ASHVIN đđđĄđ„đđšThe rest of them slowly filtered out, leaving just the two of us in the small living room. Silence settled like a fog, thick and tense. My feet moved restlessly as I paced, my wolf Zen snarling beneath my skin. All I could think about was grabbing her by the shoulders and shaking some sense into her, shaking her until she understood the gravity of what she had done.Coming here. Alone. Unprotected.Did she forget sheâs the Luna of one of the most powerful packs in the North? Did she think no one would notice the energy that bled from her, raw, divine, unmistakably Alpha-blooded?âFunny,â she snapped, folding her arms across her chest. âI could ask you the same thing.âHer glare was sharp as a dagger, but if she truly knew the storm she had unleashed just by stepping into that club, she wouldnât be looking at me like I was the problem.Zen growled in my head, a low rumble of frustration.âYouâre the one who left the pack for a week, Ashvin. Donât forget that.âYeah
He didnât answer at first. It was clear Ashvin had warned him not to speak if anyone asked, but I wasnât just anyone, and he knew that.âYou see how everything is falling apart? Youâre supposed to lead the pack in his absence, and yet you canât do a thing,â I said, frustration burning in my voice.Kaiâs eyes darkened. âNot when Luna Verena wants to control everything.âOf course.It was about that woman trying to claim the mantle of Alpha and Lord of the pack. It was pathetic, especially since the true Alpha was very much alive.âI donât know what twisted game theyâre playing, but I refuse to let my pack be caught in it. So where is Ashvin?â I pressed, refusing to accept silence this time.He hesitated, then opened his mouth, but before he spoke, it hit me. I knew exactly where Ashvin would be.I remembered the day of the incident, the last place I saw him, the Human realm.âIt canât be, right?â I asked Kai.He didnât answer, but the look in his eyes said it all.âThe pack is fracturi
ZAHRA-ROSEEven after two days, I refused to leave my room. It felt safer there. Somehow, I felt better not seeing anyoneâs face all day, except the packâs chef who brought me food.I was still haunted by the image of that manâs face, twisted in death. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw him hanging. I felt like I had betrayed him a thousand times over.A choking sound escaped my throat, and I tried to stifle it, desperate to quiet the storm of pain inside me.âYou didnât know he was going to kill him,â Eira said softly, her voice like a gentle balm, her way of comforting me. But her words barely touched the weight pressing on my chest.âBut he was angry with me. I can feel it. And thatâs why he did what he did,â I whispered. It was the truth I couldnât deny.Deep in my mind, I knew I had done something wrong. Had he sensed Asaelâs kiss? That couldnât be true.âIâm tired of you sulking, Zahra. Get up. We need to get out of this room,â Eira urged, pacing restlessly. She tried to convinc
ASHVIN HARVEYHer scream tore through the Pack Grounds like a lightning strike. The crowd turned just in time to see her drop to the floor, her body convulsing as the change began. Her eyes blazed a molten red, and her bones cracked loudly as her knees buckled. Her screams twisted into a guttural growl, feral and raw, as sharp claws burst from her fingertips.Every pack member stood frozen, staring at her in stunned silence.Then she collapsed back onto the ground, her body writhing, and her scream shifted back into something more human, painful, agonized.She didnât know it yet, but it was impossible to shift within the Pack Court. Every werewolf pack had ancient enchantments laced into the grounds, a law of magic and tradition meant to prevent chaos during trials and judgments. It suppressed full transformations, forcing control even during emotional surges.She lay there, panting on the cold earth, and despite myself, my heart twisted at the sight of her like that, shaking, vulnera
What⊠The⊠Hell.With a snarl building in my chest, I shoved Asael off me, my palm landing hard across his face with a satisfying crack.âWhat the hell is wrong with you?â I snapped, my voice a low growl, eyes blazing with fury.Anger surged through me like wildfire, burning hot, eclipsing reason. I couldnât see anything else but him, and the betrayal he just committed.âIâŠâŠI couldnât help myself,â he said, breathless, as he stumbled to his feet.I pushed away from the bench, pacing in sharp strides, trying to get control over the furious pounding in my chest. My wolf, Eira, clawed under my skin, pacing with me, enraged and restless.âListen to me, Zahra-RoseâŠ..ââDo not speak my name with your filthy mouth,â I snapped, baring my teeth as I pointed a clawed finger right at him. âDo not.âMy breath trembled from how hard I was shaking, but I held firm, fury practically vibrating off my skin. Every instinct in me screamed to rip his throat out. The only thing holding me back was Ashvinâ
ZAHRA-ROSEAt this point, Iâm getting used to the training. It doesnât hurt as much anymore, and I think my body has finally adapted to the intensity of it. The soreness, the bruises, they no longer sting the way they used to.But even as my limbs grow stronger, my mind keeps drifting to tomorrowâs session, the second time Iâll let my wolf come forward to fight. She needs to learn how to defend herself, how to move with strength and precision. After my first transformation, Eira was meant to begin training properly, with the guidance of Zen, Ashvinâs wolf, but ever since the fire incident, getting him anywhere near us has been nearly impossible.As I walked alone along the dark dirt path, the weight of the day pulling at my bones, I tried not to think about what Ashvin had said to me this morning, or the fact that he asked me to trust him.Trust him with what, exactly?âI thought it might be you.âI turned at the familiar voice. And there he was, Asael. The sight of him stirred somet