LOGINJohanis' POVLily’s scream was still echoing when her body went limp against me.“Lily? Lily!”Her head lolled forward, curls falling over her face. She shivered violently, tiny whimpers slipping from her lips.Her eyes weren’t fully closed—but they weren’t open either. Just half-lidded, fogged, unfocused, rolling back like she was being pulled somewhere I couldn’t reach.“No—no, no, stay awake for me please.”I pressed my forehead to hers, trying to steady her breathing—trying to steady mine.The black mark on her shoulder pulsed.Once.Twice.Like a heartbeat that didn’t belong to her.A cold wave shot down her arm each time, making her small body jolt like it was being shocked. Her breathing hitched. Then she sagged again, slipping into a dizzy daze.“Lily. Please.”My voice cracked.She didn’t answer.The shadows were moving.Slowly at first—like they were sniffing, tasting the air—but then all at once, they surged toward us, drawn by whatever that mark was doing to her.I didn’t
Johanis' POVThe moment Mama and Papa disappeared into the chaos outside, silence swallowed our house like a vacuum.Not peaceful silence.Not a sleepy one either.The kind of silence that comes before something terrible.The kind that squeezes your lungs until you forget how to breathe.Lily clung to my sleeve, curls messy and eyes huge. “J-Joha… what do we do?”I didn’t answer right away, because for the first time my brave sister is showing her weakness. My heartbeat was too loud—rushing in my ears like waves crashing again and again. Every instinct in my bones screamed danger, louder than anything I’d ever heard before. Maybe worse than Hollowroot. Worse than the corrupted guardians. Worse than the nightmares that followed us for weeks.And it wasn’t just fear.It felt like something was telling us something..I swallowed hard and squeezed Lily’s hand. “First, we try to reach the others. Aya is closest to the border side. She’ll know what happened.”Lily nodded shakily. “Okay… oka
Johanis’ POVThey thought we didn't notice it.Just because we are young and naïve and innocent.But we do…Especially me.Adults forget that we’ve already survived things pups our age shouldn’t ever have. Monsters in the night. Corrupted beasts and spirits crawling from the earth. The way the air trembled when Hollowroot took its last breath. The pack still laughs and ruffles our hair and calls us kids, but sometimes—sometimes—I watch their eyes drift to the tree line with fear they try to swallow.And now… there’s something new.A rumor they whisper when they think we were asleep.A demon escaped from the doorway in the Demon’s Den.And it wasn’t just any demon..They say it might be the prince.I don’t know what a demon prince looks like. I don’t know why he’d be here. But I know one thing:Whenever Mama and Papa think no one is watching, their faces tighten the same way they did before all the corrupted creatures came.And that means danger.Which means my little sister needs wat
Lily’s POVI swear Brinn’s favorite hobby is annoying me.He just stood there with his stupid grin, flexing like he was already alpha of the entire pack (which is kinda impossible! Hmpp!), and said, “You’ll break like a stick, young mistress.”Excuse me?Six years old is practically grown! I can brush my own hair now. Sometimes. And I only trip over my boots, like… three times a day!!!That’s basically adult level coordination.So obviously, I launched myself at him.Brinn yelped and stumbled back, which was already victory enough for me, but then we both rolled into the dust. I clung to him like burrs on fur, yelling, “Take that, musclehead!”Behind me, I heard Joha groaning like the world’s most exhausted older brother. “Please at least don’t break her bones, Brinn. I don’t want to explain to Mama again why Lily has grass stains on her face.”Aya—oh, Aya—laughed. Actually laughed. And let me tell you, when she laughs, it’s not soft or pretty. It’s sharp, like a bark, but it still ma
Johanis’ POVIf there’s one thing worse than being stuck with Lily when she’s sugar-hyper, it is being stuck with Aya when she’s wolf-snarling.Lucky me—I had both today.Training yard day. Which meant sweat, dirt, and, unfortunately, Brinn’s shirt already discarded somewhere he’d forget. Sari leaned against the fence with his usual ‘I’m too calm for this pack of fools’ expression, while Lily argued that she deserved to spar with the older pups.“Six years old is practically an adult,” she announced, chin high. “I’m ferocious.”“Ferociously short,” Brinn teased, ducking as Lily swung a fist at his stomach.Sari chuckled. “Careful, she bites.”“I do not!” Lily snapped, baring her teeth. “Okay maybe a little.”Aya snorted. For her, that was practically a laugh.I rubbed my temple. “Can we not traumatize my little ittle sister before training starts?”“She traumatizes herself,” Brinn said innocently. “Existing.”That earned him another punch attempt from Lily, which he dodged easily, sti
Lily’s POVI woke up before dawn, which is what usually happens—except when my brother had his big rematch duel and didn’t wake me up for it! I will never ever forget his betrayal.Never!!This morning, though? This morning was different. My chest felt like it carried a squirrel. Or maybe multiple squirrels hopped inside overnight and were doing interpretive dance across my ribs.I slipped past our camp’s sleeping circle, careful not to trip on Brinn’s boots or Joha’s discarded scarf. My stomach rumbled. My mind raced. Today was the day. The Compass Game.The Compass Game!!! I was finally old enough to join. (I’ve been suffering for six whole years ever since I was born, obviously.)The clearing buzzed with energy. Ribbons fluttered from poles. Pups whispered strategy over wrinkly maps like they were deciphering ancient runes. I spotted Joha across the way watching me with those big-brother eyebrows. He mouthed, ‘Be careful,’ and winked.I gave him a thumbs-up, quickly ran to his sid
Jhoanna’s POV“Are we even a hundred percent sure he’s your mate?” Dad asked while leaning his back towards the door. Mom and I both groaned. Samuel merely looked like he was amused and used to it already.“Jacob, we’ve been through this already.. For dozens of times in all these years!” Mom ranted
(NSFW content)Jhoanna’s POVHe kissed along the curve of my neck, slow and purposeful. Each press of his lips easing the tension in my body and stoking the heat all at once. His hand slid to my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space between us.“Look at me,” he said softly, his voice a
Hans’ POV The moment Jhoanna told me about Hannah, I instantly wolfed out mid-game. Rio immediately understood as he took over as vice captain and let someone else sub in my stead. Could go over to the men’s volleyball team since Samuel’s their captain, but I don’t have time right now, so I just min
Jhoanna’s POVWeeks later, the cozy warmth of that night felt like a distant memory as I curled up in bed, my body betraying me with relentless weakness. I had always dreaded this part of being a wolf—my damned heat. It was a time when my body turned against me, leaving me feverish and aching, ever







