Chapter Ninety-SixJack’s POVThe river churns before us, its current is strong and relentless. Crossing it is our only way forward, but the prospect of splitting up the pack has everyone on edge. It’s not just the challenge of the river that’s weighing on them—it’s the idea of being separated, even for a short while. We’ve been through too much together to risk being divided now, but we don’t have a choice.I glance over at Violet, who stands a few paces away, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. She hasn’t said much since she returned from the hunt, but something is off. She’s been jittery, glancing over her shoulder like she’s expecting someone—or something—to appear from the shadows. It’s not like her to be so on edge, and I can feel the tension rippling through the rest of the pack.But whatever she’s dealing with, she’s keeping it to herself. She hasn’t said a word about what happened out there, and I don’t press her. We’ve all got our own demons to wrestle with right now.I
Chapter Ninety-SevenJack's POV After several hours of sitting on the kayak to transport my people to the other side of the bank, we finally accomplish it. It hadn't been easy, as everyone had feared of what could spring from the water. While the others who had crossed worried about a shapeshifter snucking up on them.But nothing of the sort happened, and now we were all united again. One of the men, Derrick, a seasoned fisherman who knew the river's treacherous ways, had been a critical part of getting us across. At our former pack, he'd spent his days at the river, fishing. It had become his major occupation, and the entire pack had relied on him for fish. His knowledge was what had helped us today, and I was more than grateful that he had not, like Xavier, chosen to forsake his pack. Being an alpha has taught me that sometimes I need the people even more than they need me. And that unity is what we thrive on. The sun is setting now, and for the first time in days, the pack i
Chapter Ninety-EightViolet’s POVThe pack has settled in; their spirits lifted after the successful river crossing. They sit in a loose circle, sharing stories of old hunts and victories. I want to join them; I want to share in the warmth that the cracking fire breeds and bond with them too. But I can’t join them. Because my mind is elsewhere—always elsewhere lately. No matter how much I try to focus on the present, the questions gnaw at me, pulling me back to the edge of the forest, to the haunting moment when the tether had intervened.Why had it saved me?What did the tether want with me? I glance over at the others, feeling the distance between us. Jack is there, watching the fire, a faint smile tugging at his lips as he listens to Derrick retell the story of the river crossing and ask some of the sea animals he'd encountered during fishing.Jack catches my eye briefly, his smile fading as he looks at me. He knows something’s wrong, but he hasn’t pushed me. Not yet. I turn away
Chapter Ninety-NineViolet's POV The tether's laughter echoes in the stillness, a sound so cold it sends a chill crawling up my spine.“You want answers now, do you? Brave little Violet, coming out here all alone, searching for truths you barely understand.”My breath hitches as the unseen force holding me still grows stronger, pressing down on me like invisible chains. I fight against it, my muscles straining with the effort, but my body refuses to move.“Let me go,” I manage, my voice trembling despite my attempt to sound unafraid. “Tell me what you know. What am I attached to? What is my destiny?”The tether sighs, as though amused by my demand. “Always so full of questions. But tell me, are you truly ready for what you’ll find?”“I’m not afraid,” I say, but my heart is pounding, my pulse thrumming in my ears.“Not afraid?” the tether mocks, his voice lowering to a whisper that feels as though it’s brushing against my skin. “Then tell me, Violet, do you remember the young rogue gi
Chapter Hundred Jack’s POVViolet's recent strange behaviors have become a source of worry for me. After the successful river crossing, while everyone had rejoiced, dancing and clapping and sharing hugs, she had been a little distant, staring from a distance, as if she wasn't one of us. She had mentioned that she had been attacked by a shapeshifter but had been saved by someone, but she didn't say who. And I'd waited, hoping that she was going to come to me in her own time and tell me what had truly happened during that hunt. But she had only seemed to grow distant, always appearing skittish and jumpy. Her behavior could be linked to the overwhelming fear she had probably experienced on the verge of near death, but I couldn't help but feel like it was so much deeper than that. I look across the fire. Jordan sits on the other side with a few of the children, Corin by his side. Corin had lost his father during the human attack, and as a new orphan, Jordan seems to have taken a great
Chapter Hundred -oneCassie's POV"Tell us how your mission is progressing, Cassie," Elder Marlow's voice cuts through the heavy silence in the chamber.I stand in the center, their eyes piercing through me, though I can't see their faces beneath the dark hoods. The same room that had once made me feel small and insignificant now only fuels my determination. Months ago, when I’d first stood here, I had been trembling, barely able to meet their eyes. But now? Now, I know what I’m capable of. I’m not the same scared girl I was back then. "I've been monitoring the two targets closely," I reply, my voice steady. "They’re not like the others. Jenna and Raina stand out.""How so?" Elder Marlow presses, her tone a deliberate test of my resolve.I refuse to falter." Their movements, their instincts, the way they respond to threats. They're cautious, but not in a human way. Jenna especially. She avoids revealing too much, but she’s slipped up a few times." I glance around the room, feeling th
Chapter One Hundred and Two Jenna’s POVCassie has been shockingly nice all day, her usual biting sarcasm replaced with an over-the-top eagerness to help. Every time I turn around, she’s either offering to assist with my tasks or asking if I want to grab lunch or go for a walk. It’s unnerving.It is difficult to reconcile this current version of her with what I have known and understood her to be. I wonder what she's really up to and what she truly wants. Her faux kindness and obvious need to overcompensate for her past bad behavior causes me to be further wary of her. “Need help restocking the cups, Jenna?” She asks for the third time today, a smile stretching across her face.I shake my head, trying to keep my tone polite. “No, I’ve got it, thanks.”Cassie lingers, hands fidgeting with the hem of her apron. “You sure? I was thinking, maybe after work, we could—”“Jenna!” Raina’s voice cuts through the tension as she strides toward me, tossing her apron onto the counter. “Ready to
Chapter One hundred and Three Jenna's POV I frown. “You think someone was watching us?”“Maybe,” she replies, her voice clipped. “Or maybe I’m just paranoid. Either way, I don’t like it.”I sit down on the couch, trying to shake off the unease creeping up my spine. “Do you think it’s... something we should worry about?”Raina’s eyes flick to the paintings on the wall, then back to me. “Maybe. Maybe not. But like I said before, Jenna—people like us need to keep our guard up. Always.”My heart skips a beat at her words. People like us. Does she know? Or is she just talking about the general dangers of living in a world where predators—both human and otherwise—exist?I open my mouth to ask, but something in Raina’s expression stops me. She’s watching me carefully now; her eyes narrowed, as if she’s trying to figure something out.“Let’s just say,” she adds, her voice low and cautious, “there’s more to this world than meets the eye. And not everyone is as they seem.”I nod slowly, my mi
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