Jenna's POVI sit on the edge of my bed, the soft glow of the setting sun spilling in through the window. Raina leans back, her arms behind her head, looking at me with a teasing smile. “You remember the first time we met?” she asks, raising an eyebrow.I laugh, nodding. “How could I forget? It was that awful customer, Mr. Williams.”Raina grins, shaking her head. “I remember. You looked like you were about to break into pieces. That guy was a piece of work.”“I was trying so hard to keep my cool,” I say, rolling my eyes. “But he kept yelling about how he didn’t order egg sandwiches, even though it was clearly written down. I didn’t know how to handle it. I just wanted to get out of there.” I smile, though, remembering how hard it had been for me back then. Raina snorts, lying back on her bed. “You handled it better than I would have, honestly. I knew he was in the wrong, but you know how it goes. He was regular. They don’t want to lose their ‘valuable’ customers.” She uses air quot
Jenna's POVThe next morning, Raymond is one of the first to arrive, greeting us with an easy smile and a bag of tools slung over his shoulder. I give him a polite nod, then turn back to the paint I’m mixing, keeping my focus on the work.“Good morning, Jenna,” he says, his voice bright as he steps closer. “Ready for round two?”“Always,” I reply, not looking up. I can sense his curiosity, but I’m not in the mood for small talk.“Didn’t get too sore from yesterday, did you?” He chuckles, watching me with a friendly smile.I shake my head. “Nope, I’m used to… physical work.”“Really?” He raises an eyebrow, intrigued. “You don’t strike me as the type to be out doing, you know, heavy lifting.”“Well, there’s a first time for everything,” I say with a small smile, trying to keep my responses short.Raymond pauses, a slight grin tugging at his lips. "So... where are you from, Jenna? I mean, you must have an interesting story, showing up here with all these skills.”I shrug, not meeting his
Jenna’s POVA week later, the inn is completely transformed. The building looks nothing like the tired, run-down place it once was. The townspeople know exactly what it used to be—a dilapidated inn with a reputation for being outdated and unwelcoming—but today, it’s full of life, warmth, and promise. There’s still a faint scent of fresh paint in the air, mingling with the earthy smell of newly laid wood and soft fabrics. The lawn is well-kept, the hedges are trimmed, and everything about the place feels brand new. It was my idea to completely overhaul the inn. I pushed Greta to see its potential, until she finally agreed. And now, I can’t help but feel proud. The vision was mine, but without everyone’s hard work, none of this would’ve been possible.Eleanor, along with the others, pitched in to help. She’s been a huge support, just like everyone else.. Today is opening day, and there’s a buzz in the air. The inn, once a place people avoided, is now the talk of the town. The lounge i
Jenna's POVToday, Raina and I are behind the counter, setting out trays of warm, crusty bread and jugs of cream for the early risers who trickle in. There’s a sense of satisfaction in watching people relax, chatting softly at the tables, wrapped in the inn’s quiet charm. It’s strange to think this place used to be nearly empty, just another roadside inn. Now, it feels alive, as if Eleanor’s magic has breathed new life into it. Raina nudges me, nodding toward the door. “Looks like we’ve got another curious visitor,” she says, her voice barely a whisper. I glance over to see a young man stepping in. He looks around, taking in the vintage decor with a mild expression of surprise, as if he’d expected something entirely different. His clothes are nondescript, but there’s something about his posture—a sharpness, an alertness that sets my instincts on edge. Raina senses it, too. Her eyes narrow slightly as she watches him, her posture shifting just enough to indicate she’s on guard. “Doe
Jenna's POVThe inn is silent, save for the occasional creak of its wooden beams, the kind of stillness that comes with the deep hours of the night. I lie awake, staring at the ceiling, my thoughts spinning like a restless storm. The spy’s mocking smirk lingers in my mind, his words echoing over and over: ‘The council knows. And they’re coming.’Eleanor insisted we would question him in the morning, but the anticipation burns in my chest. I can’t just sit here and wait. Every fiber of my being urges me to act, to uncover what he knows before it’s too late. I throw on a sweater and quietly slip out of my room, padding through the dimly lit hallway. The old floors groan under my feet, but I move carefully, listening for any sign that someone might be awake. The spy is locked up in the small storage room near the back of the inn, a makeshift holding cell we had no choice but to use.When I reach the door, I hesitate, my hand hovering over the latch. My wolf stirs beneath the surface, r
Jack’s POVThe pack finally stops for a rest after hours of trekking through the dense forest. The sun hangs low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the clearing where we gather. The younger wolves sprawl out on the ground, exhaustion evident in their movements. Some older wolves take watch, their eyes scanning the tree line for any sign of danger. I stand near the edge of the group, observing, calculating, and trying to find a moment of peace in this chaos. Eldris, as always, is nearby, his presence a mixture of comfort and intrigue. He’s been with us for days now, ever since he arrived with news of Nightspire’s plan to declare war. His knowledge has proven invaluable, though I’ve yet to fully decide if I trust him. He has a way of knowing too much, of seeing too far ahead. Still, I can’t deny the truth in his words or the insight he’s offered. “Jack.” His voice breaks through my thoughts, low and deliberate. I turn to face him, finding his pale blue eyes already fixed on
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
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
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