Jaxon’s POV The heavy oak of the mansion door shuddered in its frame as it slammed open, the sound echoing the violent upheaval in my own chest. Ryder. His fury was a tangible thing, a suffocating wave of righteous anger that washed over the cold, sterile space of my self-imposed exile. I didn’t even flinch. I stood unmoving before the grimy window, the bruised knuckles of my fists white against the cold glass, staring out at the turbulent, unforgiving sky. The storm clouds gathering overhead felt like a fitting reflection of the tempest raging within me, a visual representation of the chaos I had unleashed. “You son of a bitch,” Ryder snarled, his voice a low, guttural growl that vibrated with barely suppressed violence. His silver eyes, usually so sharp and knowing, were now blazing with a raw, untamed fury. I turned slowly, the weight of their judgment a leaden thing in my gut. My own eyes felt shadowed, haunted, my jaw clenched against the bitter taste of my own cowardice. “N
Jaxon’s POV The sky outside the grimy window of my self-imposed exile was a bruised canvas of gray and heavy clouds, mirroring the turbulent storm raging within the confines of my own soul. It offered a stark, bleak contrast to the incandescent warmth that had briefly, dangerously, cocooned Amara and me just hours before. I sat on the unyielding edge of my bed – a solitary, spartan affair in a room that felt more like a cage than a sanctuary – my head buried in my calloused hands, the rough skin pressing against my temples in a futile attempt to quell the relentless pounding behind my eyes. The dried, cracked blood staining my knuckles throbbed with a dull ache, a physical manifestation of the self-inflicted punishment I hadn’t even consciously registered until I had stalked back to the desolate grandeur of the Thorne mansion. Coward. The word echoed in the hollow chambers of my mind, a venomous whisper that tasted like ash on my tongue. That’s what I was. A gutless, self-serving c
Amara’s POV The sun, a hesitant intruder, finally breached the heavy velvet curtains, its golden fingers tentatively tracing the contours of the rumpled sheets. I blinked awake slowly, my eyelids heavy, still clinging to the lingering warmth of the night. The silken fabric, tangled around my legs like a lover’s embrace, whispered of the intimacy we had shared, the raw vulnerability laid bare under the cloak of darkness. My body ached with a delicious languor, a sweet soreness in places that sent a blush creeping up my neck at the mere recollection. For a timeless moment, I simply lay there, suspended in the quiet aftermath. Listening to the gentle hush of the morning, the distant chirping of birds celebrating the dawn. Breathing in the lingering scent of him that clung to the pillows, to my skin – a heady mix of cedar and spice, overlaid with the intoxicating musk of his heat, the faint tang of something inherently sinful. My fingers instinctively curled into the soft cotton of the
Amara’s POV The warmth that had enveloped us moments before, a fragile cocoon woven from shared intimacy and the quiet promise of solace, shattered with the brutal force of his words. “You should go.” Four simple syllables, yet they landed like a physical blow, a cold blade twisting in the tender flesh of my heart. The serene landscape of our shared moment fractured, leaving me stranded in a sudden, desolate terrain of confusion and hurt. I stared at him, my breath caught in my throat, a silent scream trapped within my chest. Frozen. His declaration sliced through the lingering echoes of our closeness, the comfortable weight of his presence suddenly feeling like a looming shadow. “Jaxon,” I finally managed, my voice a mere tremor, barely audible above the frantic pounding of my own heart. “What did I do?” He didn’t answer. His jaw was clenched tight, the muscles corded and rigid, a stark contrast to the relaxed tenderness of moments prior. His dark eyes, usually so expressive, so
Jaxon's POV And in the darkness, with no one watching, I finally let go. My touch roamed, possessive and demanding, learning every inch of her body like a map, committing every curve and gasp to memory. My control slipped. My fingers dug into her hip, marking her soft skin. But she only arched closer. It wasn’t enough. I couldn't get close enough, couldn’t taste enough, couldn't give her enough of what I felt. It would never be enough. And in that moment, I knew. I knew I would burn the whole world to ash before I gave her up. I would break every rule, tear down anyone who dared try to take her away, and keep her safe no matter the cost. Because Amara was mine. And I would rather die than lose her. --- Amara's POV I couldn't breathe. His lips, his touch, the way his hips moved against mine—every part of him was fire, and I was burning. His touch was rough, desperate, his control slipping. I wanted it to slip. I wanted him to stop hiding, to show m
Jaxon's POV I stayed with her until her breathing evened out again, until the tremble in her hands stopped. But even then, I couldn’t shake the image of Alex’s hand resting on her lower back, the way he looked at her like she was something he had a right to touch.He didn’t.She wasn’t his to lean toward, to whisper to like he knew her heart.She wasn’t mine either. Not really.But God help anyone who thought they could take her.The second Amara excused herself to head to the infirmary for a quick check, I stood. My body was already tense, fists tight at my sides as I tracked Alex down the hallway that led to the east courtyard.He was alone—good. I didn’t want an audience.“Alex,” I called out.He turned, surprised to see me. “Hey, Jaxon. What’s up?”I didn’t respond. Just kept walking until I was toe-to-toe with him.He looked at me carefully. “Everything okay?”“No. It’s not.” My voice was low, steady. Dead calm—the kind of calm that comes right before the storm.His expression t
Jaxon's POV The sun bore down on the academy training grounds like it had a personal vendetta. Heat shimmered off the concrete in waves, and the clang of steel-on-steel rang out like a war drum. Students lined up in pairs, sparring and barking at each other like rabid dogs under the instructor’s glare. Dust clouded the air with every scuffed boot.But none of that mattered to me.Because all I could focus on was her.Amara.She stood across the field, squared up against a taller opponent, sweat dripping down the side of her temple. Normally, she’d be focused, graceful—even lethal—but today?Something was off.Her steps were slower, her reactions a beat late. Her face was pale, like someone had drained the life from her skin. I watched her sway slightly, blink too long between parries.My gut clenched.“Switch!” barked the instructor, and Amara stumbled back from the next attacker.No. This wasn’t right.I started moving before I even made the decision, weaving past students until I r
Amara’s POV The dawn broke over the pack territory, painting the sky in hues of bruised purple and hesitant gold, a reflection of the uneasy truce that had settled over us. The immediate threat of the entity’s direct influence had been severed, but the lingering tension remained, a palpable awareness of the storm that was yet to break. The raw line across my arm throbbed, a constant reminder of the price of our temporary reprieve. Weakness still clung to me, a lingering drain from the magical exertion and the severing of the unnatural bond. But beneath the physical fragility, a new resolve began to solidify, forged in the crucible of fear and sacrifice. We knew the entity would not remain silent for long. Its enraged shriek still echoed in our memories, a promise of retribution. The time of desperate defense was over; we needed to prepare, to gather our strength, and to meet the coming darkness head-on. Lyra and her warriors, their commitment unwavering, pledged to remain with us
Amara’s POVThe air in the library crackled with an almost unbearable tension, the chanting of Lyra’s mages a resonant hum that vibrated through the very floor beneath our feet. The swirling energies intensified, bathing the room in an ethereal glow, the ancient symbols on the floor blazing with an inner light. The weight of the moment pressed down on us, the precipice of hope balanced precariously against the abyss of potential failure.My hand trembled as I held the ceremonial dagger, its silver blade reflecting the frantic dance of candlelight. The unwavering gazes of Ryder, Caden, and Jaxon were fixed on me, their love a tangible force, a silent offering of courage and support. Tears streamed down my face, a torrent of fear, love, and a desperate grief for the sacrifice they were willing to make.“There has to be another way,” I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. “I can’t…”“You have to, Amara,” Ryder said, his voice low but firm, his silver eyes filled with an unyielding re