FAZER LOGINAveline’s POVOne year later. A small town in the Swiss Alps.I was preparing an herbal tea for my first patient of the day.This was a quiet town, surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Alps. The air always smelled faintly of pine.“Good morning, beautiful,” Leo said, coming downstairs. His hair was still a bit messy, but his eyes were full of a gentle, smiling warmth.“Good morning.” I stood on my toes and kissed his cheek. “Coffee’s in the kitchen.”Our life this past year had been simple and full.We spent our days helping humans with their emotional trauma at the healing center. At night, we’d sit by the fireplace, reading and talking, or go to the little pub in town to listen to music.There were no pack politics, no Alpha power games, no complicated hierarchies.Just two people in love, living a simple, happy life.“Aveline,” Leo said suddenly.I turned to look at him and saw he was nervous.“What is it?”He took a deep breath, then dropped to one knee.My heart stopped.“Leo…”
Aveline’s POVThe next morning, I walked out of my room, my eyes red and swollen.“I’m going to the Alps,” I said, my voice hoarse. “To find that witch.”Leo nodded without asking why. “I’ll go with you.”“Don’t go!” Echo’s split voice suddenly screamed in my head. “Stay away from him! Far away!”“Go!” the other voice roared. “Go save him! Save our mate!”I pressed my temples in agony. “I’m done with this division. I’m ending this, for good.”With help from the Healers’ Guild, we got a general location for the witch, Hecate.A forgotten valley, deep in the Alps.Three days later, we drove to the foot of the mountains.“The road ends here,” Leo said, parking the car. “We walk from here.”We put on our backpacks and began the difficult climb.“Go back!” Echo screamed frantically. “Don’t go find her! She’ll kill you!”“Keep going!” the other voice urged. “Hurry! Rylan is waiting for you to save him!”The two voices ripped through my mind, almost making me fall from the cliff edge several
Aveline’s POVI stared at the unconscious Rylan, my mind at war.If I severed the dark magic, he would die.If I did nothing, my own soul would continue to be torn apart until I went mad.“Save him!” Echo’s split voice screamed again. “He only did this because he loves you!”“Let him die!” the other voice roared. “He deserves the consequences!”“What should I do?” I asked Leo, my voice full of despair.“Let’s stabilize him first, and then…”Before he could finish, the sound of hoofbeats echoed outside the cottage.Leo looked out the window, on high alert. “Someone’s here.”Three riders in black cloaks appeared in the yard. They wore the silver insignia of the Elder Council on their chests.The Enforcers.“By order of the Wolf Elder Council!” the lead rider announced loudly. “Rylan Blackwood is charged with the use of forbidden dark magic, a violation of the highest Wolf Code! Surrender the criminal immediately!”Leo and I exchanged a look.“He’s here,” Leo said, opening the door. “But
Aveline’s POV“Aveline, are you okay?”Leo’s concerned voice woke me from the nightmare.I shot up, my forehead drenched in cold sweat.Outside the window was the rustic scenery of Tuscany, Italy.We had been staying in this country cottage for two weeks.But the nightmares continued.“Go back to him!” Echo screamed in my head. “You’re fated mates! You can’t just abandon him like this!”“No! He betrayed you!” the next second, the same voice was filled with rage. “He let that bitch hurt you! He deserves to die alone!”“He loves you! He cried for you while he was gone!”“He hates you! He just wants to control you!”The two opposing voices tore at my mind, driving me to the brink of collapse.“Is it that voice again?” Leo sat on the edge of the bed, his eyes full of worry.I nodded, pressing my temples. “It’s gotten strange. Sometimes it defends him, other times it curses him. It’s like…”“It’s like something… splintered it,” Leo said, his expression grim. “It wasn’t a natural break.”Jus
Aveline’s POVTwo months later.Leo and I had settled into our new life completely.We moved into a larger house on the island. The ground floor was an expanded healing center, and the second floor held our separate bedrooms.With a recommendation from the Healers’ Guild, Leo also began to see special wolf patients here.We had become the perfect work partners.This morning, I went to the town’s herb shop for supplies, just like usual.The owner, Maria, knew me well by now and always saved the best herbs for me.“Aveline!” she greeted me warmly. “What can I get for you today?”“The usual. Lavender, chamomile, and some rosemary,” I answered with a smile.After paying, I left the shop with my basket full of herbs.The sun was bright, the sea breeze was gentle. It was a beautiful afternoon.“Aveline.”A familiar voice came from behind me.My blood ran cold.No. It couldn’t be. Not here. Not now.I slowly turned around.Rylan stood about thirty feet away.He was much thinner, his cheeks ho
Aveline’s POVTwo weeks. That’s all it took for Leo to feel like a part of my new life. A bright, warm part.Traces of him were everywhere in the little cottage.Colorful seashells he’d collected from the beach sat in a corner of the living room.Herbs he’d planted grew in pots in the kitchen.Even my healing room had been rearranged on his advice, making it feel warmer and more welcoming.“You know,” he said while mixing a new aromatherapy oil, “the Healers’ Guild has a theory that the color and scent of an environment directly affect a patient’s mood.”He dabbed a drop of lavender oil on my wrist.“I spent three years perfecting this blend. It’s specifically for healing emotional trauma.”Leo had taught me so many advanced techniques these past few days.Soul resonance, energy channeling, emotional release rituals…This was core Guild knowledge, impossible to learn anywhere else.But more importantly, he had reawakened my love for healing.“Aveline.” One afternoon, Leo suddenly put d







