Lahat ng Kabanata ng The Phoenix Wolf's Awakening : Kabanata 1 - Kabanata 5

Mona's POVThe copper taste of blood filled my mouth as Father's fist connected with my jaw. Again."Worthless," he spat, towering over me as I crumpled against the kitchen wall. "Can't even set the table properly for your sister's engagement celebration."I wiped the blood from my split lip, keeping my eyes down. Speaking would only make it worse. It always did."Marcus, leave the creature alone," Mother called from the dining room, her voice dripping with disgust. "Selena's guests are arriving. We can't have them hearing... that."That. Not her. Not their daughter. Just that.Father's boot caught me in the ribs one last time before he straightened his jacket. "Clean yourself up and stay in the kitchen. If I see you near the celebration, you'll sleep in the forest again."The forest. Where they'd left me three nights ago during a thunderstorm because I'd accidentally bumped into Selena's suitor at the market.I waited until his footsteps faded before pulling myself up, ribs screaming

Mona's POV I woke in chains.Not ordinary chains - these burned against my skin, etched with runes that pulsed with sickly green light. The collar around my neck was worse, a constant weight that made breathing feel like drowning."Ah, sleeping beauty awakens." Selena's voice drifted from the shadows of what I recognized as the pack's underground prison. "Three days you've been out. Almost missed your own birthday."Three days. My eighteenth birthday was tomorrow."Where's Grandmother?" My voice came out raw."Dead." Selena examined her nails. "Father had to make an example. Harboring a Phoenix Wolf, teaching it to use its powers - treasonous acts against the pack."Rage and grief warred in my chest, but when I tried to summon my fire, nothing came. The collar hummed, absorbing every spark of power."Ingenious, isn't it?" She tapped the collar. "Made specifically to contain Phoenix Wolves. Father bought it years ago from a witch, just in case you ever... manifested. Cost him half the

Mona's POVThe Shadow Walker moved faster than thought. One moment it stood at the edge of the circle, the next its claws were inches from my throat.Derek's wolf form slammed into it mid-leap, but passed right through as if the creature was made of smoke. The Shadow Walker solidified just in time to backhand him into a tree with a sickening crack."Derek!" I rushed toward him, but Marcus grabbed my arm."Don't! Physical attacks won't work. Only phoenix fire can—"The Shadow Walker's hand wrapped around my throat, lifting me off the ground. Its touch was ice, burning cold that made my flames sputter."The Shadow King sends his regards," it hissed, breath like rotting meat. "You will make a fine addition to his collection."I grabbed its wrist, channeling phoenix fire through my palms. The creature shrieked, dropping me, its arm dissolving where I'd touched."Impressive," it snarled as shadows reformed its limb. "But you're untrained, uncontrolled."It was right. The fire came in spurt