ALISA’s POV The rain has finally stopped but the night is far from over. A full moon hangs in the sky, casting ghostly shadows amongst the trees as Ryder and I make our way through the dense forest to reach the pond.I have no idea why I had the dream. Could it have been a memory buried deep in my mind from long ago? Or could it be a prophecy, showing me the way to the pearl? I do not know.I shake my head, willing myself to focus on the walk ahead but of course, me being me, I stumble over the protruding root of a tree. And I would most definitely have fallen had it not been for Ryder who catches me by my waist with his lightning-quick reflexes.“Careful,” he says quietly and I nod.He takes my hand in his, tightening his grip and leading me like how one would lead a child as we continue our journey. According to Alec, the pond is not too far off from the cave. It’ll take us at most a day to reach it; two if t

ALISA’s POV   This is a miracle. I stare at Ryder with my eyes unblinking and my mouth agape like a fish out out of water. He is standing in the middle of the pond where the whirlpool has subsided and is staring at his hands. “Ryder?” He looks up from his hands, our eyes meet and I gasp. “Your eyes….” His brows furrow and he cocks his head. “My eyes?” “They’re scarlet red…” “Scarlet red….” He frowns as if confused and slowly brings both hands to his cheeks as if he is having trouble believing me. Then suddenly, a smile appears on his face and he asks, “Do you know what that means Alisa?” I shake my head. The only time that Ryder has scarlet eyes is when he - “Oh...you’ve gotten your wolf back!” I jump to my feet and squeal. “Yes!” He strides back to me with a grace almost lyrical and with movements that scream strength and power and in a blink of an eye, he climbs out of the pond and

ALISA’s POV Hayden’s wolf shivers in Ryder’s arms and I look at his face. The change in him is frightening but I can understand why. He is consumed by rage and the need for vengeance for his pack, for his family and for his friends.Hayden’s wolf whimpers again, he can no longer see but his mind is still sound. He knows what is at stake and I see Ryder tell him through gritted teeth and tear-filled eyes, “We’re not beaten yet. I have the pearl of power now. And once this is over, we’ll find a way to heal you.”Ryder’s voice is full of conviction but I have my doubts. Contrary to what Julianne had told me, we found only one pearl. There should have been more, but there wasn’t.If there was, we would have been able to use the pearl to heal Hayden. I make a mental note to go back to the pond once more when all this is over. By hook or by crook, we need another pearl. Hayden does not de

RYDER’s POV It’s a nightmare. My homeland, my territory, my pack; it has all become a nightmare. My anxiety grows when I kill off the jeep’s engine. This vehicle may be a relic, but it served its purpose and for that I am grateful. But the sight before me drains away any positive feelings I have inside of me. I hear Alisa gasp as she climbs out of the jeep. My land is in ruins. Trees have been uprooted, buildings burnt down and whatever houses left intact appear to have been looted. I see dead bodies carelessly piled next to a broken shed and the glassy eyes of the victims who once called this place a home stare soullessly into the sky. This is practically a reenactment of World War Two. Is this the future that Zion had preached? At the sight of the horrific culling, a dim recollection stirs within me, a memory of a happier time under my father’s rule when the land flourished and our pack prospered. I walk over to the pile of corpses and fall to my knees with my head hung low. I fe

ALISA’s POVEverything happens in a blink of an eye. One minute, Ryder is barking orders to evacuate his pack from the dungeon and the next thing I know, Zion’s warriors have morphed into their natural werewolf forms, unleashing all fury upon my dearly beloved.It is not a fair fight for Ryder is taking on a dozen or more wolves at one time and even with the power of the pearl, I fear that winning will not come easy for him.He is obviously outnumbered.Sensing this, a few of the prisoners try to turn away from the exit to go back down to help Ryder but I stop them. I simply cannot let them gamble their fate, not after all the torture they endured.One of them is Alec Winters.Quickly, I grab his arm and shake my head. “Help guide the others to safety, I will stay with Ryder.”Alec’s brow furrows with concern and he parts his dry, chapped lips to protest but I shake my head again. He may be a warrior but he is only human, plus he is suffering from cracked ribs. He can’t even seem to b