The weight of my decision settled in my chest like a stone. For too long, I had been running, but it had only delayed the inevitable. Luca would find me. And when he did, I needed to be ready.The forest was eerily silent after the battle, the scent of blood still lingering in the air. Damien knelt beside one of the fallen hunters, stripping him of his weapons while Mira leaned against a tree, pressing a hand to her ribs where a bruise was already forming.I took a steady breath. “We can’t stay here.”Mira groaned. “No kidding.”Damien glanced up. “You sure about this? Facing Luca instead of running?”My hands clenched into fists. “Yes.”Mira eyed me carefully. “And what’s the plan? Just waltz into his territory and challenge him to a duel?”“No.” I met her gaze, my voice steady. “We don’t go to him. We make him come to us.”Damien exhaled, standing. “That’s a dangerous gamble.”I nodded. “I know.”But I had no choice. If I ran, he would always have the upper hand. I needed to change
(Angelina’s POV )The silence before a storm was always the most unsettling. The wind carried the distant rustle of leaves, the faint creaking of old wood from the abandoned buildings, and the occasional hoot of an owl. But beneath it all was something heavier.Tension.I could feel it in the way Damien stood still as stone, watching the tree line. Mira, usually restless, sat with her knees drawn to her chest, eyes darting toward every shadow. And me? My pulse hammered against my ribs, a steady reminder of what was coming.Luca.A deep howl echoed through the forest, closer than the one before.I sucked in a slow breath. It wasn’t just him. He wouldn’t come alone. He was a leader, an Alpha who saw me as his possession. He’d bring others.“They’ll be here soon,” Damien muttered, tightening the strap on his knife sheath.Mira exhaled, rising to her feet. “We ready for this?”No.But that didn’t matter.“We have to be.” I clenched my fists, steadying myself. “We stick to the plan. Separat
Angelina’s POVPain.That was the first thing I registered. A deep, throbbing ache at the back of my skull, pulsing in time with my heartbeat. My body felt heavy, weighed down by something thick and suffocating. I forced my eyes open, but the world swam in and out of focus.Where was I?The scent of damp wood and old stone filled my nose. It was familiar—too familiar. My heart clenched as realization struck.Luca had taken me.I tried to move, but a sharp tug at my wrists stopped me. Cold metal bit into my skin. Chains.No.Panic surged through me as I struggled, pulling at my restraints, but they were secured tightly against a wooden post. My ankles, too. I was trapped.I took a slow breath, forcing myself to focus. If I let fear consume me, I would lose.Think.I scanned the dimly lit room. The flickering glow of torches cast shadows against the stone walls. The scent of burning wood mixed with something darker—blood.I wasn’t alone.A figure sat in a chair a few feet away, half-shr
Angelina’s POV The moment Luca left, silence settled over the dimly lit room like a thick blanket. I exhaled, long and slow, willing my pulse to slow down. I needed to think.Luca’s words kept replaying in my head.“You saw what I needed you to see.”What the hell did that even mean?Was it some kind of manipulation? A twisted game to make me doubt what I knew to be true?I shook my head, trying to focus. This wasn’t the time to dwell on Luca’s cryptic statements. I was chained to a damn post, and I needed to get out.I tested the restraints again. The metal cuffs were tight, digging into my skin, but there was some slack in the chains. Not much, but maybe enough.I twisted my wrists, wincing as the metal scraped against my flesh. My fingers stretched toward the wooden post, searching for anything that could help.Nothing.I let out a frustrated breath.Okay. If I couldn’t break free with force, I had to think smarter.I glanced around, studying the room. It wasn’t Luca’s usual quart
Angelina’s POVI stared at Luca, my wrists still tingling from where the metal cuffs had pressed into my skin. He had freed me—just like that. No threats, no force, just a choice.A choice I never expected.My instincts screamed at me to run. That had been my plan all along, right? To get away from him, from all of this.But something in Luca’s eyes held me still.Stay, and he would tell me everything.Leave, and he wouldn’t stop me.I swallowed hard, my throat dry. “And if I leave?”Luca’s expression didn’t waver. “Then you leave.”My heart pounded. “You won’t send anyone after me?”A muscle in his jaw twitched. “No.”I didn’t know if I believed him. Luca wasn’t the type to just let things go. He was possessive, dominant—the kind of Alpha who didn’t let go of what was his.And yet, here he was, giving me freedom.I shifted on my feet, rubbing my wrists absentmindedly. “You really expect me to believe this?”Luca exhaled, his gaze sharp. “I expect you to make a decision.”I hesitated,
Angelina’s POV The weight of Luca’s words settled over me like a thick fog. We end this.For weeks, I had been running—running from him, from my past, from the pain that still clung to me like a second skin. And yet, here I was, standing in his room, listening to the man I had once called my mate tell me that our enemy had been manipulating us from the beginning.I wanted to scream. I wanted to punch something.But most of all, I wanted revenge.The Blackmoon Pack had stolen my happiness, shattered my trust, and turned me against Luca. They had used me as a pawn, and I had played my part perfectly.No more.I straightened, locking eyes with Luca. “What’s the plan?”His lips parted slightly, as if he hadn’t expected me to agree so quickly. But he recovered fast, nodding once. “We need to find out who within my pack is working for them.”A traitor.I clenched my fists. “You think someone close to you betrayed you?”Luca’s expression was grim. “It’s the only way they could have known ex
Angelina’s POV Damian’s eyes darted between Luca and me, his breath coming in short, panicked bursts. The entire tavern had fallen silent, every patron watching as their Alpha pinned one of his own warriors against the wall.Luca’s grip on Damian’s collar was unforgiving. “Start talking.”Damian coughed, struggling against Luca’s hold. “I—”Luca slammed him back against the wall. “No lies, no stalling. Who are you working for?”The fear in Damian’s eyes deepened, but he still shook his head. “You don’t understand—”“Then make me,” Luca growled.Damian let out a sharp breath, his gaze flickering to me before he finally spoke. “It’s not just the Blackmoon Pack.”I stiffened. “What do you mean?”Damian swallowed hard. “There’s someone else—someone more powerful pulling the strings. The Blackmoon Pack… they’re just a tool.”Luca’s fingers twitched, his control slipping for a brief second. “Who?”Damian hesitated.I took a step closer, lowering my voice. “Damian, if you don’t tell us now,
Angelina’s POV The wind howled through the towering pines as we made our way through the dense forest. Each step forward felt like I was walking deeper into the unknown, yet I refused to hesitate. I had made my decision. I wasn’t going to run anymore. If the Phantom wanted me broken, then I’d prove to him that I was far stronger than he had ever imagined.Luca walked beside me, his presence steady and reassuring. He had barely spoken since Damian had given us the information about the hidden temple in the Northern Mountains. His jaw was set, his gaze sharp and focused.Damian led the way, his movements quick but cautious. “We have to keep moving,” he muttered, glancing back at us. “If we’re lucky, we’ll reach the temple before sundown.”I pulled my cloak tighter around me, shivering against the bitter cold. The further north we traveled, the colder it became, and the air was thin, making every breath feel heavier. “Are we sure this place even exists?” I asked, my voice barely above a
The wind howled through the ruined temple as we stood at the precipice of the final battle. The sky churned with dark clouds, unnatural in their movements, as if the world itself knew what was coming. A storm was brewing—not just in the heavens, but in our souls.I could feel it. The darkness. The raw, unrestrained energy that had been sealed away for centuries, now clawing its way back into existence.And at the heart of it all, him.The one who had orchestrated it from the shadows.The one who had betrayed Lunara all those years ago.And the one who now stood before me, watching with eyes that glowed like molten fire.Malakai.I took a slow step forward, my pulse steady even as my body braced for what was to come. Luca and Damien flanked me, their presence grounding me, but I knew—this was my fight.Malakai smiled, his voice like silk laced with poison. “So, you finally remember.”I clenched my fists, power humming beneath my skin. “I do.”His smile widened. “Then you know why this
The weight of the revelation pressed down on me like a crushing tide. My breath came in short, shallow gasps as I stared at the altar, the symbols etched into its stone glowing with an eerie light.The last of my kind. A forgotten bloodline. A ritual that would unlock the truth.Every nerve in my body screamed at me to stop—to turn away before I unleashed something I couldn’t control.But I had come too far to stop now.I forced myself to stand, my legs trembling beneath me. Luca’s hand shot out to steady me, his touch firm yet careful.“Angelina,” he said, his voice low, controlled. “Are you sure about this?”I looked up at him, into those dark eyes that had seen too much, endured too much because of me. I could see the war raging inside him—his need to protect me battling against the understanding that I needed to do this.I nodded. “I have to be.”Damien exhaled sharply behind me. “Well, this is either going to be a breakthrough or an absolute disaster.”I ignored him and stepped t
The figure’s silver eyes burned into mine, their glow the only source of illumination in the endless void around us. My breath hitched, my heart hammering as I struggled to process their words.“Who are you?”It was such a simple question, yet it sent a shiver down my spine.Because I didn’t know the answer.I had been an omega—weak, unwanted, discarded. Then, I had been a wife—betrayed, used, thrown away. Now, I was something else entirely.Something more.The figure took a step forward, their form shifting as if they weren’t entirely bound to this plane. I instinctively tensed, ready to run if I had to, but something about them held me in place.“You don’t know yet, do you?” the voice mused, a strange mixture of amusement and something… deeper. Something ancient.My hands curled into fists at my sides. “I don’t know what you mean.”They tilted their head, as if observing me more closely. “You stand at the edge of two worlds, yet you belong to neither. The blood in your veins remembe
The clearing was silent, the air thick with tension. My pulse pounded in my ears as I tried to steady my breath, my body still tingling from the power that had surged through me. The creatures lay scattered, their twisted forms crumpled against the trees. But the silence wasn’t reassuring. It felt like the calm before a storm.Luca’s grip on my arm was firm but not painful, grounding me as I wobbled slightly on my feet. His eyes bore into mine, dark and unreadable. “Angelina,” he said, his voice low but urgent, “what did you feel?”I swallowed hard, my throat dry.How could I explain something I didn’t even understand?“It was like…” I hesitated, searching for the right words. “For a moment, when my power touched them, I could hear something. Not words, exactly, but—” I stopped, frustrated.“A connection?” Damien guessed, his gaze sharp.I nodded slowly. “Yes. It felt… ancient. And familiar, somehow. Like a whisper in the back of my mind.”Luca exchanged a glance with Damien, somethin
The forest remained eerily quiet as we moved forward, the only sound coming from the rustling leaves beneath our feet. The adrenaline was still coursing through my veins, making my fingers tremble slightly, but I forced myself to stay focused. Whatever had just happened—whatever power I had used—I needed to understand it. Control it. Because if I didn’t, it could consume me.Luca’s gaze flickered to me every few seconds, as if he was assessing me, trying to make sense of what I had done. He wasn’t the only one. Damien, who had been tense and sharp through every battle, was unusually quiet. He kept his distance, but I could feel his eyes on me too, wary and calculating.I didn’t blame them.Even I wasn’t sure what I had become.I clenched my fists at my sides and focused on the path ahead. The trees had started to thin, the density of the forest giving way to a faint, silvery mist. It curled around our legs, making it feel like the ground itself was shifting beneath us.“We’re close,”
The darkness of the forest pressed in on all sides, the shadows seeming to stretch further with each passing minute. The air was thick with the smell of wet earth, and the distant rustle of leaves only heightened the sensation of being followed. Every step felt heavier, as though the forest itself was conspiring against us, drawing us deeper into its labyrinth of twisted trees and tangled underbrush. The weight of the unknown pressed down on my chest, suffocating me.I had always known that power came at a cost, but I had never fully understood it until now. The force that surged within me—this strange, dangerous energy—was both a gift and a curse. Each time I used it, I felt like I was losing a part of myself. I wasn’t just tapping into some external source of power; I was becoming something else. Something more dangerous.And the worst part? I didn’t know if I could control it.Luca’s presence beside me was a steadying force, though. His calm, unshakable demeanor seemed to balance o
The forest was suffocating. Even though the cool night air should have offered some relief, it felt oppressive, heavy with the weight of danger that lurked just beyond the shadows. I couldn’t shake the feeling that we weren’t alone, that the darkness was closing in around us. Every crack of a branch, every rustle of leaves sent my pulse racing.Luca’s grip on my arm was firm but gentle, as if sensing my anxiety. He didn’t speak, but I could feel the quiet strength radiating off him, steady and unwavering. Despite everything that had happened, I found comfort in his presence. There was a calm in him that I didn’t have, a peace that somehow anchored me in the chaos.We moved quickly, following Damien as he led us through the dense trees. His eyes darted from side to side, scanning for any movement, any sign of a threat. I could see the exhaustion on his face, the way his breath came in shallow gasps. We had all been through so much already, and it felt like there was no end in sight.“A
The air was thick with tension, the stench of earth and decay mixing with the sharp scent of danger that was creeping in on all sides. My heart raced, and my chest tightened as the power within me surged once more, a raw, untamed force that I struggled to keep at bay. I could feel it, like an electric pulse beneath my skin, urging me to unleash it, to let it consume everything around me. But I fought it. I had to. I couldn’t let it take control. Not again.The creatures—there were more of them now—surrounded us, their glowing eyes flickering like embers in the darkness. Each one was larger than the last, their bodies sleek and muscled, their claws scraping the ground with a sound that sent shivers down my spine. They were closing in, their low growls vibrating through the ground beneath my feet. It was only a matter of time before they attacked.Luca stood beside me, his presence a calming force amidst the chaos. His hand was on my arm, grounding me, but even he couldn’t hide the tens
The forest stretched endlessly before me, its towering trees standing like silent sentinels, casting long shadows across the ground. The air was thick with the scent of pine and earth, the stillness of the morning broken only by the rustling of leaves beneath our feet. My heart beat steadily in my chest, though every step felt heavier than the last, weighed down by the unease gnawing at me.Luca walked beside me, his presence like a steady anchor, grounding me in a world that seemed to be spinning out of control. His gaze was fixed ahead, but every so often, his dark eyes would flicker to me, searching for something. I didn’t know what he was looking for—maybe reassurance, maybe fear—but I didn’t have the answers he wanted. Not yet.We had made it through the night, but the danger was far from over. The creatures that had attacked us in the forest, the ones that had been stalking us from the shadows, were still out there. And whatever power was stirring inside me, whatever it was that