Jenna's POV As evening falls, I can still feel the tension from earlier, thick and heavy in the air. I know Eleanor’s protective nature had made her seem harsh, but I also know we owe Greta an apology. I spot her sitting alone at the far end, a worn book open on her lap, the flames flickering and reflecting in her watchful eyes. When I approach, she looks up, surprised, but offers me a small, guarded smile."Mind if I sit?" I ask, gesturing to the empty chair across from her.She gives a short nod, closing her book and resting it on her lap. "Not at all, Jenna."I sink into the chair, feeling the warmth from the fire and the faint scent of smoke mixing with the leather of old chairs. I hesitate, but then I say softly, "I wanted to apologize for earlier. Eleanor… she can be rough around the edges. She didn’t mean to be harsh; she’s just… protective. It’s been a hard life for us." My words trail off as I look down, unsure of how much to say.Greta’s face softens as she listens. "I unde
Jenna's POV As I head back to my room, the embers of Greta’s words still smolder in my chest, sparking an unexpected fire. I can’t quite shake the idea that’s taken root in my mind—this old inn, worn but sturdy, could be more than just a shelter. Greta has given us a roof, and maybe that’s all she meant it to be, but I feel it could become so much more. The council and their spies may be relentless, yet the thought of creating a place of true refuge here, hidden away from their reach, fills me with a hope I haven’t felt in a long time.But I can’t sleep with that hope buzzing through me. My muscles are tight from tension, my senses still sharp. After so long on the run, my instinct for survival won’t let me sit still tonight.I change course, slipping quietly out of my room, down the creaky staircase, and through the hallway that opens up to the inn’s back courtyard. It’s just wide enough for me to stretch and maybe practice a few moves, though the space is uneven, and the only light
Jenna's POV The next morning, I wake up to the inviting smell of freshly baked bread and a warm light spilling through the window. I stretch and take a moment to appreciate how comfortable the bed is, thinking I could easily get used to mornings like this. Quickly dressing, I follow the delicious aroma that wraps around me like a soft blanket, guiding me downstairs.In the kitchen, Eleanor is already busy, moving carefully among the pots, pans, and jars, as if she’s studying each one to memorize its place. I can see the concentration on her face, testing every step she takes, and I stand back for a moment, admiring her determination.Eleanor has always looked a lot more relaxed in the kitchen. Maybe cooking is also therapeutic for her. I have come to really enjoy the art of making food. I bet it's the same for her too. “Need a hand?” I ask softly, not wanting to startle her.She looks up, relief washing over her features. “I’m just trying to figure out where everything is. I think G
Jenna's POV Greta does not join us for breakfast. She had complained about her legs this morning. Rosie says, her expression seeming guarded. "Is she alright?" I ask, concerned filling every pore in my body. "She is okay, not open to receiving visitors at the moment, but I'm sure she will come down when she falls ready." Rosie says. For a moment, I wonder whether Greta and Rosie could be hiding things from us, but I don't probe. They have a right to their privacy in the same way I do to mine. So far, Greta's aura and that if her housekeeper has been clean, I haven't felt like I have anything to worry about. But if they're really wolves in sheep clothing, time will reveal it. After breakfast, we decide to tour the neighboring town. "The town does not exactly boast of anything." Rosie had said when Raina had offered that we look around. "It's just the local post office and diner. Most of the locals have moved further up; nothing really happens here anymore." She had looked a lit
Violet’s POVThe night is filled with chaos—wolves fighting, growling, and struggling in a brutal clash. The Nightspire pack has launched a fierce attack, and our pack fights back with everything we have. Claws and teeth flash in the dark, bodies colliding as everyone struggles to hold their ground. I try to stay focused, fighting alongside my pack, but there’s something else pulling at my attention.It’s the tether; its pull is stronger than ever, whispering in my mind, tugging me toward the edge of the battlefield. I clench my jaw, forcing myself to stay in the fight, but it’s no use. The tether is like an invisible hand, reaching deep into my mind, urging me to leave the battle behind and follow it into the shadows.I glance around, making sure no one notices me stepping back, and then slip toward the trees. The sounds of the battle fade a little as I move into the shadows, but I can still hear the snarls and cries of my packmates fighting for their lives. My heart pounds, but the
Jack’s POVThe battle is over; our retreat signaled our surrender. The Nightspire pack had won. I wasn't ashamed about our defeat. After the last attack on our pack by the humans, the last thing I wanted was to lose more of my people to the cold hands of war. Our pack has suffered deeply; I can see it in the exhaustion on their faces and the wounds on their bodies. We were forced to retreat, the land we thought would be ours slipping away like sand between our fingers. As we regroup, the silence is deafening. Everyone’s eyes are cast downward, all too aware of the cost of this fight. Derrick, one of our bravest and kindest wolves, lies cold and still on the ground. Just hours ago, he was alive, a strong force helping secure the new territory. I kneel beside him, feeling the weight of guilt and loss. Derrick deserved better than this end. He was one of the first to join us, one who believed in the vision of finding a new place where we could be safe. His loyalty to me, to the pack,
Violet's POVWe move deeper into the forest, shadows stretching around us as night falls. The pack is tired and tense; everyone’s focused on getting to safety, but my mind is a storm. I can't shake the image of Derrick's face, the shock and pain in his eyes as he realised what I'd done. I hadn’t just taken his life—I’d betrayed him. Even now, the guilt gnaws at me, an ache that won’t go away. But the tether won’t let me dwell on it. It tightens its grip, whispering that this is just the beginning, that we’re doing what’s necessary to make the pack stronger. It tells me that Derrick’s child, Lyra, is the next step in that plan.Lyra, a little girl of ten with her father’s brown eyes and short, curly brown hair, had always been bright, clever, and eager to learn. While we journeyed through the forest, she was one of the first to pick up skills like catching small prey and defending herself. She learned fast and was braver than most adults, even though she was just a child. Her innocenc
Jack's POVThe air is thick with tension as we move through the dense woods. A faint rustling above signals the presence of an owl, but even the forest seems unusually quiet today. The only sound I hear clearly is my own breath, steady and controlled. But that doesn't stop the unease creeping into my chest. Violet is ahead, just within sight. I can see the tension in her posture and the way her eyes scan the darkness between the trees, vigilant as ever. She’s become a shadow of the woman I once knew; her edge dulled, and the fire that once burnt within her flickering weakened.I don’t know when it happened. Maybe it was the attacks, or maybe it was the pressure of the responsibility I placed on her shoulders. But something is off. The fierce, unyielding force I admired in her feels distant now, submerged beneath layers of coldness. The bond we once shared is fraying, thin threads pulling apart with each passing day. The silence between us feels heavier than it ever has before.I canno
Jack's POV The morning breaks sharp and cool, the kind that gets under your skin and wakes you up fast. I step outside the house, the crunch of frost under my boots the only sound for a moment. The younger ones are already stirring, their faces alight with a mix of excitement and nerves. They hover near the clearing we’ve set up, glancing at the knives laid out on a rough wooden table.And it reminds me of the first turn that they'd learnt to fight, but not without weapons, how they'd learnt to use the forest to their advantage and protect themselves. Eldris stands at the edge of the group, calm and composed, as usual. He’s giving quiet instructions to one of the older wolves, gesturing toward the targets we’ve rigged up from logs and rope. His efficiency never ceases to amaze me.I draw in a deep breath, feeling the weight of the day settle on my shoulders. It’s my job to guide them, to make sure they understand this isn’t about picking fights or proving dominance. It’s about survi
Jack's POV The house is too quiet, even with the faint hum of activity outside. The younger ones explore the space, their laughter and chatter muffled by the walls. It feels wrong—unnatural—to hear those sounds without the rustling of leaves or the distant howls of the pack in the background. Eldris stands in the doorway, his arms crossed and that familiar, calculating look on his face. He doesn’t say anything right away, but I can feel the weight of whatever’s on his mind. “What is it?” I ask, leaning back against the worn chair. “The younger ones,” he starts, stepping into the room and sitting across from me. “They’re restless. Eager to learn. I’ve been teaching them what I can, but it’s not enough. Jack, we need to consider sending them to school.” The words hit me like a blow. “School?” I repeat, leaning forward. “You’re talking about sending our kids into human schools? Among them?” “Yes,” he says, his tone calm and resolute. My fingers tighten around the armrests. “Y
Jack’s POVThe days pass in a blur of unease and fascination. Each morning, we wake to a world that feels alien—smooth floors beneath our feet, no damp earth or leaves clinging to our skin. The house itself is strange, with its glowing orbs that light up the night and its doors that shut with a tightness that keeps the wind and cold completely at bay. On the first day, Eldris shows us how to use the objects around us. He calls them “appliances.” A box that keeps food cold without ice, a stove that heats without fire, and strange fixtures in the walls that bring water at the twist of a handle. It’s all overwhelming, but there’s no denying how useful these things are. For the pack, adapting to human ways is harder than I expected. Eating from plates with knives and forks feels unnatural, but Eldris insists we must. “If you want to pass as human, you must live like them,” he tells us. “They eat with tools, not their hands. They use furniture, not the ground.” At first, the pack res
Jenna's POV The sharp crack of wood splintering jolts me awake, the sound echoing through the inn like a gunshot. My wolf growls deep inside me, her instincts flaring to life. Something is wrong. I’m out of bed in an instant, yanking open my door just as Eleanor appears in the hallway, her expression grim and focused. “They’re here,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “Humans?” I ask, already knowing the answer. She nods, her gaze darting toward the stairs. “Armed. Council dogs."My blood runs cold. The council wasn’t wasting time—they’d sent their human hunters to flush us out. “Wake Caleb and Mia,” I say, my voice hard. “I’ll find Greta." Eleanor nods and disappears down the hall as I race toward Greta’s room. The old wolf is already awake, her sharp eyes scanning the darkness. She doesn’t ask questions—she doesn’t need to. “We’re under attack,” I tell her. “You need to take Mia and run. Get her out of here." Greta frowns, her jaw tightening. “And leave you behind?
Jenna’s POVThe soft knock at my door jolts me awake, my wolf stirring restlessly at the disturbance. The inn is usually quiet at this hour, but the urgency in the sound puts me on edge. I swing my legs off the bed and pad to the door, opening it to find Eleanor. She stands with her arms crossed, her eyes holding a strange mix of calm and tension. “Come with me,” she says softly, gesturing for me to follow. I don’t question her. Something in her tone tells me this isn’t about the spy we’d uncovered earlier—it’s something else. I throw on a sweater and trail her down the creaky stairs, out the back door, and into the crisp night air. Eleanor leads me toward the cluster of trees at the edge of the inn’s property. There, in the faint moonlight, two figures emerge—a young man and a woman, their clothes worn and their faces etched with fatigue. “They showed up tonight,” Eleanor says, stopping a few steps away from them. “They need help." I glance between the strangers and Eleanor, my
Jack's POV The forest opens before us, the dense canopy giving way to the edges of human civilization. For days, we’ve trudged through the wilderness, the ground uneven and slick with fallen leaves, but now the terrain changes. The air smells different—cleaner yet tinged with the faint aroma of smoke and something else I can’t place. Ahead, Eldris halts and raises his hand, signalling us to stop. His sharp eyes scan the horizon, and I follow his gaze. Just beyond the treeline, the human settlement comes into view. It’s nothing like I expected. “Is that... brick?” Violet whispers, her voice unsteady. She steps forward, her amber eyes wide with disbelief, her usual guarded demeanour replaced with genuine curiosity. I nod slowly, though I can hardly believe it myself. The structure ahead is a small house, built from smooth red bricks that seem unnaturally uniform. The roof is sloped, its tiles perfectly aligned, and a strange reflective material covers the windows. The whole thing lo
Jack's POV The forest breathes with life as dawn breaks, the air crisp and laden with the earthy scent of dew-soaked leaves. I rise before the others, my senses attuned to every sound. The pack sleeps in scattered clusters, their forms wrapped in blankets and cloaks against the chill. Last night’s feast brought a rare sense of calm, but it won’t last. It never does. I stretch, my muscles tight from days of travel, and take a moment to survey the clearing. Eldris is awake too, perched on a fallen log near the edge of the camp. His eyes are distant, his posture stiff, as though he’s wrestling with thoughts; he doesn’t dare voice. It’s not unusual for him to keep to himself, but something about his demeanour today feels different. I approach him quietly, my footsteps deliberately light to avoid waking the others. He doesn’t flinch or startle as I sit beside him, his gaze fixed on the horizon. “Couldn’t sleep?” I ask, breaking the silence. He shakes his head. “Not much use in it thes
Jack's POV The scent of the buck is sharp in the air, cutting through the familiar tang of the forest. My senses sharpen, every sound and movement amplified. Days of empty bellies and restless nights have made the pack restless, but this kill will change that. It has to. I raise a hand, signalling the pack to halt. “Quiet,” I whisper, my voice low and firm. They freeze behind me, their eagerness palpable, their breaths hushed. Eldris, as always, stays a step behind the group, watching with his usual calm detachment. His presence still stirs unease, though I’ve made it clear that he’s staying. His knowledge of the forest and Nightspire’s plans is too valuable. The buck comes into view—a magnificent creature, its antlers spreading wide, its body taut with strength. It grazes in a small clearing, blissfully unaware of the predators lurking just beyond the trees. My heart quickens, but my movements remain deliberate and precise. I glance back, meeting Violet’s eyes briefly. For a mome
Violet’s POV The pack trudges onward, exhaustion creeping into every step. Jack leads at the front, his movements steady despite the weariness I know he must feel. I linger near the back, my mind clouded not by fatigue but by the whispers of the tether. It coils around my thoughts like smoke, its voice soft and insidious. ‘Eldris doesn’t belong here,’ it murmurs. ‘He’s dangerous, a shadow in the fold.’I shake my head, trying to dispel the thoughts. But the tether persists, weaving doubt into every corner of my mind. It knows how to press against my insecurities, exploiting the fact that Eldris has been with us for days yet remains an enigma. When the pack pauses to rest near a shallow river, I feel the tether’s presence stronger than ever, a cold weight in my chest. Wolves fan out to gather firewood and prepare for the night, but I stay rooted in place, my gaze fixed on Eldris as he speaks quietly with Asa. ‘You should tell Jack,’ the tether urges. ‘Convince him to rid the pac