, strength rippling off of him like a second skin.The same man I had seen once… in the bathroom mirror.My heart
PRISCILLA My heart was still pounding when his forehead rested against mine — but before I could even think twice, before I could breathe — I surged forward and kissed him again. This time it was me who claimed him. My fingers fisted in his hair, pulling him closer as I pressed my whole body to his bare chest. He was hard and burning under my touch, the muscles of his chest flexing instinctively as a low growl vibrated deep inside him. The mate bond roared between us, sparking so hot and wild. I couldn't get enough. I didn’t even think as my hands dropped to the hem of my shirt — yanking it up over my head, desperate to feel more, to give him more. But just as the fabric cleared my face, strong fingers snatched my wrists. In a heartbeat, Gabriel pinned both my hands above my head — trapping them easily in one of his massive hands — leaving me exposed to him in nothing but my bra. I gasped, freezing, heat flooding every inch of my body as his hungry eyes raked over my
GABRIEL I stalked down the hallway, barefoot and already regretting every goddamn step I was taking. I had come here for something. A question. A simple clarification, really. But now, standing just a breath away from the room I had left Priscilla, my hand hovering inches from the wood, I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing the back of my neck. This bond. This damn mate bond was worse than any leash I'd ever been on. It tugged at me constantly, drawing me back to her like a hook buried deep under skin. I could be halfway across the goddamn compound, and I’d feel her—like a whisper at the base of my skull, like gravity had rearranged itself and she was the centre of it. I exhaled sharply and took one step back, ready to turn around. But then I heard her voice. Low. Soft. The way she only spoke when she wasn’t trying to keep her walls up. “I know you don’t like him. I, too, don't trust him yet… but he seems like a good g
GABRIEL By the time I reached the main entrance, my truck was already rumbling out front, thanks to Austin’s efficiency. The man didn’t need orders anymore—he just read my face and filled in the blanks. I leaned against the side of the truck, arms crossed over my chest. A moment later, Priscilla stepped through the doors. Behind her, Davina strolled out like she was walking a damn red carpet, hands on her hips and an arched brow aimed directly at me. “Well, look who remembered he owns a truck,” she drawled, striding straight toward the passenger side. “Let me guess—thinking about her only? Or did you just conveniently forget that I was also abducted without so much as a toothbrush?” I narrowed my eyes at her. Priscilla blinked beside her, trying—and failing—not to smile. Davina tugged the passenger door open like she owned it. “I’ll need clothes, shoes, maybe a decent shampoo, and—hell—some respect while we’re at it.” I rolled my eyes hard enough to see my brain. “Get in, Davi
PRISCILLA'S POVI’ve always been afraid of flying.It’s an irrational fear, I know. Statistics say I’m more likely to die in a car crash than in a plane falling out of the sky, but tell that to my palms currently slick with sweat. The cabin’s thin air doesn’t help; every breath feels shallow, too light, like it’s not enough to keep me grounded. I grip the armrests a little tighter, ignoring the irritated glance from the man sitting beside me.“Sorry,” I mumbled.He doesn’t reply, which is fine. I’m not in the mood to chat anyway. I’m too busy trying to keep my anxiety under control—and not just about the plane.New York to Oregon. That’s a big leap for someone who’s spent her entire life surrounded by the steel and hum of the city. I’m leaving behind my overpriced studio apartment, the loud streets, the aroma of fresh bagels on every corner—all for an obscure forest town no one’s ever heard of.Shadow Pine. Sounds like the title of a cheap horror flick, right? But for the last few mo
GABRIEL By the time I reached the main entrance, my truck was already rumbling out front, thanks to Austin’s efficiency. The man didn’t need orders anymore—he just read my face and filled in the blanks. I leaned against the side of the truck, arms crossed over my chest. A moment later, Priscilla stepped through the doors. Behind her, Davina strolled out like she was walking a damn red carpet, hands on her hips and an arched brow aimed directly at me. “Well, look who remembered he owns a truck,” she drawled, striding straight toward the passenger side. “Let me guess—thinking about her only? Or did you just conveniently forget that I was also abducted without so much as a toothbrush?” I narrowed my eyes at her. Priscilla blinked beside her, trying—and failing—not to smile. Davina tugged the passenger door open like she owned it. “I’ll need clothes, shoes, maybe a decent shampoo, and—hell—some respect while we’re at it.” I rolled my eyes hard enough to see my brain. “Get in, Davi
GABRIEL I stalked down the hallway, barefoot and already regretting every goddamn step I was taking. I had come here for something. A question. A simple clarification, really. But now, standing just a breath away from the room I had left Priscilla, my hand hovering inches from the wood, I couldn’t for the life of me remember what it was. “Fuck,” I muttered under my breath, rubbing the back of my neck. This bond. This damn mate bond was worse than any leash I'd ever been on. It tugged at me constantly, drawing me back to her like a hook buried deep under skin. I could be halfway across the goddamn compound, and I’d feel her—like a whisper at the base of my skull, like gravity had rearranged itself and she was the centre of it. I exhaled sharply and took one step back, ready to turn around. But then I heard her voice. Low. Soft. The way she only spoke when she wasn’t trying to keep her walls up. “I know you don’t like him. I, too, don't trust him yet… but he seems like a good g
PRISCILLA My heart was still pounding when his forehead rested against mine — but before I could even think twice, before I could breathe — I surged forward and kissed him again. This time it was me who claimed him. My fingers fisted in his hair, pulling him closer as I pressed my whole body to his bare chest. He was hard and burning under my touch, the muscles of his chest flexing instinctively as a low growl vibrated deep inside him. The mate bond roared between us, sparking so hot and wild. I couldn't get enough. I didn’t even think as my hands dropped to the hem of my shirt — yanking it up over my head, desperate to feel more, to give him more. But just as the fabric cleared my face, strong fingers snatched my wrists. In a heartbeat, Gabriel pinned both my hands above my head — trapping them easily in one of his massive hands — leaving me exposed to him in nothing but my bra. I gasped, freezing, heat flooding every inch of my body as his hungry eyes raked over my
PRISCILLA I was floating.At least… that’s what it felt like.Not standing. Not lying. Just suspended somewhere in between — weightless, drifting through a place that wasn’t darkness, but not light either. A vast emptiness, humming with a low vibration that crawled under my skin.It should have terrified me.But somehow, it didn’t.The air smelled different here. Like wild rain. Like old woods. Like something ancient brushing against me with invisible hands.I blinked, or at least I thought I did, and when I did— a figure stood in front of me.I squinted at it. No—him.A man.Not fully formed. His edges blurred, smoky, like he wasn’t built from flesh and blood but from something rawer. Older. His hair was all grey, yet he stood tall and young, strength rippling off of him like a second skin.The same man I had seen once… in the bathroom mirror.My heart
GABRIELI found Aurora exactly where I expected—seated cross-legged on the floor of her dim room, her concentration absolute. Herbs, vials, dried roots, and thick old books were scattered before her in a careful pattern. Smoke curled from a copper bowl, and glowing sigils hovered faintly in the air above her head.“Aurora,” I said, stepping into the room.She didn’t look up. “We need to talk,” I added, firmer.She finally glanced at me, expression unreadable. “I’m all ears.”“I found a bitten rogue in the woods,” I said, getting right to the point. “But he was still in his right mind.”Aurora paused, blinked, and turned fully toward me. “So, what do you want me to do with that information?” she said, dryly. “Gabriel, I have no control over those creatures. They’ve never responded to my spells. Not even a flinch. So unless you want me to throw sage and prayers at them—”“I know,” I cut in, raking a hand through my hair. “I’m not asking you to contain them. I was thinking… the first tim
GABRIEL I ran. Fast and hard, my paws tearing through the damp earth, claws gripping the soil as I pushed deeper into the woods. The trees blurred past me, their trunks familiar sentinels in a world that had always felt more like home than any room built of stone and brick. The wind rushed against my fur, sharp and cold, clearing the fog that had built in my head after too many tense days and sleepless nights. The forest was silent, save for the sounds of my breathing and the rhythm of my movement—the thud of paws against soil, the swish of leaves brushing against my flanks. But to me, it wasn’t quiet. It was alive. The scents, the subtle shifts in temperature, the way the ground dipped and rose with each stride—I felt it all. Every breath of moss, bark, and damp leaves grounded me. Every crack of a branch or distant rustle pulled me deeper into that raw, wild place I hadn’t been able to reach in days. This was where I shed everything—the pressure of being Alpha, the weight of
PRISCILLA Aurora held my gaze for a moment longer, her eyes strangely calm, like she could see more than what was in front of her. Then she nodded once, as if satisfied.“You may feel tired,” she said. “The spell taps into your aura—shifts it, masks it. Give your body time to adjust.”I gave a slight nod, rubbing my arms as if trying to ease the weight that still clung to me. “I’ll be fine.”Gabriel stepped closer. “If anything feels off, you tell me. Immediately.”His voice was firm—commanding—but it didn’t irritate me like before. Maybe because, for once, I could sense it wasn’t about control. It was protection. And I didn’t have the energy to fight that.Aurora stood, brushing ash from her palms. “You should rest. The spell’s strongest within the first few hours. I’ll reinforce it tomorrow if needed.”Gabriel gave her a nod of thanks before placing a hand lightly on my back, guiding me toward the door. I let him. Just this once. But then I stopped at the door and turned back towar
PRISCILLA I stood frozen, my back pressed lightly against the door, breath shallow.How did he know my full name?My fingers fumbled behind me for the doorknob, just in case I needed to bolt. But the man didn’t move. He just stood there, arms calmly at his sides, as if appearing out of nowhere was the most natural thing in the world.“Who… are you?” I finally managed, my voice quiet and shaky.He didn’t answer right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, his eyes—pale and stormy—seeming to search beneath my skin like he was looking for something only he could see.Before I could speak again, the door behind me creaked open, then pushed in with force.“Who are you talking to?” Gabriel’s deep voice cut through the tense air, sharp and demanding.I spun around instinctively, my gaze locking on his bare chest—muscles sculpted like they’d been carved out of stone, glistening faintly from the steam still clinging to his skin.My throat dried. I swallowed hard.And then my heart thudde
PRISCILLA I hummed to myself as I stood in his stupidly oversized closet, fingers trailing over a row of neatly folded shirts that all smelled like him. Of course, they did. Arrogant Alpha and his possessive scent marking every damn thing he owned. I turned to where he’d left me, scoffing under my breath. “What the hell is wrong with him?” I muttered. I wasn’t asking for much. Pyjamas. A pair of clean, non-alpha-scented pyjamas. But no—Mr. Growly-Luna-Is-Mine just had to make everything difficult. With a frustrated sigh, I stomped back into the room and sat on the edge of the massive bed. I glared at the closet door for a moment longer, then flopped backwards on the mattress, arms sprawled out. “Nope. Not wearing his clothes,” I muttered to myself. “I’ll sleep in this damn dress if I have to.” Which I did. It was mildly itchy. Tight in all the wrong places. And uncomfortable as hell. But I’d rather suffer than give him the satisfaction. I turned over, burying my face in