Reagan’s POVIt had been two days since I ordered Andrea out of the cell and back to her room. Amy had given me a spell bracelet, one that channeled the hex onto me instead. It wasn’t a cure, but at least she wouldn’t feel the pain anymore.That didn’t stop her from being angry with me. She barely looked at me. Didn’t speak a word.Stayed locked in her room, and when she did come out, she acted as if I didn’t exist.It cut deep. Every time her eyes slid past me like I was nothing, I wanted to grab her, pull her close, bury my face in her neck and beg her to forgive me. My bed felt cold at night. I couldn’t sleep, so I buried myself in studies or walked the halls until morning.But I understood her pain. I understood her anger.I had locked her up. I had banished Rya.If I hadn’t… the pack would have seen it as weakness. They would have thought they could do anything without consequence. And if anyone ever touched Andrea…if anyone hurt her, I don’t think I’d let it go, I’ll hunt them d
Rya's POVI rushed to him, grabbing his arm to keep him steady. “What the hell happened? Why are you here? Where’s Dean?”Hayden winced, blood trailing from his lip. “Heard about the killings… the witches. Been digging around. Figured I’d scan the area tonight, see what I could pick up. Then I heard…” he gasped, doubling over, “…a scream. Saw Dean… he was fighting…”“Fighting who?!” I shook him gently. “Hayden, who was it?”“Some… dark magic shit,” he spat out, eyes glassy with pain. “Freaks. Not normal witches. Strong… fast…”“Where is he now? Where’s Dean?!”“I..I don’t know.” His voice cracked. “Tried to help but… it was too much. Barely got out myself. I just… ran until I found you.”I cursed under my breath, pacing, my hands shaking.“Shit. Shit! Shitt!!” I stomped the ground, the sound echoing into the trees.My breathing was ragged. I couldn’t lose Dean. Not now. Not when I was finally about to leave. I turned to Hayden, tearing the sleeve of his shirt. He hissed.“What are you
Rya’s POVThe second those words left his mouth, I just stared at him.“Reagan asked me to follow you.”A breath left my lips, not heavy, not loud, but sharp and tight like a string snapping inside me. I folded my arms, trying to mask the chaos now swirling in my chest.My lips curled into a dry, humorless smile. “He’s really committing to the act, huh?”Dean tilted his head. “What act?”I scoffed, kicking at a twig with the toe of my boot. “If he’s gonna hate me, then he should stick with it. Follow through to the end, you know?”Dean didn’t answer. Just shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his face unreadable in the shadows of the trees. But I saw it, the flicker of hesitation, the part of him that knew I was deflecting.Because the truth was…My heart felt like it was cracking open. Slowly. Loudly. From the inside out.He still cared.Reagan still cared.And I hated that it made me feel warm and wanted, like I wasn’t as alone as I thought I was.Dean stepped closer and he
Rya’s POVThe vodka hit the table with a dull thud.“One vodka for the beautiful Miss,” the waitress said before turning on her heel.“Thanks,” I muttered, wrapping my fingers around the glass.Two days.Two long, suffocating days since Reagan banished me.I’d been keeping my head down, moving from place to place, avoiding anyone who so much as looked at me too long. The dark witches were out there, strong and brimming with magic that didn’t come from nature. No, they were tied to a wolf—had to be. That was the only explanation.I hoped Gwen was okay. Hoped she’d managed to tell Reagan what happened in the forest. The sooner the packs knew, the better.A deep voice behind me snagged my attention. Two men, drinking hard, talking low.“…found more bodies this morning.”I half-listened, expecting them to say wolves.Instead..“Witches.”I froze mid-sip.Witches killing witches? That didn’t make sense. They despised us, sure, but they didn’t usually cannibalize their own. Unless… it was t
Gwen’s POVMy eyes shot open.The ceiling above me was white. Plain. Smooth. Unfamiliar.I blinked, heart pounding. Where the hell…?I sat up quickly, head swimming slightly from the sudden movement. My fingers gripped the sheets soft, expensive. The room smelled like sandalwood and clean cotton.This was not the forest.This was not where the spell had been done.What happened?The last thing I remembered was stepping into the circle. Amy’s voice chanting. Sabrina’s hands clutching mine. Rya’s nod from across the field.The spell… the linking…My hand flew to my stomach.I lifted my shirt.And there it was.The glowing mark, nestled just beneath my ribs. A faint shimmer of gold and crimson wrapped in a spiral.I gasped, a shaky laugh breaking out of me.“It worked,” I whispered, lips trembling as tears welled in my eyes. “It actually worked.”Relief flooded me like a crashing wave.Regan would live..I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and stood up, glancing around the room.Dar
Rya's POVThe stone walls were cold.But not colder than his silence.Three days.That’s how long it had been since Reagan ordered me to be locked up.Not as a traitor.Not even like one of the rogues who defied him.No.I got meals. Fresh water. A mattress, even.Because despite everything, despite how furious he was… Reagan still cared.That was the worst part.I leaned back against the wall, knees drawn up to my chest, arms folded over them. My wolf was restless beneath my skin, pacing, scratching. Not because she hated the cell, but because she missed him.I hated myself for what I did.And yet… I didn’t regret it.The door creaked open.I didn’t move.Didn’t need to.Footsteps. Slow. Familiar.Otis.He stepped into the cell like he always did with purpose, like the weight of the world was his to carry.“Don’t you knock anymore?” I muttered without looking up.Otis exhaled and crossed his arms. “Still got that mouth on you.”“And still got two ears that work just fine. So say what