Chapter Seventy-Four Jack’s POVAs I stand back, watching the scene unfold, Violet steps up beside me, her eyes shining with satisfaction and pride. "They’re doing well," she says softly.I nod, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "They are. This will make a difference.""We’ll be ready," she replies, her voice filled with quiet determination.I turn to her, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "You’re incredible, you know that?" Violet has greatly demonstrated that I make no mistake choosing her as my mate. I had known that I needed someone strong and agile, someone who could match my energy and vigor. Violet jag greatly fits that description. My mind goes back to Jenna; I had begun to think about her less and less. But she remained at the back of my mind, never building to the surface. Her large green eyes sometimes flickered through my mind's eye, and sometimes I found myself wondering about her. Thinking about what had become of her. Maybe she had sojourned in another
Chapter Seventy-FiveJenna’s POV“I didn’t order egg sandwiches,” he says as soon as I drop the food on his desk. “I’m sorry about that,” I reply, looking down at my writing pad. Eleanor had taught me to write words; it had been quite easy to learn, and I had caught up in no time. “It says here egg sandwiches for table five.” “Are you deaf? I freaking didn’t order that. I said that I needed bagels and a cup of plain coffee.” I shake my head at the man who looks a little intimidating in his expensive suit. That’s far from what you ordered. “Are you implying that I am lying? Is that what you’re implying?” His voice is cold, and his tone is deadly. “Are you trying to push the blame on me for your foolishness and incompetence?” His voice has begun to rise, grabbing the attention of the other patrons, who turn to listen in on the conversation. My heart beats loudly, and I try to rein in my anger. I had been taught that the customer is always right, even though this suit man is clear
Chapter Seventy-Six Raina’s POVI watch Jenna walk away; her steps are light and graceful. She’s beautiful in a way that makes it seem effortless, like she doesn’t even realise the kind of effect she has. Her long, waist-length blonde hair catches the light, and when she moves, there’s something almost ethereal about her. Men in the café eye her, some of them staring a little too long, but she doesn’t notice. Or if she does, she doesn’t care. Her focus is entirely on the job—getting orders right, cleaning tables, doing what she’s supposed to do. She’s all about the task at hand, and I can’t help but admire that.But as much as Jenna looks like the typical girl next door, there’s something else about her. Something that feels... different. There’s an energy that radiates off her—something subtle but powerful. It makes me wonder, just for a moment, if she might be like me. If she’s hiding something under the surface, just like I am.I’ve always been good at sensing things in people. I
Chapter Seventy-Seven Raina’s POVThe days at the café slip by quickly, and it’s hard to ignore how fast Jenna is picking things up. She’s good at this, maybe even better than I gave her credit for. Despite the rude customers and the chaos of the morning rush, she keeps her cool. Jenna's been sticking around during my cigarette breaks lately, which is unusual. It’s not like she’s taken up smoking; in fact, the smoke makes her eyes water, and I can see her holding her breath sometimes, trying not to inhale too deeply. But she’s there, keeping me company, chatting about mundane things, like the way the clouds look today or how the coffee machine keeps breaking down. It’s nice, but the more I’m around her, the more curious I get. She doesn’t talk much about herself, but when she does, it’s in small, careful doses. I know she’s staying at a shelter, but I don’t know why. Whenever the topic of her past comes up, there’s a shift in her. She stiffens, her eyes grow distant, and the conver
Chapter Seventy-Eight Jenna’s POVBack at the shelter, the familiar sound of quiet conversations and the clinking of dishes greets me as I step through the door. The place is bustling with activity as usual, people coming in and out, some seeking comfort, others trying to find a moment of peace in a life that never seems to slow down. I’ve gotten used to the rhythm here. At first, it was strange—being around so many people yet keeping my distance. But now, I’ve started to settle in, even bonded with a few of the others.There’s Shirley, a woman in her sixties who never talks about anything except her dogs. She used to have three of them before she ended up here, and she talks about them like they’re her kids. Every time we sit down for dinner, she tells me about how much she misses them and how they were the only family she had. She’s got this soft spot for them, and I’ve grown used to hearing her stories. There’s a warmth in her voice when she talks about those dogs, and I can’t h
Chapter Seventy-Nine Jenna’s POVAfter our shift, Raina had suggested we visit somewhere to cool off our heads. The day had been hectic and rush hour had been hellish. Raina and I visit the park, though she promises to take me to more interesting places by weekend. The park is quiet, but my mind is not. As I sit beside Raina, my thoughts start to drift, and I can’t shake the growing discomfort in my body. It’s subtle at first—a restless itch under my skin. Then it starts to build, an unsettling sensation creeping into my bones, making my muscles tense. The pull of the moon is there, faint but undeniable. I try to push it away, to keep it buried like I’ve learnt to do, but the moon is waxing, and I know it won’t be long before the full moon is upon us. The need to shift—to run wild and free under the night sky—hums beneath the surface. It’s always like this as the full moon approaches—an overwhelming desire to let the wolf inside me break free. To feed. To hunt. It’s a primal urge,
Chapter EightyJenna's POVThe pull of the moon had become unbearable. Every step toward the shelter felt like a weight pressing down on me—the hunger, the need to shift clawing at my insides. By the time I reached the door, the pressure in my chest was so intense, it was a wonder I hadn’t already given in. I could hear the blood rushing in my ears and feel the rapid thump of my heartbeat as the wolf inside me stirred, growing stronger and more insistent with each passing moment. I push through the door, barely registering the familiar sounds of the shelter, the quiet conversations, the clatter of dishes. My senses were elsewhere—heightened, sharp. The smell of the earth, the cool night air filtering through the open windows. The world outside was calling to me. And I wasn’t the only one who felt it. Eleanor stood by the window, her back to the room. I could sense the same tension in her, the restlessness radiating off her in waves. Her body was rigid, hands clenched at her sides a
Chapter Eighty-One Jenna's POV Everything at the café is still running smoothly. My relationship with Raina keeps getting better, and I’ve grown accustomed to hanging out with her during her cigarette breaks. I’ve even gotten used to the smoke—my eyes don’t water anymore, which I take as progress.The café is a great place to work, and with my weekly pay cheque, I’ve started saving up. It’s still kind of strange how much humans value these paper bills, but I’ve learnt fast how essential they are in this world. Food, clothes, even a place to live—it’s all controlled by money. The more I understand, the more I adapt.But everything changes when a new hire arrives. Cassie.It’s the middle of the afternoon shift when she walks in, all smiles and wide eyes, looking younger than I expected. She’s introduced to the team by our boss, and the second she steps into the room, I feel it. Something’s off.“This is Cassie,” the boss says, clapping her on the shoulder. “She’ll be working with us f
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
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