Finding an excuse for why my face is cut and bruised isn't coming to my mind as easily as I had hoped.A first aid kit I had found underneath the bed is a blessing. A smear of antiseptic cream and a plaster strapped over wound is all I can do. The bruises, which surround both my eyes, and part of my forehead, a dark mess of blue and purple, have no hope of being hidden. And at this point, no hope of being explained.Naturally, at breakfast, it was Aiden who pointed it out."Someone is desperate to win this competition," he says, sliding into a seat next to me. I have no patience for Parker. He seems pretentious and almost everything he says can be seen right through. I don't think I'm the desperate one.Sighing deeply, I place my toast back on the plate, reluctantly giving him my attention. "Aren't we all, Parker?""Nasty battle wound," he says, that grin manifested from constant compliments about his straight, white teeth. Reaching up with prying fingers, he gets so close, he almost
I had zero clue how to respond to that. There was no flinch in his gaze. No sudden smile to express his joke. No reprieve for the increasing silence, heavy with expectation. He simply stared, those dark eyes slightly narrowed. This must be how he interrogated information out of people. I felt as though I was about to spill every secret I had ever kept, even the most mundane kind. I treaded carefully. “I have no doubt you’re already aware of any secret that I might have.” If he was offended by my tone, he made no mention of it. The impassive expression reaching the tightness of his jaw to the defined angle of his cheekbones. Were I not so shaken, perhaps I would have admired his hardened handsomeness. Instead, I was insinuating that he knew what he needed to about me. That intimidating the evidence out of me was enough to inform him of what he knew. “I want you to elaborate on it.” Part of me wanted to pretend I didn’t know what that meant. But I did. Maybe it was because I was af
I couldn't sleep that night. My mind was whirling, pouring over every word Kael had said to me. I'm not sure if it was his intentions to make me confused, but if it was, he succeeded. I never knew his family had died...or gone missing. I'm not sure what he had meant. All I know is he has on family left, and is left alone to be an Alpha. Is that why he has Silent's? Tomorrow we are revealing our secrets to Juan. Part of me wonders what I should say, considering no one else surely knows about this. Juan will be surprised. I would surely make it to the next round... But can I really say it? A foolish part of me feels as though it's a special secret I share only with Kael. Like no one else can know. This is my downfall. Sighing through my nose, I turn over on my side, looking at the moon that glares straight into my room, alighting my bed covers in a silvery glow. Right as I thought my luck was changing, I'm back where I started. I should enjoy the freedom before I'm whisked off into
In all honesty, I was not looking forward to today. Last night, I hadn’t slept at all. I’d stared at the ceiling until the dawn broke. I couldn’t get Thorran out of my head. This morning I had woken up cursing to myself. I knew I was not allowed to be thinking about him like I was. I was here to become an Assasin, where my job would be to protect and serve him. Nothing more. But was that why I had dreamt about him last night? It may have only been fleeting, but it was all him. Those dark, sultry eyes...tall stature... soft, rousing voice. It was obvious. I needed help. Everyone seemed as anxious as I was. Aside from Aiden, who was finding amusement in harassing Mira. I ignored them both, joining everyone else in worrying about what today would entail. We’d be finding out what our next challenge would be. After last time, none of us could predict what Thorran and Juan had decided would happen today. I was just hoping I didn’t see Thorran today. As usual, Juan had us line up in fr
My first thought was that I had to tell someone. My second thought was questioning what I was meant to do. It felt improper to continue watching his scandalous act took place, but I was stunned by what to do. All I knew was this shouldn’t be happening. It was forbidden to have a relationship with an Assassin or Trainer. And yet here I was, witnessing Cynthia making out with Juan.I had to interrupt. It might not be the best thing to do, but what if this was a mock situation? What if I was meant to intervene and stop Cynthia from getting eliminated? Was this my chance to protect her?With all these questions needing to be answered, I could barely make sense of my thoughts. I was a good person, and I good person wouldn’t let something this unfair happen.Right?"Hey, what’s going on?" I asked, emerging from the shadows. I had no weapons or any means to protect myself if Juan’s next motivation was to turn against me. If this was a simulation like I was hoping it was, that should be how
I had no idea who on Earth this Shinee was. By the way, he looked at me, he assumed that I should at least have an inkling. Yet just because I didn’t know who he was at first glance, that didn’t mean that I was not feeling terrified the moment my gaze landed upon him. It didn’t mean I didn’t see something in those strange, lavender-colored eyes that could frighten even the bravest souls. The fact that he was immortal, for starters. No one looked like that, asserting that aura and confidence without being of high power. But what an immortal was doing on a mortal soul was something that baffled me. I eyed Shinee and cast a rather pointed state in Thorran’s direction. "Well, I didn't know this was going to be a party." "Neither did I,” Thorran mumbled in return. His tone was low but being werewolves, we did have our superhearing. Almost instantly, my cheeks flushed bright red. I should have just stayed in that forest. I should have never walked into this cabin. What on Earth was I th
Waking up the morning of the new week left me feeling queasy. There was no way today could go down smoothly. I was convinced that I would be eliminated but when they announced someone else’s name, I was left speechless. I honestly thought it would be me since I had revealed last week between Cynthia and Juan. Now that I wasn’t sent home, I was left up late at night wondering why it was not me. Cynthia has been ignoring me. In fact, she had been ignoring everyone, going cold and distant to even her closest friends. But none of them had glares sent their way when passing her in the hall. Something was up and I had a feeling that it would go down this morning, at the next meeting in the gym. Boy, I was right. Trailing behind everyone, I wandered into the gym, head hung low. At this point, I couldn’t care less what the next part of the competition was. I had an inkling that Juan would keep terrorizing me by giving me the hardest time until I eventually left the competition on my own m
My plan was set for tonight. I'm assuming it won't be difficult to get in, if it's anything like my sects residence. By the first hour of morning, everyone is in the room should be asleep, which leaves the perfect time to put my plan into fruition. Luckily, I was able to sneak the kids - whose name I learned was Jake - room number thanks to a very impressionable girl hanging around the library. Tonight, I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to find out, but hopefully it will keep me in this competition. He seems to always be hiding something, and I'm hoping it's dark and intriguing. Sneaking around the side of the building, I approach the kitchen window. As I expected, after walking past it casually today, it is slightly ajar. Perfect. It doesn't creak nor protest when I prop it open large enough for me to slip through, and onto the sleek linoleum floor. It's perfect for swallowing most of the sound of my footsteps as I step out of the kitchen and into the eating area. And much to
The council chamber buzzed with tension as the pack leaders gathered for an emergency meeting. The news of the skirmish between Moonshadow and Nightwalker wolves had sent shockwaves through the packs, threatening to undo the fragile progress they had made.Rayka stood at the head of the room, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Sylvester was by her side, his presence a steady reminder of the unity they were fighting to preserve.“All right,” Rayka began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “I want a full report. Who was involved, and how did this happen?”A scout stepped forward, his expression grim. “The incident occurred near the southern border. A Moonshadow patrol and a Nightwalker patrol crossed paths during their rounds. They accused each other of trespassing, and things escalated into a fight. No serious injuries, but tempers flared on both sides.”“Names,” Sylvester demanded. “Who led the patrols?”The scout hesitated. “Daren for the Moonshadow patrol. Talia for the Nightwalker p
The forest was alive with the sounds of pack life as Rayka walked through the stronghold. Wolves bustled about, carrying supplies, sparring on the training grounds, or chatting in small groups. To the untrained eye, everything appeared harmonious, but Rayka’s instincts told her otherwise. There was a tension in the air, subtle yet unmistakable—a quiet unease rippling through her people. Sylvester met her at the edge of the training field, his brow furrowed. “Do you feel it too?” he asked without preamble. Rayka nodded, her gaze sweeping over the busy grounds. “Something’s off. I’ve heard murmurs—discontent, whispers of doubt. It’s not open rebellion, but it’s there.” Sylvester’s jaw tightened. “Any idea where it’s coming from?” “Not yet,” Rayka admitted. “But I’m going to find out.”
The morning sunlight spilled across the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, bathing the forest in golden light. The sounds of nature surrounded the settlement—chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the soft murmurs of pack life. For once, there were no urgent meetings, no strategies to plan, and no enemies at the border. It was a rare day of peace, and Rayka intended to savor every second of it.Rayka stood in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves as she examined the collection of ingredients in front of her. Cooking wasn’t something she often had time for, but today she decided to indulge herself. Kael’s soft coos echoed from his crib in the corner of the room, bringing a smile to her face.“Are you sure you remember how to do this?” Sylvester teased from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.Rayka shot him a mock glare. “I might not be a master chef, but I can manage breakfast without setting the place on fire.”
The air in the Moonshadow Pack’s territory carried a quiet peace that felt foreign after so much conflict. For the first time in years, Rayka allowed herself a moment to breathe, her shoulders no longer heavy with the constant weight of impending battles. Yet the scars of their struggles remained etched into the land, their people, and her heart.Sylvester leaned against the doorway of their shared quarters, the healing wound on his side a stark reminder of how close they had come to losing everything. His presence was a quiet reassurance, a steady force beside her as they faced this new chapter together.“Morning already?” he asked, his voice low but warm.Rayka nodded, glancing at the horizon where the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the dense forest. “A new day,” she murmured. “A new era.”Sylvester stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. “And what kind of leaders will we be in this era, Rayka?”“The kind who learn from the past but don’t let it define us,” she replied without
The prophecy had haunted Rayka since the moment it had been uttered. The old seer’s voice echoed in her mind, a chilling combination of truth and warning: “Under the blood moon’s shadow, a bond shall be tested, a leader shall fall, and a child’s cry shall signal the dawn of a new fate." For weeks, the pack had lived in the shadow of these words, their meaning elusive yet ever-present. Rayka tried to convince herself that they were mere ramblings, but as the pieces of their world began to align in ways she couldn’t ignore, she feared that fate was finally calling its due.The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, jagged shadows across the forest. Rayka stood on the high balcony of the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Sylvester joined her, his steps silent but his presence unmistakable. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm despite the chill in the air.“The scouts reported movements near the western border,” Sylvester said, his voice h
The dawn broke over the forest, a hesitant light filtering through the trees as if wary of what it might find below. Rayka stood on the balcony of their stronghold, the cool morning breeze brushing her face. From her vantage point, she observed the daily bustle of the pack below. Yet, a gnawing unease had taken root in her heart, one that Sylvester had voiced just the night before.“You feel it too, don’t you?” Sylvester’s voice cut through the quiet. He approached from behind, his presence grounding yet tinged with the same worry that plagued her.“Yes,” Rayka admitted, her gaze fixed on the training grounds where warriors sparred. “Something’s not right. There’s a disconnect, a tension I can’t quite place.”Sylvester leaned against the railing, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. “We’ve been so focused on external threats, perhaps we’ve neglected what’s been festering within.”Their suspicions were confirmed later that day during a council meeting. The room was filled with voices, som
The air was heavy with tension as Rayka and Sylvester arrived at the neutral territory where the meeting was set to take place. This stretch of forest, untouched by either pack or faction, had served as a sanctuary for those unwilling to take sides in the recent conflict. The trees stood tall and ancient, their intertwined branches creating a canopy that muted the afternoon light. It was a place steeped in history, where deals had been struck and truces forged over centuries.Sylvester stepped ahead, his eyes scanning the dense underbrush for signs of movement. "I don’t like this," he murmured, his voice low enough for only Rayka to hear."I don’t either," Rayka replied, her gaze fixed on the clearing ahead. "But if there’s a chance to secure their support, we have to take it."The "they" in question were the Silver Veil, a reclusive and enigmatic group that had always remained on the periphery of pack politics. Neither fully aligned with the dominant factions nor entirely independent
The battle's aftermath left a silence that felt foreign, almost unnerving. Rayka stood atop a ridge overlooking the main settlement of their pack, the soft orange hues of dawn casting long shadows over the valley. For years, conflict had been her constant companion—each victory accompanied by loss, each step forward shadowed by doubt. Now, as the dust settled and the echoes of war faded, she realized that peace was an even more daunting challenge.The village below bore the scars of their struggles. Buildings stood in varying states of disrepair, some barely more than skeletons of wood and stone. People moved through the streets, their steps heavy with fatigue but underlined with determination. For every broken window, there was a group working to patch it. For every torn banner, there was someone sewing it anew.Sylvester joined her, his quiet presence a balm to her restless thoughts. "It’s a strange sight, isn’t it?" he murmured, his voice low as if unwilling to disturb the fragile s
The aftermath of battle hung over the battlefield like an oppressive shroud. Smoke coiled into the air, rising from the scorched earth, and the groans of the wounded were muffled by the crunch of boots over broken ground. Rayka and Sylvester stood on a ridge overlooking the smoldering remains of the battlefield, their eyes scanning the horizon for signs of enemy movement.The tension was palpable, the allied forces weary but prepared for another clash.“They’ve gone quiet,” Sylvester remarked, his sharp eyes darting toward the distant enemy camp. “Too quiet.”Rayka nodded, her instincts buzzing with unease. “It’s not like them to retreat without regrouping. Something’s not right.”As if to punctuate her words, a lone figure emerged from the enemy’s camp, holding a white flag high above their head. The sight drew murmurs from the allied forces, the realization spreading through their ranks like wi