Wren stumbled forward, clutching her head as a wave of dizziness hit her. The world was spinning and blurring the darkening sky and trees into a disorienting mess. Her breath was shaky, and her lungs burned as if she had been running for a marathon. She remembered being at the hospital, but for what? She couldn't recall. What had happened to her? All seemed removed from her brain, even how she arrived here. Everything was like fragments of a broken mirror, scattered and sharp, painful to touch.A familiar silhouette of a mansion loomed ahead. Wren knew who it belonged to and how it had been her home since she ran away from her pack. Her feet moved, leading her closer to the large wooden structure that somehow felt like home. Then, she heard the low murmur of voices from within, warm and welcoming. Yet an uneasy sensation clung to her skin, a gnawing anxiety about what happened during the last few hours or days.Behind her, a man she had forgotten was following her. He was the one who d
Meanwhile, at the White Pack territory...The sound of thunder was angry as the heavy rain poured non-stop. At the same time, the wet leaves danced aggressively with the blow of the wind. But Acwulf barely noticed the storm beyond the walls of Conri’s house. The storm inside him was louder and more dangerous.Acwulf pushed the door to the dining hall without even bothering that a guard was standing outside. He didn't care. He knew the entire White Pack was afraid of the Black Pack members. He intimidated them by just merely looking. Conri’s dining hall was not as big compared to Acwulf's Alpha's house. However, the design was more welcoming and full of vintage paintings. It was no secret that Conri's father was a fan of art and vintage items. And Acwulf wondered if Conri was the same or a total opposite.The stale scent of old whiskey and a newly cooked turkey filled his nostrils. It made Acwulf's stomach growl a little. He just realized that he hadn't had food since morning. His des
Conri was left sitting alone in the eerie silence of his dining hall. Outside the house, the rain was pouring loudly while the wind angrily smashed into the trees. The simple rain turned into a storm that grew stronger by the minute. It added to why Conri's hands trembled as he poured his favorite bourbon into his glass.The momentary relief of Acwulf’s departure was quickly replaced by a gnawing anxiety that dug deep into his bones. The tension in his chest hadn’t eased, and Conri could still feel the weight of Acwulf’s cold gaze on him like a noose tightening around his neck.He downed the expensive bourbon in one gulp, and the whiskey burned, but it only soothed his nerves a little. It didn't remove all his worry because Conri’s mind raced. It replayed every word of their conversation, every subtle shift in Acwulf’s demeanor. Had he made the right decision? Would the information hold up? Or had he just signed his death warrant?The wind rattled the window, and the loud sound of the
The engine's sound died as gravel crunched beneath Yannis' boots when he stepped off his motorcycle. He instantly noticed the heavy silence enveloping the Gray Pack’s territory, broken only by the rustle of the wind through pine trees. The Gray Pack had always been a second home to him, it's where he could let his guard down, especially his funny moments with Reule. Yannis' gaze swept over the dense forest that circled the territory. As a warlock, his senses could easily pick up the subtle change of the place's atmosphere. He had been here, maybe five years ago. And as far as he could remember, it should not be this quiet. Yannis adjusted the strap of his black leather jacket and made his way to the big gate. He smirked because he could feel sharp eyes watching him from the shadows. The Gray Pack was known for its wariness toward outsiders, as they were very protective of what was theirs. They couldn't help it as they were one of the smallest packs, but because of their Alpha and th
Acwulf hated drawing attention, actually almost every member of the Black Pack. It's one of their strengths that they were taught to attack an enemy without them even knowing. And so, wherever they go, they try not to be noticeable as much as possible.Right now, Acwulf moved like a shadow through the narrow alleyways of the marketplace. The hood of his cloak was pulled so low that it almost covered his face. The cacophony of traders shouting their wares, the scent of fresh bread mingling with the musk of leather, did nothing to soothe the turmoil brewing inside him. His mind was consumed with one thought: Wren.He tightened his grip on the worn leather strap of his satchel. Although the Black Pack is well-known, robbers are still unintimidated. Some would still attempt to rob them, thinking any member of the Black Pack would be stupid enough to let them. But Acwulf was not among the stupid ones, he carried his money with care. He didn’t even care about the bustling streets or the cur
Lila stood by the large window inside an abandoned cabin a few meters away from her pack's territory. She stared at the sprawling woods bordering the Gray Pack’s territory. The fading sunlight streamed through the trees. It cast long, twisted shadows that seemed to stretch toward her. Her fingers drummed against the window frame, the rhythmic tap-tap-tap echoing the beat of her own racing heart. She was nervous like hell.It was almost time.Her mind buzzed with the plan. Every detail was etched into her thoughts like a brand. She had been turning it over and over in her head, refining it, making sure it was perfect. She couldn't afford to make mistakes if she didn't want to die.Acwulf’s words from their meeting still echoed in her ears: “I won’t fail.” She had taken a risk by allying with him, a man whose reputation sent shivers through even the bravest wolves. But desperation had pushed her, and there was no turning back now. This was more than just getting rid of Wren. This was a
There was no point in hiding, so Lila came out. She smiled at Wren and said, "Hello! I didn't expect you to be here. I thought you were some boys. I was about to take a swim."Wren's confusion slowly disappeared. She was somehow satisfied with Lila's explanation. Only a few knew about this river and could scare you with a little bit of sound or rattle of the leaves behind the bushes. But she didn't smile at Lila and just turned around."Bitch!" Lila whispered.The soft trickle of water filled the air as Wren knelt by the riverbank. Her hands skimmed the cool surface. Her reflection wavered in the ripples, but she barely noticed it. She closed her eyes, focusing on the rhythm of the stream, hoping it might help chase away the lingering fatigue that clung to her. The fever had left her weakened. Lila remarked that a walk to the river would help her recovery, but Wren wasn't sure.“You’re looking better already,” Lila said from behind her, her voice faking to be cheerful.Wren opened her
After being yanked out of the river, Wren felt her world was a chaotic blur of cold water and darkness. She gasped for air while coughing up water, and her body shuddered. The water was cold as ice.Suddenly, her arm was gripped by a rough hand, pulling her out into the muddy bank. But her vision seemed unclear. She couldn't tell whether what she was seeing was real.Acwulf stood over her and blocked the little light filtered through the trees. Her eyes gleamed, and his face marked triumph and a predator's satisfaction. He finally caught his prey and was now ready to be devoured.“You’ll regret this,” Wren rasped. Her throat was raw from inhaling water, but Acwulf only smirked. She was like a ragdoll, almost lifeless and barely able to stand. Wren knew she couldn't fight him but tried so hard to hide the fear.Acwulf crouched down with his face inches from Wren. His mouth smelled a mixture of smoke and alcohol, a scent that made her stomach twist.“Regret?” he chuckled. “Darling, I
The eastern clearing had never looked more alive. Lanterns swayed from tree branches, casting pools of golden light on the packed earth below. A breeze danced through the pines, lifting the scent of roasted meat and crushed herbs. Everywhere I turned, I saw the people I’d been trying to belong to gathered in clusters, eyes lifted to the sky, awaiting the rise of the full moon.And me? I stood just behind the ritual stone, my heart rattling inside my chest like it wanted to escape before I made a fool of myself. I wore no armor tonight, no cloak to hide behind, but just a simple silver-threaded robe that brushed my ankles, bound at the waist with a thin sash. My hair had been left down, curling in dark waves over my shoulders. Nothing about me screamed power, yet I could feel the weight of the entire pack pressing down on me.The elders stood at the edge of the circle. Marla’s expression was unreadable. Elias, beside her, gave a small nod. Reule stood farther back, arms folded, eyes lo
When the first hint of sunlight painted the treetops in gold, I was back at the edge of the council house, boots heavy with dew and pine needles stuck to my coat. The forest had been calm, eerily so. There was not a single twig cracked where it shouldn't or no tracks where they didn’t belong. I had expected the night to test me, but nothing came. There was no shadow in the trees and no whispered warning from the wind. There was just silence. Maybe that was the real test.I stepped through the front hall where the elders were already gathered. Elias turned his head as I approached, and the others followed his gaze. I saw no warmth in their eyes, but something had shifted. Curiosity, maybe, or calculation."You returned with the dawn," Elias noted, as if I might’ve chosen otherwise."I did. The border was quiet all night. I swept the route twice. Nothing unusual.""No scents?" Marla pressed, arms crossed. "No markings? No movement?""Nothing," I said. "It was clear.""Hmm." She didn
I expected rest. Maybe an hour or at least five minutes before I start my task. Instead, the council sent me straight from breakfast to the infirmary.“Clean her up and keep her standing,” someone barked.When I arrived, the healer’s lodge was already brimming with the injured. Some were warriors still recovering from previous encounters or during patrols, and others were refugees that the pack planned to take in. The scent of blood and herbs twisted my gut, but I swallowed it down and stepped inside. Lyselle, the head healer, eyed me with something between suspicion and intrigue. “Take that rag,” she said, pointing at the stained cloth on the bench. “And don’t flinch when it bleeds.”I didn’t. Not when I had to press gauze into a gaping thigh wound or when a burn blistered open under my fingers. The hours went by with steaming poultices, low groans, and tightly clenched jaws.Lyselle finally paused. “You’re steadier than most of the trainees.”“I’ve had practice,” I murmured, pre
The infirmary smelled like pine alcohol and sweat. It buzzed with quiet urgency, healers moving quickly, whispering diagnoses, wrapping wounds. I stood just outside the door, leaning against the cold stone wall. My hands were still shaking. Whether it was from exhaustion or fury, I didn’t know.Inside, Tovi sat beside Mara’s cot, gripping her fingers with one hand and cradling Kellan with the other. Reule hadn’t left their side once. His coat was still wrapped around them all, like a barrier between them and the world that had abandoned them.“I told you not to die,” I murmured to myself, eyes locked on Tovi’s hunched frame. “So don’t even think about it now.”A hand brushed my arm. I turned, expecting a healer. It was Reule.“Come sit.”“I’m fine.”“You look like hell.”“Charming.”“I’ve been told.” He offered a small smile, the only kind I ever got. Still, I didn’t move. I kept my eyes on the children. “They were freezing and starving. Mara’s leg might have been broken for days.
The wind clawed at my coat as I cleared the ridge beyond the gorge, my boots biting into frost-hardened soil. Moonrise was a lifetime away, yet the weight of it was already pressed on my shoulders. Every breath was a visible wisp in the cold morning air, and every sound of the branches snapping and snow shifting felt sharper, more pointed. I was alone, and for the first time since Acwulf’s prison, I welcomed it. They didn’t think I’d make it back. I’d give them a reason to regret sending me out here with nothing but my instincts and the fire in my chest.The scent trail was faint but real, feral, and young. Three distinct signatures. They were close once. The river’s edge was thick with ice and slush, and I had to navigate carefully, knowing one wrong step could plunge me beneath.A child’s whimper cracked the silence. I froze. It was ahead, somewhere beyond the tree line. Low to the ground, muffled, but real. My heart thudded as I crouched, brushing aside a bush dusted in snow, there
The knock was soft but firm. It was not one of the warriors or the housekeepers, either. But I already knew.I sat up from the window ledge, pulling the shawl tighter around my shoulders. I didn’t ask him to come in, but he did anyway.The room shifted as soon as Reule stepped through the door. He didn’t say anything at first. He just stared at me like he needed to memorize something in case it vanished.I stood. “Well?”“They voted to keep me as Alpha,” he said, voice even.I swallowed. “And me?”He shut the door behind him, the click louder than it should’ve been. “You’ve been given a chance to prove yourself to them and the council as future Luna.”I blinked. “That’s what you’re calling it now? A chance?”“They could’ve chosen exile.”“Or death,” I murmured, crossing my arms.His jaw ticked. “Don’t joke.”“Who’s joking?” I bit back. “This is a trial, Reule. I’m not stupid. They’re looking for a reason to say I don’t belong and that you made a mistake.”“You think I regret choo
Reule stood before the council, the weight of the entire Gray Pack pressing down on his shoulders. The room was filled with murmurs, harsh whispers, and doubtful glances. Even the wolves he once called allies couldn’t meet his eyes. The once unshakable confidence in his leadership was now splintered, fractured by one name: Wren. Despite them knowing she was his mate, they still couldn't tell that Reule was making the best decision.“Let’s begin,” Elias said, his voice firm. He was the oldest on the council; Reule’s father, second-in-command once, is now standing neutral as the moderator. “This meeting is to discuss Alpha Reule’s standing as leader of the Gray Pack and whether the female he chose as mate, Wren, should be accepted or rejected.”"She's not even one of us!" a female voice cried out. It was Marla, one of the elders, her voice trembling with emotion. “An outsider, a mystery, and now a threat. How do we know she hasn’t brought all this chaos upon us?""Chaos?" Reule's voic
The scent of incense and ancient oak filled the High Council chamber, but couldn’t mask the tension crackling in the air. The elders had gathered—twelve alphas who’d long since passed their reigns but still held power in words and wisdom.I stood at the center of the stone floor, the only sound the low whisper of robes and the distant howl of wind beyond the stained-glass. Conri was dragged forward in chains, his wrists raw where the silver bit deep, though he carried himself with mockery and zero remorse.“State your full name and bloodline,” Elder Ronan commanded, his voice echoing through the hall.“Conri of the White Pack, though I’ve been disowned, so what does it matter?” he said with a cocky smile.“You will speak with respect in the Council chamber,” Maela, the eldest and sharpest of them all, snapped. “You stand accused of crimes that breach not just laws but sacred oaths.”“I didn’t rape her,” Conri said, rolling his eyes. “Let’s get that out of the way, shall we?”“You so
The wind carried the scent of pine and char. It reminded me of when I first stumbled into Gray Pack territory, broken and hunted. Back then, I didn’t know who I was or where I belonged. Now I am beside the Alpha of this land, claws ready and fire in my chest.Reule hadn’t said much since we left the estate at dawn. The silence between us wasn’t uncomfortable, just tense and focused.Silverpine Caverns lay ahead, half a day’s ride south. That’s where Glen said Conri would be if the human told the truth."Still sure about this?" Reule asked, eyes fixed on the trail ahead."Do you want me to say I’m afraid?""No," he said, glancing at me. "I want you to be ready.""I’ve been ready since the day I was hunted."We didn’t speak after that. The trail narrowed, flanked by jagged cliffs and crooked trees. Behind us were Adriana, Jax, Landon, and three of Reule’s most trusted warriors. No one joked, no one relaxed. We weren’t patrolling. We were hunting.We reached the edge of the caverns by m