Raina’s POV The car hums steadily, its engine a low, persistent drone that blends with the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. My arms are crossed over my chest, my shoulders rigid as I sit lost in thought. I try to focus on the road ahead, on the trees blurring past the window, on anything but the gnawing unease in my chest. It doesn’t work. No matter how hard I try, my thoughts keep circling back to Eleanor. She’s calm as she drives, her hands steady on the wheel. Her expression is composed, focused, almost serene. It would be easy to take comfort in her confidence, to let her quiet leadership lull us into a sense of safety. But I can’t. I’ve never been wrong about someone’s aura. Not once. And Eleanor’s... hers is a tangled mess. There’s darkness there, hidden beneath her kind smiles and steady demeanor. It clings to her like a shadow, heavy and suffocating. She’s been good to us, though. I can’t deny that. I glance at Jenna sitting beside me, her face turned toward the windo
Jack's POV“Hades will freeze over before I accept an omega as my mate.” I growl, anger snaking through my veins as I regard the hapless-looking woman who stands before me, eyes downcast, arms wrapped around her midriff as if trying to ward off my wrath.For two whole years, I had waited to feel this connection and to find my mate. And I finally do so with Jenna? The young, naive girl who can hardly carry her weight?Was this the god's hilarious attempt at a sick joke?If word got out that my mate was a young omega who was still wet behind the ears, the pack was going to be an easy target for constant attacks. And I couldn't allow that.I couldn't accept Jenna as my mate. Not when there was a war going on. I needed a mate who would fight ruthlessly by my side to keep the pack.I look towards Jenna, the daughter of David Abbot, who was killed two seasons ago. David had been one of the strongest wolves in the pack, whose strength had waned the older he got.Why wasn't his daughter like
Jenna's POV“I'm coming!” I yell out as I give my hair a final run-through with the wooden brush that had been a gift from my father.I brush my fingers over the engraving on the comb, remembering the evening Papa had called to me and handed me the beautiful comb.“I found it while I was hunting.” He'd mentioned it as I squealed in delight at the beautiful gift.Father was no more, and tonight wasn't the time to allow grief to ruin my day or for tears to cake my already washed face.I had a feast to attend, and I couldn't be late.“What's taking so long?” Elise asks, her voice tinged with impatience.I hurry through the doors of my trunda to find Elise waiting, foot tapping against the grass.“Sorry,” I apologize as we begin to make our way towards the path that would lead us to the alpha's abode, and my heart thrums with trepidation at what is to come.Memories of the conversation I had with the alpha from this morning flood me, and I shudder at the memory of those hazel eyes, which
Jack's POVWhen I scan the crowd again, I do not find Jenna anymore, with those bright green eyes that had been filled with so much trepidation and hope.Pain suddenly slams into me, and I stagger back, shocked at its intensity.Warm hands settles on my shoulders.“Are you alright?” Violent asks, eyes filled with concern and care.“I am alright.” I whisper, even though I am anything but. Violet doesn't look convinced, and those knowing eyes darken in suspicion.I take her hands in mine and drop a light kiss on her wrist, her pulse jumping at the first brush of my lips against the smooth flesh. I look up through hooded eyes to watch her, enjoying the sight of blood that rushes to her cheeks.“Trust me, there's nothing to worry about.”Violet nods with a beaming smile, and I right myself to take her hands, leading her towards a further corner, slightly darker, to afford us more privacy.“When you said you wanted to hold a feast tonight, I didn't know what to expect.” Violet admits.“Wel
Jenna's POVI don't know how long I'd lain on the forest ground, but as I slowly come back to myself, I realise that I might have been there for far too long, long enough to attract prey.As I crack one eye open and look around, the still midnight air alerts me to the dangers that lurk in these forests. And for a moment, I regret leaving the pack.However, now is not the moment to scrutinise hastily made decisions. Now is the time to get up as stealthily as I can and get the hell away from here.I can't help but remember the tales that Papa had told me about avoiding the forest as a younger child. I had first learned about rogues and shapeshifters from Papa, who had told me that they would never come into the pack to cause trouble, but getting lost in the forest could mean being harmed by them.I get up slowly, wincing when pain shoots through my ankle. I must have sprained something when I fell over the shrubs.Trying to make as little noise as possible, I begin to limp towards where
Jack's POVThere is still no sign of Jenna anywhere, and even though I try to ignore my wolf's whining, I feel her absence keenly.Suddenly, I miss those green eyes that had followed me everywhere tonight. Those large innocent eyes that had been filled with so much longing earlier tonight. So much longing, desire and hope.I had looked her in the eyes and squashed that hope because I had needed her to understand the impossibility of us being together. I had needed to make a favourable decision for the pack.If what I'd done had been for the safety of the pack and for the good of everyone, why did I feel so empty? Why was this sadness and longing for Jenna refusing to go away?I couldn't talk to my beta about this; I had already lied to him. And I couldn't bear the shame of going to him now with the truth.He would reproach me for it and could trust me less... I couldn't let that happen. I couldn't let anyone see me as weak. It could be used against me. I had to learn to live with the
Jenna's POV“There she is. Get her!”I pick up pace, fear propelling my legs faster and faster as I continue to run, ignoring the pounding of feet behind me. For a moment, I regret this decision. I regret leaving the pack, leaving my friend behind, and thinking it was a wise idea to leave the safety that Jack had afforded. I should have stayed. I should have sucked up the rejection and tried to court one of the eligible bachelors in the pack who were looking to find their mate. I should have remained there. I should have learnt to disengage. But I had allowed emotions to overrule logic, and now I was nearly at the mercy of strange neanderthals.Cold, callous hands clamp on my shoulders and reel me backwards, flinging me against a tree stump. My ribs connect with the hardness of wood, and I let out a scream as I land on solid ground. There's sudden silence as I lay on the ground, my head reeling from the acute pain that shoots from my side. I put my hands on my burning ribs, makin
Jack's POVWe search the entire cave without any signs of Jenna. We don't find her in her trunda either. Guilt eats at me as my guards and I continue the search, hoping that we find her before sunrise.This would not have happened if I had not denied Jenna as my mate. She would still be here, she would not have fled. This is all my fault, isn't it? “Alpha,” Sav murmurs several hours later. “I don't think we would find the girl.”I pause and then turn to my head-guard. We are now at the perimeter of the pack, the large land that divides our pack from the forest where the rogues and shapeshifters roam. Jenna understands what crossing this border means. After several hours of our futile search, I have begun to hope that she hadn't done the unthinkable. We have rules guiding our packs. And one of those rules, which is older than time itself, has always been to never cross the borders without the consent of the alpha. The only time anyone's ever been required to leave the pack has bee
Raina’s POV The car hums steadily, its engine a low, persistent drone that blends with the crunch of gravel beneath the tires. My arms are crossed over my chest, my shoulders rigid as I sit lost in thought. I try to focus on the road ahead, on the trees blurring past the window, on anything but the gnawing unease in my chest. It doesn’t work. No matter how hard I try, my thoughts keep circling back to Eleanor. She’s calm as she drives, her hands steady on the wheel. Her expression is composed, focused, almost serene. It would be easy to take comfort in her confidence, to let her quiet leadership lull us into a sense of safety. But I can’t. I’ve never been wrong about someone’s aura. Not once. And Eleanor’s... hers is a tangled mess. There’s darkness there, hidden beneath her kind smiles and steady demeanor. It clings to her like a shadow, heavy and suffocating. She’s been good to us, though. I can’t deny that. I glance at Jenna sitting beside me, her face turned toward the windo
Jenna’s POVThe soft warmth of sunlight filters through the curtains, painting golden streaks across the room. I wake with a start, sitting upright as the realization sinks in. Nothing has happened. No hunters, no alarms, no chaos. Just the sun spilling its light, as if mocking all the fears I had carried into my dreams. I exhale deeply, relief washing over me like a tide pulling back from the shore. Today’s the day. The day we leave the sanctuary. A pang of sadness hits me as I glance around the room. The worn, sturdy furniture, the faint scent of wood and pine, the quiet stillness that had cocooned us for days—it had all become a kind of home. For the first time in a long time, I felt safe here. Tranquil. But the sanctuary isn’t ours to keep. It’s a fleeting refuge, not a permanent haven. Still, a part of me dares to hope. Maybe, after all this is over, we could come back here. When the Council is defeated, when we’ve won our freedom. Maybe then we’ll finally be able to call a p
Jenna’s POVThe sound of quiet footsteps leads me to the back porch, where I find Greta sitting alone, her back resting against the wooden railing. The last light of the setting sun paints the sky in soft oranges and pinks, but her gaze is distant, as though she’s looking at something far beyond the horizon. I hesitate for a moment before stepping outside. The cool air wraps around me, carrying with it the faint scent of pine. Greta glances over her shoulder as the door creaks behind me, her expression neutral but not unwelcoming. “Mind if I join you?” I ask.“Suit yourself,” she replies, shifting slightly to make room. I sit down beside her, my legs stretched out, hands resting on my knees. For a while, neither of us speaks, the silence between us filled with the faint rustle of leaves in the breeze. “Talking about Raymond earlier,” I start, breaking the quiet, “it made me think about the inn. I guess… I wanted to know how you really feel about everything that happened." Greta e
Jenna’s POVThe warm glow of evening light bathes the living room, softening the edges of the worn-out furniture and casting long shadows against the walls. The mood is light for once, laughter bouncing off the walls like it hasn’t in weeks. Caleb sharpens his knife at the corner of the room, the rhythmic scrape against the whetstone almost soothing. Greta lounges on the couch, shuffling a deck of cards with practiced ease. Mia giggles on the floor as she carefully stacks the cards into a lopsided tower. Eleanor sits in an armchair by the window, stitching up a tear in her jacket, her hands steady despite the dim light. The atmosphere feels almost normal, like we’re just a group of friends passing time. For a fleeting moment, the weight of everything we’ve been through seems to lift. Almost.Raina stands apart from the rest, leaning against the doorway with her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Her eyes are distant; she doesn’t join the conversation and doesn’t laugh or smile. Wh
Jenna’s POVThe room feels unusually still as I sit on the edge of the bed, the weight of the day’s tension still hanging in the air. It’s quiet—too quiet. The kind of silence that presses in from all sides. The kind that fills a space with thoughts, memories, and emotions that I don’t always want to face. But I don’t have a choice.I try to focus on the faint glow from the bedside lamp, the soft hum of the air around me—anything to drown out the nagging feeling that keeps gnawing at the back of my mind. The decision to wait a few days feels right, but there’s a part of me that’s still restless. The council is out there. Always hunting. Waiting. And I can’t shake the feeling that we’re running out of time.A soft knock on the door breaks my reverie. My heart skips, but I push the nerves down, trying to keep my composure.“Come in,” I call out.The door creaks open slowly, and I turn to see Raina standing there. Her usual easygoing smile is absent tonight. Instead, her expression is g
Jenna’s POVEleanor takes a breath, absorbing the information. “The area around here,” she says cautiously. “Any packs? Anything out of the ordinary?”Silas is quiet for a moment, then he replies in a low, thoughtful tone. “This might be a little too timely to be coincidental.”Eleanor’s stew narrows, her shoulders squaring as she asks, “What is it?”“Earlier today, my wife and I went to say hi to our new neighbors. The empty house that hasn’t been occupied in decades finally got lived in. When Hannah and I heard voices, we decided to go say hi. It turns out it’s a battalion of people—men, women, and children.”“What?” Eleanor gasps.“We are just as shocked as you are,” Silas says wryly. “We tried to get information out of the one who appeared to be the leader without being too direct. But he only gave us smart answers. I’d wanted to let him know we were no threat, but then again, we have to be careful too. Can’t do anything that'll get my wife killed.” Silas’s last statement is pitch
Jenna's POVThe walk back to the house is steady but quiet, the weight of our survival sinking in. The forest feels alive in a way that stirs something deep in my chest, the primal part of me that feels most at home out here. But even the wild has its dangers. The Council, the hunters—they could be watching.When the house comes into view, the tension eases just slightly. Mia walks beside me, her white fur shimmering faintly under the dappled sunlight, before she shifts back into her human form. Her cheeks are flushed, and despite the exhaustion, there’s a proud spark in her eyes.“You did well today,” I tell her, my voice quiet but firm.She glances at me, a smile tugging at her lips. “It feels... different now. Like I’ve found a part of myself I didn’t know was missing.”“You have,” I say, resting a hand on her shoulder briefly. “And now, you’ll only get stronger.” She has to be; the world that we live in requires that of her, even though she could be considered a little young. Gre
Jack's POVThe day starts slow, the lingering exhaustion from training is still clinging to the muscles, but we’re used to that. It's the quiet that feels strange today. After all the noise, the shouting, and the physicality of our lessons, the house feels almost unnervingly still. Violet is inside with the younger ones, settling them into a kind of routine, while the rest of us are scattered around the clearing, checking gear, sharpening weapons, and keeping an eye on the perimeter.I don’t know why it hits me today, but I can feel it—the tension in the air, the prickling sense that something is off. Maybe it’s the calm before the storm, or maybe it’s just the lingering thoughts of our strange neighbors. I don’t trust them, not in the slightest, but I can’t figure out why. And just like that, a knock comes again. Soft, tentative. The doorframe seems smaller with the weight of my unease pressing down on me, but I push it aside, my face carefully neutral. The town’s starting to feel l
Jenna's POVThe forest grows denser the deeper we move. The scent of damp earth and wild greenery fills the air, a sharp contrast to the stale atmosphere of human settlements. There’s an energy here, primal and unrestrained, that stirs something deep within me. We finally stop in a small clearing, sunlight dappling the mossy ground. This is far enough, I decide. “This is the spot,” I say, turning to the group. Eleanor is already tugging off her borrowed shirt, a wicked grin on her face. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m tired of wearing someone else’s clothes." Raina shoots her a sidelong look but says nothing. Caleb and Greta follow suit, their movements efficient and practiced. It feels natural, shedding the remnants of human normalcy to embrace who we are. Mia hesitates.I notice the way her hands clutch at the hem of her sweater and the uncertainty in her eyes. “It’s okay,” I tell her gently. “Take your time." She nods but doesn’t move. Eleanor notices too. “Mia,